Founding Date

May 1st, 1971

The University of Southern Mississippi was founded on March 30, 1910 as Mississippi Normal College, the state’s first teacher-training school. The college's first president, Joseph Anderson Cook, presided over the opening session of instruction on September 18, 1912 and oversaw the construction of College Hall (the academic building); Forrest County Hall (men's and married students' dormitory); Hattiesburg Hall (women's dormitory); the Industrial Cottage (training laboratory for home management); and the president's home (now the Ogletree Alumni House). In its first session, Mississippi Normal College had a total enrollment of 876 students. As the school developed its curriculum and departments, its name changed to reflect its progress: in 1924, to Mississippi State Teachers College, and in 1940, to Mississippi Southern College. The college's fifth president, State Archivist Dr. William David McCain, was installed in 1955 and worked to expand Mississippi Southern College. He oversaw the construction of 17 new structures on campus and convinced Gov. Ross Barnett to upgrade the school to university status in recognition of its graduate programs. On February 27, 1962, Barnett signed the bill into law which officially renamed the school as the University of Southern Mississippi. On January 25, 1970, Delta Pi became a colony of Delta Gamma with 17 members. Thirty women from Gamma Zeta- Louisiana State helped with the colony’s first informal party and preference tea. Eight members from Delta Lambda- Mississippi State and six members from Alpha Psi- Mississippi also assisted with recruitment. In one year, the colony doubled in size. The installation celebration took place the weekend of April 30- May 2, 1971. The Delta Pi chapter of Delta Gamma was installed on May 1 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, with the help of Delta Lambda- Mississippi State. Later, a banquet was held at the Holiday Inn South with over 300 people in attendance. Everyone wore long formals and dinner jackets to the banquet. Mary Comfort Leonard’s niece, Helen Comfort Sanders, was initiated as a Patroness. Eleanor Smith Slaughter, NPC Delegate at the time, presented the Delta Pi charter to the chapter president, Lynn Thompson. Delta Pi was installed at Delta Gamma’s 98th chapter during Delta Gamma’s 98th year, and became Delta Gamma’s third chapter in the state of Mississippi. A formal reception was held on Sunday afternoon in the Delta Gamma suite. In 1991, Delta Pi established the Cathy Egley Waggoner Award to honor Cathy’s work with the Fraternity as the developer of the Well Aware program. Delta Gamma collegians began living in the current chapter house in the fall of 2007. It is a part of The Village, which consists of 9 houses, and is located on Montague Street on campus.