Daily Alpha Gamma Delta Fact
 

Okay ladies, by popular demand, I'm instituting a new thread...each day I will try to post a new and unusual Alpha Gamma Delta fact, courtesy of my 1931 Quarterly.

So for July 23, 2001:
The 1927 Convention Motto was "Achievement, Generosity, Dignity"

...which I think is still a wonderful motto for us to live up to today.

Thanks so much Maria! Mottos like that are timeless...something we should all remember!

i agree maria....that is a great saying...this is going to be a really great thread!

Here's a fact for July 24, 2001:

Alpha Gamma Delta has actually had two badges. Our first badge--as it was worn on the day of our Founding--was a monogram with the Alpha chased on the bottom, the Gamma plain in the middle, and the Delta on top set in pearls. If you can envision it, it was basically backwards from what our badge is today.

Our Founders so disliked it that they commissioned jeweler J.F. Newman to come up with several new designs. The new badge was selected by Alpha on November 19, 1904. That badge was the one we all know, love, and wear proudly to this day.

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"To hold truth inviolable, sincerity essential, kindness invaluable."

that could also be Syracuse Triad spirit!

You're right Leslie! LOL

hearing things like that makes me happy! you're right that slogan fits this situation perfectly

Hi Ladies!

Our Fact for July 25th 2001:

How is this for Panhellenic Spirit? The group of women who became Epsilon Gamma Chapter in Colorado was brought to Alpha Gamma Delta's attention by Lindsey Barbee, who was a Grand President of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She was the one who recommended Alpha Gamma Delta to the young women; she handled the correspondence back and forth; she sponsored the chapter all throughout the extension process; and she was their main Patroness through their colonization and even after they became a chapter!

This wonderful Gamma Phi Beta is a shining example of the slogan: "No matter the letter, we're all Greek together!"

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"To hold truth inviolable, sincerity essential, kindness invaluable."

[This message has been edited by greeklawgirl (edited July 25, 2001).]

I know that this is not a 'fact,' but I liked it so much that I want to share it with all of you!

So for July 26, 2001:
"Beloved Pins"
by Constance Frazier, Nu

Beloved pins, dear letters three,
How very much you mean to me!
How much of dream and prayer and song
And spirit-things to you belong!

How much of vision clear and true,
How much of service speaks in you.
But not in gems nor fine-wrought gold
Can half your worth to us be told.

Maria, when you get a chance, I think we'd all really like a new Alpha Gam fact...I look forward to this every day now!

Girls, I'm so sorry. The fact is going to be a little late today. I've been unusually busy this morning (2 bankruptcies, 2 divorces). Yikes! It'll be up in about 2 hours.

thanks Maria, we luv ya and hope you get everything finished! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks, Leslie!

Since I am on a badge 'theme' the past day or two, here we go for July 27th 2001:

Alpha Gamma Delta has had:
not one...
not two...
but three, count 'em, THREE
pledge pins.

Our first pledge pin was a plain stickpin with our Greek letters across it (similar to AEPhi's Badge). Our Founders disliked it so much that only a few were purchased in the first few months.

Our second pledge pin was designed by J.F Newman in 1904. He also designed our present-day badge. The second pledge pin was almost triangle shaped. This is as best as I can describe it: It had a large Gamma standing straight up. The Alpha and Delta were smaller and sort of leaned diagonally against the Gamma.

At the 1913 Convention, Alpha Gamma Delta authorized the design of a third pledge pin. It is the one we all wore "on a shield, parti per pale, or and vert, a fess, gules." Our most brilliant Emily Butterfield designed it. Is there anything that woman couldn't do?

[This message has been edited by greeklawgirl (edited July 27, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by greeklawgirl (edited July 27, 2001).]

Our Fact for July 28, 2001:

On July 19, 1919, Grand Council unanimously approved our first national philanthropy: a summer camp for children.

In the very early years of its operation, each Alpha Gamma Delta alumnae and undergraduate chapter was required to raise $25 and donate one outfit of clothing for a child per year.

Ladies, I didn't do one yesterday...I forgot. My bad! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif

But here is a fact for August 1:
According to the 1931 Quarterly, AGD had a special pin for colonies. It was a gold feather with an "Alpha" and "Gamma" in gold, and the "Delta" was a black enamel triangle. While each chapter was going through its colonization, it was known to the public as "Alpha Gamma" instead of "so and so colony of Alpha Gamma Delta."

Does anyone know if we still have a special pin for colonies? I thought everyone got the pledge pin. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif

I don't know about the pin for colonies. Maybe we didn't have it because we had previously been an installed chapter, but I thought that we were a colony during our new member term, and then during initiation we were installed as a chapter. Throughout our new member term we all had pledge pins, not the colony pin.

