Founding Date

May 20th, 1972

The Alabama Legislature chartered the institution as the East Alabama Male College on February 1, 1856, coming under the guidance of the Methodist Church in 1859. Its first president was Reverend William J. Sasnett, and the school opened its doors in 1859 to a student body of eighty and a faculty of ten. Auburn's early history is inextricably linked with the Civil War and the Reconstruction-era South. Classes were held in "Old Main" until the college was closed due to the war, when most of the students and faculty left to enlist. The campus was a training ground for the Confederate Army, and "Old Main" served as a hospital for Confederate wounded. To commemorate Auburn's contribution to the Civil War, a cannon lathe used for the manufacture of cannons for the Confederate Army and recovered from Selma, Alabama, was presented to the college in 1952 by brothers of Delta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. It sits today on the lawn next to Samford Hall. Auburn University had a strong and well-established Panhellenic system for over 100 years, when Dean Catherine Cater contacted Delta Gamma expressing her wish that Delta Gamma colonize at Auburn. An organizational meeting was held in February, 1972, and by May 20th of that year Delta Sigma was installed. Much help was received from devoted local alumnae, Cable Award winner Mrs. Shirley Bartels and Mrs. Eleanor Slaughter. Delta Sigma chapter represented Delta Gamma as the 14th sorority colonized at Auburn. Thus, Delta Sigma was chartered as the 100th chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity and the second chapter in the state of Alabama. The chapter hit some turbulence in the mid- eighties and found it difficult to reach quota and campus total. After very thorough correspondence between the chapter, alumnae, and Council and after exhausting all possible suggestions and options the Delta Sigma charter was withdrawn on January 24, 1988. Many collegiate letters in support of the chapter are still held in the archives at Delta Gamma Executive Offices. A ceremony performed in the home of Shirley Bartels included the presence of fifty-eight Delta Gammas and allowed for several collegians and alumnae to express their feelings for Delta Gamma Fraternity. Though the Fraternity never took a full rest from attempting to recolonize at Auburn, 2002 was a buzz year and the possibility of recolonization began to resurface. Beth Searcy, current Fraternity President and VP: Collegians and Director of Expansion in February, 2003 reported a positive response to the planned recolonization of Delta Sigma. After three days of hard work by the colonization team Shari Malone released a memorandum to announce the pledging of approximately130 new members boasting five legacies, and an average GPA of 3.0. The Inspiration Ceremony was held on Saturday, April 5, 2003 at 7:30 PM and was performed by members of the Installation Team. On Sunday, April 6, 2003 at 3:30 PM, 129 women were initiated into Delta Gamma Fraternity including one alumna initiate. At 5PM people began arriving for the Installation Banquet being held at the Conference Center. Beth Searcy reported that after meeting with the women and their families that everyone felt very confident that Delta Sigma was back with a terrific start!