Delta Gamma: A Legacy of Friendship, Scholarship, and Service

Delta Gamma, a name synonymous with sisterhood, scholarship, and service, boasts a rich history deeply rooted in the values of friendship, education, and social responsibility. From its humble beginnings in 1873 to its present-day global presence, Delta Gamma has consistently empowered women to become leaders and make a positive impact on the world.

The Genesis of Delta Gamma

The story of Delta Gamma began in 1873 at the Lewis School for Girls in Oxford, Mississippi. A pandemic and impassable roads had confined a group of young women to the school, leading them to seek companionship and purpose. These women came together to form a sisterhood grounded in shared ideals, marking the birth of Delta Gamma.

Core Values and Enduring Bonds

Delta Gamma's foundation rests upon a set of core values that guide its members in all aspects of their lives. These values, articulated in the Fraternity's objects, emphasize:

Fostering high ideals of friendship among women.
Promoting their educational and cultural interests.
Creating in them a true sense of social responsibility.
Developing in them the best qualities of character.

These values are not mere words; they are lived out by Delta Gamma sisters every day. The bonds of sisterhood are unwavering, providing a strong support system that lasts a lifetime. Chapters regularly organize sisterhood events, offering opportunities for socialization, friendship-building, and fun.

Expanding Horizons: Travel and Immersive Experiences

Delta Gamma encourages its members to broaden their horizons through travel and immersive experiences. Thousands of sisters have grown through their journeys, sharing their findings and experiences with one another. These opportunities for cultural exchange and personal growth contribute to the development of well-rounded and informed individuals.

Delta Gammas also have numerous opportunities to immerse themselves in new experiences on the home front too. Members of Beta Nu-Carnegie Mellon connect over the sport of buggy, a campus tradition, forming a team that requires someone 5-foot-2-inches to lay down inside an enclosed carbon-fiber, torpedo-shaped vehicle and steer, only propelled by human power while traveling at 35 miles per hour over the span of about three minutes.

A Commitment to Service: Serving Those with Visual Impairments

Delta Gamma's commitment to social responsibility is exemplified by its long-standing dedication to serving and advocating for individuals who are blind or have low vision. This commitment extends to taking measures to eliminate barriers to inclusion and access to membership within the organization.

The Fraternity's philanthropic efforts are primarily focused on supporting the Delta Gamma Foundation, which in turn supports schools and programs for children with visual impairments. Hope Serving trips provide Delta Gamma members with a unique service-learning experience at these schools, allowing them to develop leadership skills on a local, regional, and international level.

Delta Gamma was the first fraternity in the United States to establish its own philanthropic foundation, according to Werner. Locally, the charity fully funds the Los Angeles Blind Children’s Center, founded in 1938 by the regional chapter of Delta Gamma. The center allows Delta Gamma members a chance to see the direct impact of their fundraising efforts.

Leadership Development and Breaking Barriers

Delta Gamma recognizes the importance of cultivating leadership skills in its members. Across the world, Delta Gamma women are leaders in their organizations and communities, and these skills are developed within their collegiate chapters.

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Delta Gamma Fraternity is committed to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment through experiences that foster belonging with care and connection, aligning with our values outlined in Article II.

Throughout its history, Delta Gamma has produced numerous women who have broken barriers and achieved remarkable success in various fields. Examples include:

Tracy Schandler Walder: Recruited by the CIA while a collegian at USC, served as a covert operative for the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center and later as a special agent for the FBI.
Edith Abbott, Ph.D.: A pioneer in social work and a distinguished academic.
Grace Abbott, Ph.M.: A social worker and advocate for child welfare.
Rita Rossi Colwell, Ph.D.: The first woman and biologist to be named Director of the National Science Foundation.
Sarah Tilghman Hughes: The first female federal judge in Texas.
Ruth Bryan Owen Rhode: A nurse during WWI and later a U.S. Representative.

Convention: Shaping the Future of Delta Gamma

Since 1881, Delta Gammas have gathered at Convention to conduct Fraternity business and shape its future direction. Convention has been held every two years, for the most part, since 1881 when only two chapters met: Psi I-Lewis School and Eta-Buchtel (Akron). Convention was deferred in 1917 due to World War I, as President Woodrow Wilson requested organizations contemplating conventions “abandon them for patriotic reasons” to save the expense and decrease railroad congestion. The $1,000 of the unused Convention fund was appropriated for war relief work. In 1948, the Diamond Jubilee Convention was held in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Each chapter provided a doll - a “Dream Girl” dressed in the fashion of the era in which the chapter was chartered. Attendees could tour the nearby L. G.

