Our Story
Delta Gamma was founded in Oxford during the Christmas of 1873 when our three founders were unable to travel home from the Lewis School due to weather. During this time, Mary Comfort Leonard, Eva Webb Dodd, and Anna Boyd Ellington created a club for mutual helpfulness and named it after their motto to “do good” and, thus, Delta Gamma was created. When the Lewis Institute closed, Psi, the name chosen for the Founding Chapter, was dropped from the active chapter roll. However, many of the loyal members of our early years remained in Oxford and retained their interest and pride in Delta Gamma. As the University became co-educational, other Panhellenic groups established chapters at Ole Miss. In a moving address at our National Convention, Mrs. Leonard pleaded, “These are our girls. Give them their birthright. Bring Delta Gamma back home.” The National Organization was stirred by this plea and the Alpha Psi chapter was installed in 1927 with eighteen women being initiated that year. Due to the Great Depression, the University lost prestige and it was deemed best to suspend the charter of Alpha Psi in 1931. Six years later, the condition of the University warranted the return of Alpha Psi. On February 15, 1938, the Alpha Psi chapter was formally reinstated at Ole Miss. Since then, the Alpha Psi chapter has remained a strong force for good on the Ole Miss campus. In 2017, our home underwent a complete renovation and was updated to the stunning home you know today. Ole Miss is also home to DG’s largest chapter of the 147 chapters with 420 collegiate members.
