The Do Good Sisterhood

Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi at the Lewis School for Girls by three young women: Anna Boyd, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb. Founded before the term sorority was used, our fraternity has since grown into one of the largest international women’s organizations, with more than 280,000 initiated members, 147 collegiate chapters and 170 alumnae groups.

With Delta Gamma’s founding, Anna, Mary and Eva helped spark a movement to create safe and empowering communities for women on college campuses. We still make that space for each other today, through a culture of belonging, a promise to empower and a commitment to put our purpose into practice.

This is the Do Good Sisterhood. This is Delta Gamma.

Each action, an intention

Our ongoing pursuit to do good is anchored in Article II of the Delta Gamma Constitution. Written by our Founders in 1873, Article II inspires Delta Gammas to act with intention and lead by example.

“The objects of this Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility, and to develop in them the best qualities of character.”

While the Constitution spells out the values of a Delta Gamma woman in Article II, you can’t tell the story of Delta Gamma without speaking of hope. The original pin of the Fraternity was the letter “H,” which the Founders meant to stand for hope. In 1877, the Fraternity adopted the anchor as our symbol, the age-old symbol for hope.

Each "first", a trailblazing milestone

  • Christmas 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi: Anna Boyd, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb spent the holidays at The Lewis School for Girls and formed the Delta Gamma Club.
  • 1881 – First Delta Gamma Convention was held in Oxford, Mississippi.
  • 1902 – Delta Gamma joined six other fraternal organizations in establishing the National Panhellenic Conference.
  • 1913 – Delta Gamma’s first Canadian chapter was installed: Alpha Gamma-Toronto.
  • 1936 – Aiding the Blind was adopted as the Fraternity Service Project, it was changed to “Sight Conservation & Aiding the Blind” in 1942. In 1995, it was changed to “Service for Sight.”
  • 1951 – Delta Gamma became the first women’s fraternal group to establish an independent philanthropic Foundation.
  • 1989 – Delta Gamma established the Fraternity Housing Corporation to assist local house corporations.
  • 2018 – Delta Gamma reached 250,000 initiated members.

Every member, a conscious connection

Though Delta Gamma was founded more than a century ago, we are a future-oriented organization determined to bring together like-minded women from varied backgrounds. Instead of seeing barriers, we embrace more open perspectives. In celebrating our differences, we build meaningful connections.

Our Positional Statement on Inclusivity states: Delta Gamma Fraternity is committed to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment and experience for our members, potential new members and communities. In our membership selection processes and in the life-long membership experience, Delta Gamma Fraternity and its members do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical disability or other protected identities. Membership is open to all individuals who identify as women and who have a sincere desire to uphold our shared values, as outlined in Article II. We resolve to eliminate inequities and address behaviors that do not align with our values.

For the complete Positional Statement on Inclusivity and a comprehensive list of our policies, please visit our library.

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