Founding Date

Dec 6th, 1947

Kent State University was established in 1910 as an institution for training public school teachers. It was part of the Lowry Bill which also created a sister school in Bowling Green, Ohio – now known as Bowling Green State University. It was initially known under the working name of the Ohio State Normal College At Kent but was named Kent State Normal School in 1911 in honor of William S. Kent (son of Kent, Ohio, namesake Marvin Kent), who donated the 53 acres used for the original campus. As such, it is the only public university in Ohio named for an individual. Classes began in 1912 before any buildings had been completed at the campus, and therefore classes were held at extension centers in 25 cities around the region. By May 1913, classes were being held on the campus in Kent with the opening of Merrill Hall. The school graduated 34 students in its first commencement on July 29, 1914. In 1915, the school was renamed Kent State Normal College due to the addition of four-year degrees. In 1929, the state of Ohio changed the name to Kent State College as it allowed the school to establish a college of arts and sciences. On May 17, 1935, Kent native Governor Martin L. Davey signed a bill that allowed Kent State and Bowling Green to add schools of business administration and graduate programs, giving them each university status. Members of the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Delta Gamma originated from a local educational sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma- the oldest and strongest group on the Kent State campus. In a most unusual situation, the educational groups on campus returned their charters to their nationals in order to petition National Panhellenic Conference groups. Tri-Sigma chose for its local name Sigma Delta Sigma. The first correspondence from Tri-Sigma is dated October 24, 1936 when Winifred Palmer Langell, president, wrote to the Delta Gamma President asking if there was a possibility that Delta Gamma would enter Kent State. An unofficial visit by a representative of Delta Gamma in 1938 found a group of girls anxious to petition Delta Gamma as soon as the university was opened to national social women's fraternities. When that day arrived on May 14, 1947, the groundwork for the establishment of Gamma Epsilon chapter was already in place due to the hard work of certain alumnae and dedicated friends. The date of installation was Saturday, December 6, 1947. The initiation was large- 33 collegians in the morning and 62 alumnae in the afternoon at the Universalist Church. The theme of the installation banquet, held at Twin Lakes Country Club, was "Through the Portholes of Delta Gamma." Considering the anti-Greek sentiment of the late '60s and the specific incident at Kent on May 4, 1970, this chapter can be proud to have weathered a very difficult time for the Kent State campus. The Gamma Epsilon chapter house is located at 1068 Fraternity Circle, across the street from Kent State's campus.