Alpha Delta Gamma
ΑΔΓ
FoundedOctober 10, 1924; 99 years ago (1924-10-10)
Loyola University Chicago
TypeCatholic Social
AffiliationNIC
ScopeNational
Motto"Γνωσθεντες εφ Φιλων"
Known to Friends
Colors  Scarlet Red   Gold
Flag
FlowerRed Carnation
PublicationAlphadelity
History of ADG,
Mark of Honor
PhilanthropyHabitat for Humanity
Chapters12
NicknameADGs
G's
Alpha Delts
Delts
InsectPraying Mantis
Headquarters946 Sanders Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63126
United States
Websitewww.alphadeltagamma.org

Alpha Delta Gamma (ΑΔΓ), commonly known as ADG, is an American Greek-letter Catholic social fraternity and one of 75 members of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Based on Christian principles and the traditions of the Jesuit Order of the Catholic Church,[1] Alpha Delta Gamma was founded at Loyola University Chicago on October 10, 1924, as a response to the unwillingness of most national fraternities to colonize at Catholic colleges and universities.

Since its founding, Alpha Delta Gamma has expanded conservatively to keep a small but strong brotherhood; thus, the fraternity has chartered 33 chapters in its long history. Today, Alpha Delta Gamma operates twelve active chapters at private and public colleges across the United States, stretching from Los Angeles, California, to New York City, New York.[2][3]

History

Alpha Delta Gamma was founded at the Lake Shore campus of Loyola University Chicago on October 10, 1924, by four students: Francis Patrick Canary, John Joseph Dwyer, William S. Hallisey, and James Collins O'Brien Jr. According to the Alpha Delta Gamma National Web Site, "In effect, they wanted a fraternity founded upon Christian ideals of true manhood, sound learning, and the unity of the fraternal brotherhood. These ideals decreed the purpose of Alpha Delta Gamma when it first came into being. And so the foundation was set, Alpha Delta Gamma was on its way to becoming a city walled!"[2][3]

In 1926, members of the local organization Delta Theta at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, contacted the Alpha chapter at Loyola University Chicago, requesting permission to affiliate with the then-existing fraternity. Their request was granted and, on October 26, 1927, Alpha Delta Gamma officially charted its Beta chapter, becoming a national fraternity.[2] The fraternity continued expanding to other Catholic colleges and universities and adopted the descriptive "National Catholic-College Fraternity." This was eventually changed to "National Catholic Social Fraternity" when the organization began expansion to non-Catholic colleges and universities.[1][3]

Alpha Delta Gamma has remained a small national fraternity, granting charters to 32 collegiate chapters, twelve of which are active. Most chapters are located at Catholic universities but there are no religious requirements for membership.[2][3]

Symbols and traditions

The Fraternity's badge is hexagonal, in gold, which is optionally plain, beveled, or jeweled with pearls and ruby points. The base supports a black enameled field bearing the carved golden letters Α, Δ, and Γ. Members are instructed to wear the pin at a 45° angle with the appropriate chapter guard.

The pledge button is a diamond-shaped slab of gold with a bright red enamel center. The fraternity's colors are scarlet red and gold. The fraternity's flower is the red carnation. A universal ADG Night is celebrated on the first Friday of December each year, commemorating the founding of the fraternity. Active chapters annually support at least one function for the benefit of orphans such as a Christmas toy drive or spring picnic.[3]

Chapters

These are seven active chapters of Alpha Delta Gamma fraternity, listed in bold. Inactive chapters are listed in italic.[2][4][5]

