Our History
The Founding of
THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International was founded May 11, 1929, at the Faculty Women’s Club at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas. Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, member of the faculty of the University of Texas and a former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, conceived the idea of an honorary organization for women educators and selected eleven other Texas women to help her found The Delta Kappa Gamma Society. The founders believed that there was need of an organization in which women educators of all types—rural and urban teachers; preschool, elementary, high school, and university teachers; librarians; school administrators; supervisors—might be united for efforts toward better professional preparation, fairer recognition of women’s work in the teaching profession preparation and more scholarships for those who need aid in improving their professional preparation.
ALPHA IOTA GENEALOGY
Alpha Iota Chapter was organized April 23, 1932, with members from three counties: Wharton, Matagorda, and Fort Bend. In 1943-44 Brazoria County became part of the family. Calhoun County was also under Alpha Iota’s jurisdiction, but the beginning date is not known. In 1946 Alpha Iota was asked to assist in reorganizing a chapter for Jackson and Victoria Counties. On November 26, 1948, Alpha Iota released Brazoria County to form its own chapter. February 20, 1960, was the organizing date for two more daughter chapters, Zeta Alpha (Matagorda County) and Epsilon Omega (Fort Bend County). As early as 1934 Jackson and Victoria Counties had been Alpha Kappa Chapter. At some later date it had become inactive and Alpha Iota was asked to assist them in reorganizing a new chapter, Delta Lambda, on December 11, 1954. Four Jackson county members were transferred from Alpha Iota to their new chapter. Alpha Kappa is now in Lubbock County. In 1958 Eula Lee Carter asked Alpha Iota to release Calhoun County from their jurisdiction to form Epsilon Pi on April 4, 1959. Granddaughter and Foster-Granddaughter chapters of Alpha Iota are: Lambda Sigma, February 13, 1982, daughter chapter of Epsilon Omega of Fort Bend County; Eta Omega (Lake Jackson) and Eta Psi (Sweeny), March 26, 1966, daughter chapters of Delta Delta of Brazoria County; Lambda Chi (Angleton), November 6, 1982, daughter chapter of Eta Psi, Sweeny, granddaughter chapter of Delta Delta and great-granddaughter chapter of Eta Psi, Sweeny, granddaughter chapter of Delta Delta and great-granddaughter chapter of Alpha Iota; Eta Pi (Victoria), September 26, 1964, daughter chapter of Delta Lambda of Jackson and Victoria Counties. Alpha Iota, the oldest chapter in Area IV and number thirty-three in Texas, is or has been a part of eleven of the fourteen chapters within this Alpha State jurisdiction.
Currently we are comprised of members from all areas of Wharton County.
Currently we are comprised of members from all areas of Wharton County.
Last revision: February 14, 2017