Alpha Gamma Delta was officially founded on May 30, 1904 at the home of Dr. Wellesley Perry Coddington, a professor at Syracuse University who was instrumental in the early development of Alpha Gamma Delta. Each of the Fraternity's 11 founders were progressive women who selflessly contributed to the foundation and growth of Alpha Gamma Delta. Since the founding, collegiate chapters have been installed at 181 colleges and universities across North America and more than 145,000 women have become Alpha Gam sisters. Guided by our Purpose, Alpha Gamma Deltas are impacting our communities and contributing to the world's work.

The Alpha Gamma Delta Purpose

To gain understanding that wisdom may be vouchsafed to me.

To develop and prize health and vigor of body.

To cultivate acquaintance with many whom I meet.

To cherish friendships with but a chosen few and to study the perfecting of those friendships.

To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world’s work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied.

To honor my home, my country, my religious faith.

To hold truth inviolable, sincerity essential, kindness invaluable.

To covet beauty in environment, manner, word and thought.

To possess high ideals and to attain somewhat unto them.

This shall be my purpose that those who know me may esteem Alpha Gamma Delta for her attainments, revere her for her purposes and love her for her Womanhood.

 

Badge: The Badge design was selected by the Founders: a monogram of the three Greek letters, with the Delta plain, the Gamma engraved, and the Alpha superimposed upon the two. Today, the badge may be worn only by initiated members either plain or jeweled with pearls.

Colors:

Red, Buff and Green

Flowers: A red and buff rose, with green asparagus plumosa fern. The true buff (pale yellow) rose is rarely available, so for practical purposes yellow roses are used. The two different color roses must always be used together on Fraternity occasions.

Mascot: The mascot of Alpha Gamma Delta is the squirrel, by the name of Skiouros. The mascot was chosen by Gamma Chapter. An explanation of the squirrel's selection appeard in a 1915 publication: "... Our little friend, we find, is also nimble and agile—he leaps from branch to branch and accomplishes much progress...to symbolize the spirit that never dies, the spirit of energetic alertness and progress."

Founding:

Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York on May 30, 1904

Total membership:

Exceeds 145,000

Total installed collegiate chapters:

182

Alumnae chapters/clubs across North America:

More than 250

Armorial Bearings: The Coat of Arms was approved at the first Alpha Gamma Delta Convention in 1907. Founder Emily Helen Butterfield, who was recognized as an authority on heraldry, created the final design.