Founding Date

May 2nd, 1987

Founded by Virginia Baptists in 1830 as a manual labor institute for men wishing to become ministers, the school was incorporated ten years later as Richmond College. After 1834, the Columbia House was the main academic building of Richmond College. The college invested all of its funds in Confederate war bonds during the Civil War, and the outcome of the war left it bankrupt. In 1866, James Thomas donated $5,000 to reopen the college. In 1894, the college elected Dr. Frederic W. Boatwright president, who ultimately raised the funds needed to move the college in 1914 from its original downtown location to a new 350-acre campus in what is now the Westhampton area of Richmond, and in doing so created Westhampton College for Women. The institution was renamed University of Richmond in 1920. In the spring of 1986, after several years of consideration, the University of Richmond’s Board of Trustees gave approval for the implementation of a sorority system. Twenty-four of the 26 NPC groups were interested in the site for expansion, but only nine were asked to make formal presentations. From these nine, six were chosen to establish in early 1987; this may have been the largest simultaneous NPC establishment ever. The Zeta Gamma chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity was established in the first sorority rush at the University of Richmond, which began on February 7, 1987. Preference was conducted by women of Delta Rho-Virginia Tech, as well as Fraternity President Maureen Syring, Nu-Idaho and Daylene Wood, Epsilon-Ohio State. On February 14, 1987, Delta Gamma pledged 89 outstanding women in the South Court Pink Room on campus. The pledge ceremony was attended by enthusiastic Richmond alumnae, including three 50-year members. The first meeting of the new chapter was held on February 17. The Executive Board was elected with Missy Sadler as president and Dawn Bethea as vice-president: programming. During the first spring semester, the Delta Gammas at Richmond held their first Pledge Retreat and participated in Greek Week, Derby Days, and a Panhellenic Semiformal Dance, which was organized by Delta Gamma new members. On May 2, 1987, 87 women of the Zeta Gamma chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity were initiated into the sisterhood. The Initiation ceremony took place at The Hyatt Richmond. At the Installation luncheon, Fraternity President Syring presented the charter to Missi Sadler. The president’s and scholarship pins were presented to the chapter by the Richmond alumnae, and a gavel was the gift of the Delta Gamma Council. The chapter got off to a great start in the fall of 1987 by organizing their first Anchor Splash®. The following January 17, the chapter members carried out their first formal recruitment and initiated 55 women on April 16, 1988. Throughout the more than 20 years that Zeta Gamma has been a chapter, it has been honored with many awards from the Fraternity. They have won the Patricia Peterson Danielson award 18 times, as well as the George Banta Collegiate Award at the 1992 Convention and the Outstanding Collegiate Chapter at the 2002 Convention, among others. Zeta Gamma has continued to excel at the University of Richmond especially through our internationally recognized philanthropy, Service for Sight. Delta Gammas at Richmond actively support the World Pediatric Project, formally known as the International Hospital for Children, spending time with eye patients and sharing Richmond with their families. Recently, they have begun teaching lessons on Helen Keller and providing sight education at many elementary schools. They actively participate in VisionWalk, an awareness walk sponsored by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and have been actively involved with the local chapter of the Lion’s Club, assisting in their local events. Sisters have volunteered with Charity Denim and the Virginia Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments. Zeta Gamma has always strived to support one another in academic endeavors. In the spring semester of 2010, Delta Gamma had the highest chapter average GPA as well as the highest new member GPA.