Founding Date

Apr 22nd, 2001

Spring Hill College is a private, Jesuit liberal arts college in the Spring Hill neighborhood of Mobile, Alabama. It was founded in 1830 by Most Rev. Michael Portier, the first bishop of Mobile, and has a number of structures that are on the National Register of Historic Places. The college itself has quite an impressive history in the United States. African American students were accepted into all departments of the College for the first time in 1954, before desegregation was mandated by the government. Spring Hill College was a leading institution in Alabama to press for racial equality, which received praise from civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who mentions Spring Hill in his 1963 "Letter from Birmingham Jail," citing the College as one of the first Southern schools to integrate. Spring Hill College knew that they wanted to add another international sorority to their campus, and Delta Gamma was a perfect choice. Delta Gamma was petitioned in 2000 by a local Spring Hill group, Beta Chi, which stood for Building Character. Their mission was to recognize the meaning and importance of truth and love, and to preserve and promote its presence in the lives of all its members through service and personal growth. These women wanted to add another international sorority to their campus, and the expansion team of VP: Development, Vicki Nixon; Interim Director of Expansion and Consultants, Kate Paulson; and Foundation Director, Dotty Farwell notified the group in November 2000. In January 2001, Collegiate Development Consultants Melissa Hansen and Katie Hopper, and the Expansion team began colonization week by presenting a mini philanthropy party. Potential members stayed to make “occluders,” which were donated to the Preschool Center for the Sensory Impaired at the Alabama Center for the Blind. The next day they interviewed potential new members and one interviewee, shared her opinion by saying, “Delta Gamma Fraternity has one of the most esteemed reputations in the country, and I feel that could exemplify the characteristics of a Delta Gamma sister.” Delta Pi- Southern Mississippi members also came to assist the colonization process by presenting their preference ceremony. The final day was a celebration with the Pi Alpha ceremony and bid day. On February 3, 2001, forty-seven Spring Hill College members became colonizing members of the Eta Eta chapter of Delta Gamma. On April 22, 2001, forty-five colonizing new members where initiated into Delta Gamma. Just a few hours later the group was installed as the fraternity’s newest chapter, Eta Eta, in the local Catholic church with an Installation Banquet being held at the Mobile Country Club. The Mobile alumnae served as hostesses and support for the new chapter. Besides the entire expansion team and alumnae, the college provided the help of the Assistant Dean of Students, Justin Daffron, who assisted the women from recruitment to installation.