Name Charter date and range Institution Location Status Reference
Alpha October 10, 1924 – 2012 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois Inactive [2]
Beta October 26, 1927 Saint Louis University St. Louis, Missouri Active [4][2][a]
Gamma Spring 1928–1974 DePaul University Chicago, Illinois Inactive [2]
Delta February 17, 1931–1933 Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California Inactive [2]
Epsilon September 10, 1932–2012 Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Inactive [2][b]
Omicron Sigma
   See Mu chapter 		September 10, 1932–June 20, 1936;
1954–1960;
1966–200x ? 		Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama Inactive [5][c]
Zeta September 10, 1932 Rockhurst University Kansas City, Missouri Active [4][2][d]
Eta June 14, 1947–August 29, 1960;
1966–200x ? 		Quincy University Quincy, Illinois Inactive [2]
Theta June 12, 1948–199x ?;
August 14, 2010–2013 		St. Norbert College De Pere, Wisconsin Inactive [2][e]
Iota March 15, 1950–1972;
1975–19xx ? 		Regis University Denver Colorado Inactive [2]
Kappa April 18, 1950 Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. Active [4][2]
Lambda December 6, 1952 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles California Active [4][2][f]
Mu
   See Omicron Sigma chapter 		1954–1955;
December 4, 1966–200x ? 		Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama Inactive [2][5][g]
Nu June 11, 1955–1974 University of San Francisco San Francisco, California Inactive [2]
Xi February 26, 1961 Bellarmine University Louisville, Kentucky Active [4][2]
Omicron March 17, 1963–1972 University of San Diego San Diego, California Inactive [2]
Pi December 4, 1965–1976 Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin Inactive [2][h]
Rho April 30, 1966–199x ?;
August 10, 2002 		Thomas More University Crestview Hills, Kentucky Active [2][4]
Sigma August 20, 1970–1974 St. Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, Minnesota Inactive [2]
Tau March 31, 1973–200x ? Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, Kentucky Inactive [2]
Upsilon August 16, 1980–1984 Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [2]
Phi September 26, 1987–199x ? Merrimack College North Andover, Massachusetts Inactive [2][i]
Chi August 13, 1988–199x ? St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, Minnesota Inactive [2]
Psi August 13, 1994 Barry University Miami Shores, Florida Active [2][4][j]
Alpha Beta August 8, 2004–2006 Philadelphia University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [2]
Alpha Gamma colony — NA Chestnut Hill College Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [2][k]
Alpha Delta August 12, 2007 Cabrini University Radnor, Pennsylvania Active [4][2]
Alpha Epsilon December 2, 2007 LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia Active [4][2][l]
Alpha Zeta February 20, 2010–20xx ? York College of Pennsylvania York, Pennsylvania Inactive [2]
Alpha Eta August 11, 2012 McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois Active [4][2]
Alpha Theta August 10, 2013–2016 University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas Inactive [2]
Alpha Iota August 9, 2014 Felician University Lodi, New Jersey Active [4][2]
Alpha Kappa August 6, 2016 Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana Active [2][4]
Alpha Lambda 2017–20xx ? Clarkson University Potsdam, New York Inactive [2]

Notes

  1. ^ This chapter originated as Delta Theta (local) in 1925.
  2. ^ This chapter originated as Delta Phi Sigma (local) in 1924.
  3. ^ This chapter originated as Omicron Sigma (local) in 1915, and was granted that name as its chapter name. The 1954 restoration came with the absorption of Phi Omega (local) but failed within a few years. The 1966 restoration came from the absorption of Alpha Delta (local), which had formed in 1965. This group took on the name Mu chapter.
  4. ^ This chapter originated as Beta Sigma Kappa (local) in 1929.
  5. ^ This chapter originated as the Booster Club (local) in 1946.
  6. ^ This chapter originated as Phi Sigma Beta (local) in 1951.
  7. ^ The 1954 restoration of Omicron Sigma chapter came with the absorption of Phi Omega (local) and briefly accepting the name Mu chapter, but failed within a few years. Reestablished under the Mu name with the absorption of Alpha Delta (local) in 1966.
  8. ^ This chapter originated as Knights of the Altar (local) in 1956.
  9. ^ This chapter originated as Sigma Kappa (local), which had formed in 1985.
  10. ^ This chapter originated as Mu Alpha Beta (local), formed earlier.
  11. ^ This colony was never installed and went dormant after its name was assigned.
  12. ^ This chapter originated as Kappa Sigma (local).

Notable members

These names and additional famous Alpha Delts are listed on the Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity website.[6]

Notable honorary members

References

  1. ^ a b "Alpha Delta Gamma Fraternity History & Jesuit Heritage". Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), showing Alpha Delta Gamma". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved October 4, 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  3. ^ a b c d e Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. III-5,6. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Active Chapters of Alpha Delta Gamma". Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  5. ^ a b c The History of Alpha Delta Gamma
  6. ^ "The Famous Members of Alpha Delta Gamma". Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  7. ^ "Harry S. Truman Post-Presidential Papers". Truman Library. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
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