Alpha Gamma Delta was founded at Syracuse University on May 30, 1904 at the home of Dr. Wellesley Perry Coddington, a Syracuse University professor. It is the youngest of the Syracuse Triad, the three National Panhellenic Conference organizations founded at Syracuse University. The other two, Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta, were founded in 1872 and 1874, respectively.
By 1901, all seven of the founding National Panhellenic Conference organizations had chapters at Syracuse. Dr. Coddington felt that the campus needed another women’s fraternity. He approached several young female students and discussions ensued. Though excitement started to grow, the women managed to keep very quiet the possibility of another organization on campus. Edith MacConnell was recovering from a serious accident and was a patient at the Homeopathic Hospital. Not even the nurses attending to her had any idea what was taking place, despite the steady stream of visitors to her room.
The announcement in the Daily Orange, the school’s newspaper, noted, “A new Greek-letter fraternity has been organized among the women of the university. The name is Alpha Gamma Delta and the members thus far are: Marguerite Shepard, ’05; Jennie C. Titus, ’05; Georgia Otis, ’06; Ethel E. Brown, ’06; Flora M. Knight, ’06, Estelle Shepard, ’06; Emily H. Butterfield, ’07; Edith MacConnell, ’07; Grace R. Mosher, ’07; Mary L. Snider, ’07.”
Four of the Alpha Gamma Delta Founders are in this picture.
One hundred years ago, Ruth Pauline Evans, Alpha Gamma Delta’s Second Vice President, had just become Mrs. Earl Stanton Ramharter. An alumna of the University of Washington chapter, on February 25, 1911, she was initiated by the chapter there. In addition to her Alpha Gam duties, she taught domestic science at Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington.
The editor of the Alpha Gama Delta Quarterly, Edith V. Sage, wrote in the May 1915 issue, “We are interested in the lovely wedding of our second Grand Vice President and National Scholarship Officer, Ruth Evans, whom we will greet at Convention as Mrs. Earl Stanton Ramharter of Oakes, North Dakota. Jane Williams writes the news of the sweetest prettiest afternoon wedding at the home of Ruth’s brother, Mr Llewellyn Evans, April seventeenth in Tacoma, Wash.” Williams wrote of the ceremony:
The house was a veritable bower of dogwood and wild cherry blossoms, interspersed with baskets of yellow daisies. Mrs. Evans was assisted by Ruth’s sister, Helen, and Mrs. Clara Wilt. For years Marie Gabel has promised to sing Because for Ruth, whenever her day should be, and while she rendered it in the dear sweet way she has, accompanied by Alice Gottfeldt, the bridal party entered. I was Ruth’s bridesmaid and my gown was yellow crepe de Chine and cream colored lace, and my shower bouquet was of lavender and pink sweet peas. Next came Virginia Evans, Ruth’s cousin, the maid of honor. Her gown was old gold velvet and gold lace over flesh-colored satin and she carried a shower bouquet of lavender and white sweet peas. Ruth’s father gave her away. She looked perfectly darling in her hand embroidered, imported gown, which blended mistily with her beautiful shower bouquet of white roses and lilies-of-the-valley. The simple service was read by Professor George Huntington, her cousin, in a bower of cherry blossoms where she was met by the groom and his best man, R.L. Bush of Kent, Montana. As soon as the benediction was pronounced and congratulations were being received the Alpha Gamma Delta girls sang the Rose Song.
A number of the chapter girls assisted in the dining room. Clare Criswell cut the bridal cake, and discovered the ring. Happy omen! But Helen Littell found the button.
After donning her trim little traveling suit, and hat, Ruth threw her bouquet, which Clare Criswell and Elsie Quilliam both claim to have caught. After making brief visits in Minneapolis and Stillwater, Minn., Ruth and Earl will be at home in Oakes, N. Dak. It has been a pretty busy spring for Ruth with her trip to California to install Omicron and her own preparations. Mr. Ramharter is a Cornell man so they have many interests in common.
Ruth Pauline Evans as a student at the University of Washington (courtesy of UW)
Happy Founders’ Day, Alpha Gamma Delta!
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2015. All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory/
