DKG HISTORY

THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY, INTERNATIONAL
OMICRON STATE
ETA CHAPTER, PRESCOTT. ARIZONA

"It was late afternoon of a balmy spring day—May 11, 1929—when a few friends
of Dr. Annie Webb Blanton gathered at 2610 Whitis Avenue in Austin, Texas. The
large two-story, red brick house with its Victorian cupolas was listed in the
telephone directory as the University Faculty Women's Club. Great oaks shaded
the veranda where Dr. Blanton greeted her Austin friends and those who had come
by train to help her found Kappa Gamma Delta, later to be renamed The Delta
Kappa Gamma Society."


The founding group of twelve women educators represented a cross-section of
the teaching profession. There was a grade school teacher, a dean of women,
three high school teachers, three elementary school principals, and four college
professors—Dr. Blanton was a professor of rural education at the University of
Texas. In addition to Dr. Blanton, five of the members were from Austin: Anna
Hiss, Helen Koch, Lalla M. Odom, Cora M. Martin and Ruby Terrill (Lomax).
Already looking ahead to the formation of other chapters across Texas, Dr.
Blanton had invited to membership six women educators from cities outside of
Austin: Mamie Bastian from Houston, Ruby Cole from San Antonio, Lela Lee
Williams from Dallas, Mabel Grizzard from Waxahachie and Ray and Sue King from
Fort Worth.


The founding of the Society was the culmination of several years of dreaming
and planning. "Ideas for the structure of the organization, its purposes and
procedures had been evolving gradually. Letter after letter from Dr. Blanton to
the prospective Founders carried drafts of the Constitution and Ritual to be
scrutinized and criticized. Frequent meetings of the Austin women, especially
those who lived at the Faculty Women's Club, brought modifications and
refinements.... By the lengthy process of conferences and correspondence, many
differences of opinion had been resolved among the twelve Founders before May
11.


"The financial aspects of the Society had to be determined—on the local,
state and national basis. There were committees to be appointed and duties to
define. The symbolism and the insignia were to be discussed. The official song
seemed to be the one finished product in readiness. Mrs. Martin had somewhat
rephrased Dr. Blanton's lyric so that it could be sung to the tune 'Men of
Harlech'." Shortly after the initiation ceremony, the Founders sat down to work
on the draft of the Constitution.


"The Founders were well aware of the criticism that might be leveled at this
new Society. Not only men, but also many women, opposed women's organizations.
The suffrage movement had stirred strong reactions that could not be ignored.
Within the teaching profession, discrimination was the rule rather than the
exception. The practice was general that as soon as a woman teacher married, she
was dropped from the staff. The few scholarships granted by colleges usually
went to men. In university faculties, as in public schools, efficient qualified
women educators were denied promotions. They were rarely elected to office or
boards of professional organizations. These conditions combined to influence the
purposes of the Society, the qualifications for membership and the manner in
which Kappa Gamma Delta developed."


"Patiently, meticulously the Founders worked through the mass of details that
demanded attention that night. Dr. Blanton was authorized to secure drawings for
a fraternity key to be submitted by mail to the other Founders for their choice.
They adopted the colors—crimson and gold; they discussed additional initiation
paraphernalia; they authorized a committee to secure incorporation papers for
the state and national Kappa Gamma Delta.


"It had been a strenuous and important business meeting which had stretched
into the early morning hour. Sue King, exhausted, had retired before the close
of deliberations; but, by adjournment time, the pattern had been drawn for a
Society unique in the annals of organizations and destined to become the largest
of its kind in the world."