Founding Date

Nov 16th, 1996

The University of Hartford was chartered through the joining of the Hartford Art School, Hillyer College, and The Hartt School in 1957. Prior to the charter, the University of Hartford did not exist as an independent entity rather in the chronicles of the other institutions. The Hartford Art School, which commenced operation in 1877, was founded by a group of women in Hartford, including Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain's wife, Olivia Langdon Clemens, as the Hartford Society for Decorative Art. Its original location was at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Hillyer College, which was named for the U.S. Civil War General Charles Hillyer, was created as a part of the Hartford YMCA in 1879. In 1947, it was formally separated from the YMCA and saw an influx of a large number of World War II veterans afforded an education under the G.I. Bill. The Hartt School was founded in 1920 by Julius Hartt and Moshe Paranov. It remains today as the University of Hartford's comprehensive performing arts conservatory, and is regarded among the most recognized schools for music, dance, and theatre in the United States. The women of Delta Psi Omega, a local sorority, approached the university administration about affiliating with a national women’s fraternity. As campus leaders, members of the group knew of Delta Gamma’s heritage and ideals. They asked Delta Gamma to consider establishing a chapter at Hartford, where 3,800 students were enrolled. Delta Gamma received the invitation to establish and plans were made to pledge the members of Delta Psi Omega in the fall. On September 20, Delta Gamma officials and a group of collegians from Epsilon Pi-Connecticut traveled to West Hartford to pledge 30 women. After the pledging there was a reception to congratulate the new Delta Gammas; nearly 100 Delta Gammas, members of Hartford’s fraternity and sorority community, faculty and guests congratulated the new chapter at the Gengras Student Center. Epsilon Pi members taught colony members Delta Gamma songs and agreed to serve as their “Aunt Hannahs” until the chapter’s Installation. The new members were busy being educated about the Fraternity by Collegiate Development Consultant Kelly Jurgensen Soligon, Beta-Washington in preparation for installation. Delta Gammas from Epsilon Pi, former Epsilon Pi advisory board chairman Harriet Brubacher, Alpha Epsilon-Washington University, and Council Appointed Coordinator Sandy Peebles O’Connor, Gamma Mu-Florida State, also helped the women learn more about Delta Gamma. Installation weekend took place November 15-16. It began with a night of inspiration followed by Initiation and the Installation banquet the next day. During inspiration activities in the Gengras Student Center, new chapter members exchanged scrolls with words of encouragement they had written to one another. The chapter received many special wishes and warm greetings, and the chapter president, Shel Frolich, received the chapter’s charter. Eta Beta was Delta Gamma’s 141st chapter to be established. The Installation Banquet took place at the Holiday Inn. Barbara Laederach, Lambda-Minnesota, gave a speech detailing the significance of Delta Gamma’s “H” pin and the Fraternity’s move into the “Eta chapters” of the Greek alphabet. Delta Gamma joined five other sororities on campus.