Okay girls, I realize that I've been slacking on this post, but here is a fun little tidbit for August 3:

In the earliest years of Alpha Gamma Delta, when sisters wanted to announce their engagement, her fiance would send the house a five pound box of candy!

Hmmm. Candlepassing was lot of fun, but in my opinion it could be improved upon with a box of chocolates. Maybe we need to start doing this again! :P

Hhhmmmm...about the box of candy...I could definitely see my chapter reestablishing this tradition. How did that ever fade out in the first place? Then again, after seeing some of the rings the sisters at my chapter have, their fiances probably couldn't afford the candy. =)

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Whitney

[This message has been edited by Laine4JC (edited August 03, 2001).]

Ladies, in answer to your questions about how chapters are named, here is the fact for August 7:

At the 1909 convention, Grand Council decided to create four provinces: Alpha in the Northeast, Gamma in the Southeast, Beta in the Midwest, and Delta in the West. Sometime after 1909 but before 1922, Epsilon Province was created to govern the lower Midwest.

After Omega chapter was chartered in 1922, all chapters thereafter were named by the province that they were in, NOT in Greek alphabetical order. For instance:

While Alpha Zeta chapter was founded in 1930, Delta Alpha chapter was founded in 1923. Epsilon Alpha was founded in 1922.

Hope this clears things up! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Thought I should clarify something in the previous message. While the first letter identifies which province your chapter is located in, the second letter identifies installation order.

For example: Delta Pi and Delta Rho are both in the West. Delta Pi was installed in March of 1991, and Delta Rho was installed about a week later. Its the second letter that goes in chronological and alphabetical order.

Hope I haven't muddied this up. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Maria I have a question about the chapters' names. According to that info, it seems like my chapter would be a Gamma chapter. I go to North Georgia and my chapter is Theta Delta. It's been a long day, so I may be misreading something or overlooking something. Why would my chapter be named Theta Delta if it is located in GA? I know you may not know this, but it never hurts to ask, right? =) Thanks!

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Whitney

Hi Whitney,

No, you're not overlooking anything! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I am not exactly sure about the answer to your question because the Quarterly is from 1931, so I'm fuzzy on events after that.

My best guess is that we ran through the Greek alphabet with Gamma province, so they moved onto another letter to denote your geographical location. If you look at a map, you'll notice that the Theta chapters are primarily in the South.

Anyone else want to take a stab at this? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif

Interesting facts http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif You guys have an awesome Motto http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


On another note.

My sister-in-law Jeannine went to an AGD alum function last night and had a great time. She mentioned that sometime in Oct. that there is going to be a wine and cheese function where she might be able to invite her husband(my brother) and me. So I thought that was kind of cool.

Theta is the South's ID for now. My chapter is Theta Upsilon and the one before is Belmont and they are a theta and Tampa is a theta. For some reason IHQ doesn't like for this to get out, my LC (Shawna) wouldn't tell anyone what the Chapter was to be. Go figure!

Hee hee, Leslie, you caught me! I'll have to look a new one up and post it later this afternoon. I was going to bid on another manual from Ebay, from Theta Sigma Upsilon--the sorority that we took over in the 50's--but bidding has already gone up to $61! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif I would love to own it but I just can't afford that--that's a week's worth of groceries for us!

Okay, ladies, I have a really interesting fact for this thread. It is not so much an Alpha Gamma Delta fact, but a flower fact.

We're all wondering what a "buff rose" really looks like. So go ahead and do a search for something called a "Lady Banks Rose." It is a true buff rose that you can still buy at a nursery.

Here's the interesting fact: The "Lady Banks Rose" holds the Guinness Book World Record for the World's Largest Rose Bush. It was planted in 1855 by a homesick bride in Tombstone, Arizona, home of the Gunfight at the OK Corral.

I've seen this rose bush many times! It wraps halfway around the block. Just think, all this time I thought that I would never see a real buff rose when I've admired that darn rose bush my entire life! (Did I ever tell you girls that I lived in Tucson for several years? :confused: My parents still live there and I go back all the time.)

Daily fact for 10/01/01

Alpha Gamma Delta is the best sorority there is!!!:D
You gals are the best and thats a fact!