Our grand Centennial was celebrated at the 1972 Convention in Los Angeles, California. Attendance was so high, that collegiate visitors were provided rooms at the local Alpha Nu-USC and Alpha Sigma-UCLA chapter houses and then bussed to and from Convention daily. Each collegiate chapter designed and made a fabric quilt square to create a commemorative centennial quilt, which now hangs in the Archives. Vicki Vannoy Nixon, Gamma Xi-Texas Tech, was at her first (of many) Conventions. They walked by our bus to hoots and hollers and DGs calling out the names of their favorite artist!” Vicki, who later went on to serve on Council, is seated at the table at the front left in the banquet photo. She says about Council members she met, “I set my goal to be on Council one day after being exposed to these women. By 1998, a Convention planner was on staff at Executive Offices to work with the host city and alumnae committee.

Delta Gamma at UCLA: A Vibrant Chapter

Delta Gamma's presence at UCLA is marked by a vibrant chapter that embodies the Fraternity's values and contributes to the university community. The chapter actively participates in philanthropic endeavors, sisterhood events, and academic pursuits.

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Anchor Splash: A Philanthropic Tradition

One of the chapter's most notable philanthropic events is Anchor Splash, an annual fundraiser that supports the Los Angeles Blind Children's Center and the Delta Gamma Foundation. The event typically features synchronized swimming routines performed by fraternity members, as well as other contests and activities.

“It’s the most concentrated effort we have to get money back to our foundation,” said Molly Rhodes, a fourth-year English student and past vice president of the Delta Gamma Foundation. Both the turnout and the fundraising total mark the highest numbers in the 38-year history of the event at UCLA. Half of the proceeds go directly to the Los Angeles Blind Children’s Center, founded by the regional chapter of Delta Gamma. Members of the spring pledge class of Sigma Chi arrived early to practice their synchronized swimming routine. The swimming events at Anchor Splash coincide with other contests on the side, including the “Anchorman” competition, in which representatives of each fraternity house compete to win votes from Delta Gamma members. His tasks at the dinners, assigned by Delta Gamma, included delivering a pick-up line (“My friends bet me I wouldn’t go talk to the most beautiful girl in the room. The club sports, all represented by the women’s teams, included water polo, soccer, ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse. Members of Delta Gamma could be easily spotted in red “Anchor Splash” tank tops with a lifeguard insignia on the front. A week of Penny Wars on Bruin Walk, another major source of fundraising, also got competitive, said Delta Gamma Foundation vice president Chelsea Martell.

Bruin Family Weekend

Bruin Family Weekend offers a glimpse into the lives of UCLA students, including those in the Greek system. Parents have the opportunity to visit their daughters at the Delta Gamma house, experiencing the sisterhood and camaraderie that define the sorority experience.

The first month of school for a young woman who joins a sorority at UCLA (or, one assumes, any other house at any other university) is as profoundly consequential as any 30ish-day period of their lives. You have the launch of your academic career (no offense to high school); you have, in this case, a new, big city to call home; and you have a ton of new relationships to navigate, many of whom, unbeknownst to you and despite old people repeatedly telling you as much, will prove to be lifelong. Plus all the booze, the sleep deprivation, the lingering cough, the adaptation to living in a dorm triple roughly the size of your bedroom back home.

Sesquicentennial Anniversary

Now the word that no one can easily pronounce: sesquicentennial. Since 2019, committees have been working on specially branded merchandise, local celebratory events, a commemorative 150th badge and a pictorial history book. Interested in learning more about Delta Gamma’s history? Check out our sesquicentennial anniversary pictorial history book, Celebrating 150 Years of Delta Gamma, 1873-2023.

Gamma Xi Chapter

Gamma Xi Chapter was chartered on February 24, 1947, by the Alpha Delta Chapter at the University of Southern California. Gamma Xi Chapter chartered the Pi Kappa Chapter at California State University, Northridge on September 7, 1984. as 1987 College Chapter of the Year. Gamma Xi has gone on to receive College Chapter of the Year in 1988, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2018

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