Founding Date

May 10th, 1958

The Territorial Normal School, Arizona’s first higher education institution, opened on February 8, 1886. In 1901, state legislature changed the legal name to Tempe Normal School; by 1923 had been changed to the Tempe State Teachers College, and shortly thereafter in 1929 was changed to Arizona State Teacher’s College. The name again changed in 1945 to the Arizona State College at Tempe and was finally named Arizona State University on December 5, 1958 by governor executive order. As early as 1948, consideration was given to Arizona State as a campus for Delta Gamma expansion. Delta Gamma and the Arizona alumnae took a "watch and wait" attitude. Alpha Pi-Arizona, founded in 1923, was the only Delta Gamma chapter in Arizona at the time. In June 1957, the Arizona State administration and Panhellenic Council invited Delta Gamma to establish during the second semester of 1957-58. Alpha Phi was invited to establish as well. Because this invitation came at a time when it could not be presented to Convention, Council decided to send an official investigating committee to visit the school in October. One of the comments in the report of the committee was: "Because of the rapid growth of the Southwest in general, and Arizona in particular, we feel that Delta Gamma should increase her strength in the state. There definitely seems to be need for more than one chapter in Arizona." The required area vote of the five nearest collegiate chapters and the five nearest alumnae chapters was also in favor of the new chapter. Establishment was held in February of 1958. Members of Alpha Pi chapter conducted the evening rush parties and the local alumnae were in charge of the teas and coke parties during the day. Chi Omega and Alpha Delta Pi kindly gave Delta Gamma the use of their rooms for the evening parties. Twenty-five elated girls were formally pledged by Alpha Pi members. Field Secretary Shirley Kubik, Beta Kappa-Kansas, was assigned to the colony to direct pledge training and to work with the chapter advisers. On Saturday, May 10, 1958, the new chapter was official installed as Gamma Phi. Alpha Pi conducted the Initiation of 21 collegians and 13 patronesses at the North Congregational Church in Phoenix. A formal Installation banquet was held at the Camelback Inn. On Sunday a reception honoring the chapter and formally introducing the members to the student body and faculty was held in the Memorial Union Building. By 1960, the chapter had established a strong presence on campus. The '70s were a decade of involvement. In 1976 the chapter was first on campus in philanthropic work. The chapter sponsored a guide dog and named it "Hannah." With Sigma Phi Epsilon, they raised money for five needy children in the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains. Ice cream socials were an annual affair and very successful in raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The first Anchor Splash® was held in 1980 and has continued to be a yearly event. Members of Gamma Phi have given countless volunteer hours over the years to the Phoenix Open golf tournament. In 1991 they received the outstanding participation award for work in Greek Week benefiting a camp for kids with cancer. Other projects include recruiting for ASU blood drive, Save the Family, a Halloween party for sight-impaired children, and participation in Art of the Eye in Tempe. The chapter created an endowed memorial scholarship in 1996 to honor the memory of Michelle Lucienne Chaudoin. It is presented each year (preferably to a member of Gamma Phi) by the Delta Gamma Foundation. The original housing is the same as it was when the chapter first established. Each sorority shares a dorm on campus called Palo Verde Main and has its own floor with a chapter room and kitchen.