Founding Date

Mar 22nd, 1947

The university campus was founded in Indian Territory of Muskogee in 1894 as Henry Kendall College. When Oklahoma became a state, Henry Kendall College moved to its present location in Tulsa. On November 9, 1920, the university was approved for a state charter and was renamed the University of Tulsa. With over 4,000 students in 1947, the college and city with its “high standing” was a fitting place for a Delta Gamma chapter. At the 1946 Convention the Delta Gamma expansion committee adopted a policy of organizing new chapters throughout the south. A chapter at the university had been a dream of the Tulsa alumnae for many years. Upon acceptance by the Fraternity body at Convention, the Tulsa alumnae began preparations. They contacted Delta Gamma's Executive Offices and gained permission to establish the chapter. In October 1946, they held a rush tea for outstanding girls at the university who would be interested in becoming charter members of the chapter. On November 19, 1946, 19 women, who "rescued their white summer dresses from mothballs," were pledged as members of Gamma Beta colony by members of Alpha Iota-Oklahoma. The memorable Installation festivities began Friday evening March 21, 1947, following the arrival of Fraternity President, Edith Taylor Smith, Alpha Beta-Swarthmore. Initiation on March 22 was at the home of Mildred Reid Bradley Jr., Iota-Illinois, at 1:00 p.m. Alpha Iota members were again present to preside over the ceremony. The Installation banquet was held at the Mayo Hotel with a theme of a "Circle" symbolizing Delta Gamma's international scope reaching around the world. Province Secretary, Florence Lund Black, Alpha Zeta-Lawrence was toastmistress and began by introducing Fraternity Secretary, Dorothy Knight Wildasin, Alpha Omicron-Miami, who called the chapter roll of 81 chapters by memory, much to everyone’s admiration. Glorene Fraser, a new initiate, spoke on “Ring in the New,” and gave an original poem about each Gamma Beta new member. The charter was presented by First Vice-President, Dorothy Glenn Holsinger, Iota-Illinois, and Fraternity Secretary Wildasin gave each charter member her membership certificate. A highlight of the banquet was the presentation of the Myrtle Gleason Cole silver scholarship cup to the member with the highest grades. Mrs. Cole, initiated in 1889 at Tau-Iowa, was dean of women at the University of Tulsa until 1943, and often expressed the wish that a chapter of Delta Gamma be established on the campus. She traveled from her home in Davenport, Iowa especially for the occasion and presented the cup to Marcheta Files, a member with all A’s and the first president of Gamma Beta chapter. On Sunday afternoon, with the weather remaining perfect for a formal reception, guests arrived at 3:00 p.m. at the Philbrook Art Museum. Five hundred invited guests entered through the formal gardens to greet Fraternity Officers and the new Delta Gammas. Music was provided by a University of Tulsa trio, and corsages were worn by all Fraternity officers and committee chairman. In 1994, Gamma Beta celebrated its anniversary with a campus wide picnic, a free concert performed by the country music band Diamond Rio, and special guest speakers. The chapter room was also updated with new wallpaper and curtains to commemorate this occasion. Today, Gamma Beta is Delta Gamma’s 61st active collegiate chapter out of 146 chapters. The chapter has been an exemplary chapter, truly living up to the Fraternity’s motto to simply “Do Good.” At the Installation reception in 1947, the Chairman of the House Corporation Board, Mrs. Dunlap, announced that the Fraternity owned a piece of land upon which they would build a lodge. It was the last lot on “Sorority Row,” and the architect’s plans for Gamma Beta’s new home had already been put to paper, with the builder, Dickason-Goodman Company, selected and more than $1,000 raised to finance the building. The lodge was completed in 1948. Gamma Beta held its first Anchor Splash® in 1972. An addition was added to the lodge in 1965, and shortly thereafter was converted to a house in 1968. Upon completion of these renovations, the house could sleep 32 women.