History

Phi Chapter

On April 29, 1951, Phi Chapter was installed at the Park Place Hotel by state officers. The charter members were active in raising money for scholarships. Interestingly, they sold home-made apple butter in pottery jars and Christmas angels; they held a bazaar and three public dinners. Students at Northwestern Michigan College and Interlochen were beneficiaries. Disbursement of other funds went to the World Fellowship Fund to assist foreign women educators pursuing graduate studies in this country.

In these early days, members were hostesses to meetings in their own homes. As membership grew, Phi women met in area schools, bank and business meeting rooms, Gilbert Lodge, T.C. Public Library, and the like.

A unique treasure of Phi Chapter is the series of scrap books {pictured below} creatively decorated with Michigan and Delta Kappa Symbols by Alethia Brown, featuring significant accomplishments of members, recognitions, and awards.

Our grateful thanks to these pioneers of Phi Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, for paving the way to our present organization.

Alpha Iota State - Michigan

The National Delta Kappa Gamma Society was nine years old when Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, the National Founder, made the long trip by train from Austin, Texas, to Lansing, Michigan, to officiate at the ceremonies which would initiate the Michigan Founders and install the first two chapters of the state. The Hotel Olds was the site where, on Saturday, May 28, 1938, fifteen of the nineteen women from Michigan colleges and universities who had accepted the invitation of Dr. Blanton to be Founders were initiated. Upon its founding in 2006, Phi became part of the Northern Lights Coordinating Council.

Delta Kappa Gamma International Society

The Charter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society filed with the State of Texas in 1929 reflects Blanton’s values and vision and defines the objective of the organization as it still exists: This corporation is formed for educational and benevolent purposes, particularly for extending aid to women teachers and students by means of founding scholarships for study, for developing loyalty and high ideals in the teaching profession, and for conferring distinction upon women members of the teaching perspective.

As an organization, DKG worked on behalf of teachers’ retirement funds, promoted salary equity for women teachers, and developed recruitment brochures for the teaching profession. As the organization grew and increased in numbers, it also produced strong, visible leaders who could mentor other would-be leaders for roles in both the Society and the profession.

DKG has promoted professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education for over 90 years, with 75,000+ members in 17 countries, 50 States, the District of Columbia & Puerto Rico, and 41 Chapters in Michigan.