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Our Founders


Marguerite Shepard
Marguerite served as chapter vice-president until her graduation, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She helped write and made many valuable suggestions for both the Ritual and Constitution. Marguerite was First Grand Vice-President from 1907-1909 and Second Grand President from 1909-1910.


Ethel Brown Distin
At Syracuse it was her admiration for the aims of Alpha Gamma Delta and for Jennie Titus that brought her into the new fraternity. Ethel was president of Alpha Chapter from 1905-1906.


Georgia Dickover
At the close of her freshman year in college she became the third member of Alpha Gamma Delta. With Edith MacConnell Hickock she worked long and faithfully in compiling the Ritual. She was on the first committee on the Constitution. As president of Alpha Chapter, Georgia had the honor of presiding at the first session of the First National Convention of the Fraternity in May 1907. Georgia served as Historian of the Fraternity for 18 years. Georgia was a wearer of the Circle of Epsilon Pi.


Flora Knight Mayer
While a sophomore she became acquainted with our Founders through Edith MacConnell and Georgia Dickover. Flora served on several important committees and always actively participated in fraternity activities, although she held no particular office except that of chapter pianist. Music in those early days of group living meant much in helping to strengthen bonds and to build a structure of real beauty.


Emily Helen Butterfield
In the spring of 1906 she completed the Alpha Gamma Delta Coat of Arms. Emily was the architect of the Alpha Gamma Delta Summer Camp Lodges and the Alpha and Chi Chapter houses. Emily also served seven years as the Editor of the Quarterly. Emily was a wearer of the Circle of Epsilon Pi.


Georgia Otis Chipman
In college, Georgia and her roommate Grace were the staunchest of friends. In the development of the ritual, Georgia wrote the part concerning Gamma. At different times she was recording secretary and vice-president of Alpha Chapter. From 1909-1911 Georgia served as the first business manager of the Quarterly.

 

Jennie Titus Smith Morris
She served as the first president of the Alpha Chapter. She is the author of the songs "Friendship" and "To Thee" and a considerable part of the Ritual. Jennie wore the first Badge and treasured it always. Jennie was Grand President from the First National Convention, May 1907, until the third, May 1911.


Estelle Shepard Beswick
She is the author of "The Alpha Gamma Delta Girl" and with Emily Helen Butterfield, co-author of "The Alpha Gamma Delta Goat", both popular songs in the early days. Estelle graduated in 1908 with Phi Beta Kappa and in the fall of 1909 became the first editor of the Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly.


Edith MacConnell Hickock
When a freshman in Syracuse in April 1904, a fall on the ice so injured her that she spent the period of Alpha Gamma Delta's founding in a hospital. At her home in the fall, however, she and Georgia Dickover wrote the beginning of the Initiation Ritual. Soon after she sent the chapter its first songs, "Autumn Tints" and the "Initiation Song". Edith was the mother of the first Alpha Gamma Delta baby.


Grace Mosher Harter
She served as vice-president and also helped with the installation of Gamma Chapter at Wesleyan University. Grace, also known as Midge, had the reputation of being a gracious hostess. In fact, Grace seldom went home without her sisters. Through the years, no home was thought to be more hospitable to Alpha Gamma Deltas and no hostess more thoughtful, generous or cordial.


Mary Louise Snider
During her freshman year at Syracuse, her friendship with the Shepard girls led her to join in the fraternity founding. In the winter of 1906, Mary carried on the correspondence, which resulted in the installation of Gamma Chapter at Wesleyan University. Mary was president in 1909 and presided at the Installation of Zeta Chapter at Ohio University.

     


To find out more about our founders, go to the
official Alpha Gamma Delta website.