Founding Date

Jan 28th, 1950

The University of California, Santa Barbara began as a trade school known as the Santa Barbara State Teachers College. In the early 1920s, the college began to grow its curriculum and move toward more liberal arts education and began to award four-year degrees. In 1944, Santa Barbara State Teachers College became The Santa Barbara College of the University of California. In 1954, the university permanently moved to a decommissioned World War II Marine Air Station Base in Goleta. Short years later, the Regents officially designated the university as a general campus of the University of California system, and with this came the name UC Santa Barbara. On May 1, 1941, 12 female students pledged themselves to their newly formed sorority Chi Delta Chi. The goal of the sorority was to maintain an equal balance between scholarship and social activities. New members were selected on the basis of character, sincerity, scholarship, and social activities. At the 1948 Convention, UCSB was approved as a possible field of expansion in anticipation of National Panhellenic groups entering the campus in 1949. Heeding the advice of dean of men Dr. Will Hayes (husband of Barbara Griffin Hayes, Kappa-Nebraska), Delta Gamma selected Chi Delta Chi to become a new chapter of Delta Gamma. In November of 1949, 22 members of Chi Delta Chi were pledged to Delta Gamma in ceremonies conducted by collegians of Alpha Sigma-UCLA. At that ceremony Alpha Sigma gave the newly established chapter a silver compote, which is still used today to hold New Member pins. The Installation weekend was one to be proud of. Forty-six women were initiated at 1:00 on a rainy Saturday, January 28, 1950 at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert Griffin at Via Hierba Hope Ranch. Twenty-nine of the new members were collegians, 9 were patronesses, and 8 were Chi Delta Chi alumnae. Members from Alpha Nu-USC and Alpha Sigma performed the ceremony. A formal banquet was held in the evening, and the new chapter received two large silver trays from the Southern California Council, a silver platter from San Jose alumnae, silver candlesticks from San Diego alumnae, and glasses etched with Delta Gamma from San Fernando alumnae. On Sunday morning, January 29, a model chapter meeting and an alumnae meeting were held at the Delta Gamma (previously Chi Delta Chi) house at 1723 Grand Avenue. A formal reception was held from 2:00-5:00 at the house. In the 1970s, UCSB reflected the turmoil felt all over the nation as the Vietnam War and social changes challenged the way people saw themselves and felt about the world around them. The status of women at UCSB changed at this time. Gamma Kappas saw themselves as sorority women (not girls) with control over their lives and the intelligence to take their place in all the academic disciplines offered at UCSB. Because of unrest on the UCSB campus, a 20th anniversary celebration was held in 1970, as there was concern Gamma Kappa might not be around for a 25th anniversary celebration in 1975. However, Gamma Kappa remained strong during those challenging years. Santa Barbara alumnae chapter guided Gamma Kappa in staying true to the ideals of Delta Gamma. Through the years, Gamma Kappa has received many UCSB Panhellenic awards including the Outstanding Sorority Award. Delta Gamma Fraternity has recognized Gamma Kappa with the Patricia Peterson Danielson Award for overall excellence and achievement five times. When Gamma Kappa celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1989, Gamma Kappa alumnae presented the chapter with a diamond Delta Gamma badge to be passed on each year at Founders Day to the top scholar in the new member class. In 1995, in a very special ceremony, Gamma Kappa initiated several of the founding Chi Delta Chi women into Delta Gamma. In 1999, Gamma Kappa celebrated its 50th anniversary and Chi Delta Chi celebrated its 60th anniversary at a gala banquet on the UCSB campus and at a brunch at the chapter home on the following day. It was a wonderful time to celebrate the friendship the Chi Delta Chi and Delta Gamma sisters have shared since 1940. Gamma Kappa celebrated its 60th anniversary at the 2010 Founders Day dinner that was held at the El Paseo Restaurant. Fifteen 50 and 60-year alumnae members were honored. Seven women from the 1950-51 first new member class attended. Ten former Gamma Kappa presidents also attended. An Award of Excellence in honor of Mary Jane Fuerst Salcido was established. The senior collegiate woman receiving this award will be announced annually at Founders Day. The chapter's first Anchor Splash® was held in November 1982. Gamma Kappa women of today carry on the love and ideals of Delta Gamma, which are so important to each woman who has worn the Golden Anchor at UCSB. In the 1950’s, the Gamma Kappa House Corporation provided housing for the Chapter at a variety of places which included 1775 Grand Avenue, 1723 Grand Avenue, The Music Academy of the West, St. Mary’s Retreat House, the corner of Olive & Arrellaga and the corner of Anacapa & Arrellaga. When UC Santa Barbara College moved to the Goleta campus in September of 1954, the town of Isla Vista did not exist. Gamma Kappa members commuted to the Goleta campus from their chapter home in Santa Barbara. Undeveloped farmland surrounded the Goleta campus. In 1958, Gamma Kappa House Corporation purchased a plot of bare land bordering the new campus. Ground broke for their new chapter home in the fall of 1959. Forty Gamma Kappa women moved into 6509 Picasso Road in the fall of 1960. Through the years, the lovely chapter home has reflected the gracious charm of Delta Gamma. When Gamma Kappa celebrated her 40th anniversary in 1989, the mortgage on the chapter home was burned. The sisters of Gamma Kappa still call the Picasso Road house their home.