History

Delta Gamma was founded on December 25, 1873, in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School for Girls near the University of Mississippi.

The early growth for Delta Gamma was confined to women's colleges in the southern United States. Within a few years, Delta Gamma was established in the northern United States and then later expanded to the east with the help of George Banta, a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

In 1891, Delta Gamma was one of seven charter members of the National Panhellenic Conference when the first inter-sorority meeting was held in Boston, Massachusetts. This organization is the governing body of sororities in America with 26 members.

As the population moved west, so did Delta Gamma. What began as a club in the South soon became an international fraternity in both scope and thinking as Delta Gamma established itself not only in the United States, but also in Canada.

Through the years, goals and achievements have grown as Delta Gammas continue to live by the motto set forth by the founders, "Do Good." During World War I, Delta Gamma established and funded an orphanage in Belgium and opened the Delta Gamma House for Children in Holland.

Delta Gamma Firsts

• First sorority to establish an independent philanthropic foundation in Ohio in 1951 (Service for Sight)
• The first sorority to have its own in-house printing press.
• The first and only panhellenic group to have its flower registered with the American Rose Society - "Delta Gamma"
• One of the seven original women's groups that began the National Panhellenic Conference

Founders

Anna Boyd Ellington was born near Kosciusko, Mississippi, January 22, 1856. She attended school in Kosciusko, afterwards going with her friends, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb, to The Lewis School in Oxford. After leaving school she taught in the public schools of her state until her marriage to Mr. D.A. Ellington in 1882. A few years after they were married, Mr. Ellington died, leaving her four small girls to rear, which she did nobly. She saw that each daughter was well fitted for life and graduated from college. For a few years after the death of her husband, she lived in California but was called back to Mississippi to care for her father, who was in failing health. After her father passed away, she went back to Kosciusko to live in her old home on the same street as her good friends, Mary Comfort Leonard and Eva Webb Dodd, and to continue that unusual lifelong friendship.

Mary Comfort Leonard was born January 22, 1856, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, one of 13 children. After completing the first of her education in Kosciusko, she was sent to The Lewis School, Oxford, where she was a student for three years. While in Oxford, she met Charles H. Leonard, a student at the University of Mississippi. Mr. Leonard became an educator and, for two years, they worked together in this profession. Later, they moved to Florida, where after nine years of most happy married life, he died. Mrs. Leonard was left with three small boys to rear and educate. She returned to Kosciusko, where she taught for 16 years. Mrs. Leonard was a guest at the Convention of 1909 (and several subsequent conventions), and enriched the spirit and understanding for all who came to know her. She lived to see compensating results of her teaching in public school, as well as her lifetime devotion to teaching a Bible class. For years, she worked in The Twentieth Century Club and other civic activities. The ANCHORA over a period of twenty years contained many personal messages from Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Dodd, confirming their devotion to the principles on which Delta Gamma was founded. With becoming modesty, they took great pride in the growth and development of Delta Gamma. Mary Comfort Leonard passed away August 4, 1940. Her memory will always be treasured by the hundreds of Delta Gammas who knew her personally.

Eva Webb Dodd was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Webb, pioneer residents of Attala County, Mississippi. She was born July 5, 1855, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, where she made her home throughout her life. At the age of eighteen, Eva Webb was a student at The Lewis School in Oxford, Mississippi, and while there with her two dear friends, organized Delta Gamma Fraternity. On October 12, 1875, Eva Webb married the Honorable S.L. Dodd, a prominent attorney of Kosciusko until his death in 1928. Mrs. Dodd was the mother of eight children. She was a charter member of the Twentieth Century Club and, for a long period of time, led the civic work of this club. She also took an active part in the organization of the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs in 1896. She was a devout and consecrated member of the Presbyterian Church and she lived the religion she professed. Mrs. Dodd died on January 28, 1934, at the age of 79.

The Legacy of Our Founders

As women of Vision, the three Founders hold much in common with modern women. Although Eva married at twenty, Mary married at twenty-four and Anna at twenty-six, Mary and Anna were preludes to the force of working women today: they both taught school prior to their marriages. Mary returned to teaching following the death of her husband. Anna, widowed after eight years of marriage, and Mary, after nine years, were not unlike many single mothers of today, striving to provide a nurturing home for their young children. Eva and Mary were vigorous and active women throughout their lifetimes, proving age is but a state of mind. Eva lived to be 79 and Mary to be 84. All three were actively involved in making their community a better place in which to live.