I don't know this guy, but I like him! :)
Hey, actually if you go to google.com and type in buff rose they bring up several types of buff colored roses, but the one mentioned isn't one of them. Another fun thing, one of my pledge sister's dad is a TKE and he saw our Armorial bearings and was like "hey, that looks familiar... wonder what that means!" and winked at her and she was like "well, you know, Emily Helen Butterfield did ours and a few others..." and winked back... I thought that was cute.
Love you all and I hope all is well!
Sarah

In honor of our Fraternity's beloved flowers, our "fact" for October 1, 2001:

"Our Roses," sung to "Love's Old Sweet Song"
by Constance Frazier, Nu

Once in the dear, old days beyond recall,
When in the world mists began to fall
Out of the dusk a red rose came to birth,
Shedding its frangrance o'er the weary earth.
All illumined came that earth to be,
Through Alpha's symbol of fraternity.
Alpha Gamma Delta's votaries are we,
Pledged within the circle to fraternity;
We are faithful to her,
Loyal ever we
Hail, red rose of Alpha, all hail to thee!

Scarce had the red rose its first fragrance shed,
When down beside it the message was sped,
And from the shadows Gamma's rose sprang too
Bringing its message to me and to you.
And the world wiser grew as each one knows,
All through the mystic power of one buff rose.
Alpha Gamma Delta's votaries are we,
Pledged within the circle to fraternity;
We are faithful to her,
Loyal ever we
Hail, buff rose of Gamma, all hail to thee!

Softly about them, twining tenderly,
Shielding the roses all unconsciously,
Green leaves of Delta clung from day to day
As now they cling in the self-same way.
And what to us the symbol is and means,
So to the roses is Delta's green.
Alpha Gamma Delta's votaries are we,
Pledged within the circle to fraternity;
We are faithful to her,
Loyal ever we
Hail, green leaves of Delta, hail to thee!

Bumping this back up to the top...
 

Ladies, an interesting AGD fact for November 5, 2001:

Founder Grace Mosher Harter comes from a quite distinguished family: her father's family goes back 19 generations to the British Royal family; and 11 generations back to the Mayflower!

Her mother's family was part of the Robertson clan, which is descended from the Scottish Malcolm III, who will be forever remembered as the man who defeated Macbeth.

Cool, huh?

:cool:

Maria, that's awesome! Thanks for sharing, I love reading that kind of cool stuff! :)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...
 

Crazy Alpha Gamma Delta trivia for the day:

Marguerite and Estelle Shepard descended from a family of four brothers that emigrated from England in the 1600s. The one brother whom Marguerite and Estelle are directly descended from was killed and eaten by a shark in Massachusetts Bay.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Maria,

I copied and pasted some of the daily facts into my chapter report tonight and I shared these tidbits with my sisters...

They were so amazed to find out all these neat things!

Keep up the great work!

As I was searching for another post, I came across this one. I think it's about time we dusted it off and learned some new history.

This isn't as exciting as Maria's tid-bits, but former NPC Chairwoman Louise Leonard was the one for whom our original foundation was named after...The Louise Leonard Fund was established in 1954 and later incorported into the Founder's Memorial Fund (established 1959) in 1974, when it became SIS. In 1990, the Founder's Memorial Fund became the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation.

Does anyone know what year she was NPC Chairwoman?

Louise Leonard (Alpha-Syracuse U) served as Chairman of the NPC in 1928-1930.

Let's not forget about Myra Vedder Foxworthy (Upsilon-U. of Oklahoma), who also served as NPC Chairman in 1973-1975!!!

Board positions for NPC are based on a rotation schedule...which is based on the org.'s entrance into the NPC...so...who knows when an AGD will once again serve as Chair? As you can see, my math sucks!

???
 

This thread is GREAT!

Maria, what happened to the daily facts??? :D

Ha! I got too busy running around with the Junior Circle...wild and crazy girls that they are! :D

Since you want the thread resurrected, here's a new fact:

Alpha Gamma Delta Price List, circa 1954:

10K Plain Badge...$8.00
Badge with Tiffany Diamond...$17.00
Crown Pearl Badge...$16.50
10K Mother's Pin...$5.50
Pledge Pin...60 cents
Monogram Recognition Pin...$1.50

Funny how things change in nearly 50 years, huh? :)

WOW! Check out that price list! :) This is an *awesome* thread!!! I'll have to dust off some some of the old Quarterlies I have with history info...

And I did find a pic of the Lady Banks (buff) Rose - very purty!
http://www.timelessroses.com/images/...ybanksrose.JPG

I think the "Delta Gamma Rose" is also close to a buff... how cool is that to have a rose named after their fraternity? :)
http://www.deltagamma.org/pics/rosebush.jpg

I was reading through this thread and I think this topic came up again recently. Someone was asking about a pin for colonies or charter members.

Great thread!!!

Did you know that Alpha Gamma Delta joined NPC only five years after our founding!! In 1909...Wow! Marguerite Shepard was our representative.

Also, DeltaBabeAGD, I was a charter member and while we were a colony we had the pledge pin we have today and where " the colony of Alpha Gamma Delta" not known as Alpha Gamma . No one from IHQ even discussed this stuff so I dont think they have that anymore.