Chapter History
Early in 1900 eight young women at Syracuse University formed a local society with the idea of petitioning Delta Gamma for a charter. These girls were: Adelaide Crim, Edith Cobb, Blanche Gunn, Helen Griffith, Fanny Morgna, Edith McKinley, Bertha Wilson and Josephine Warren.
Council asked Ada Comstock Notestein, Lambda, to come to Syracuse to look over the University and the petitioning group. She was not impressed by either the University or the girls. We have never held this decisions against here because, at that time, Delta Gamma was most conservative. Few charters were granted, particularly in the East. Psi and Chi were the only Eastern chapters in 1900.
When Miss Comstock's decision was brought back to Council, Joe Anna Ross, Psi, ANCHORA Editor and member of Council, asked that she be allowed to visit Syracuse before a final vote was taken. Joe Anna came and was quite in favor of the University and thought the girls had good material with which to start a chapter.
Early in May 1901, a charter was granted to Syracuse and in appreciation of all she had done for us, the Chapter was named Rho, the nearest the Greek alphabet came to the name of Ross. On May 23, 1901, Miss Ross arrived during a reception to pledge the eight harper members with bronze, pink and blue bows of Delta Gamma.
The college term opened in September 1901 with six girls occupying the first chapter house at 209 University Place. They succeeded in pledging seven more girls, but happiness was not long-lasting. On Christmas night each member received a telegram saying the Chapter house had burned that morning. Fortunately, much was saved an renovation allowed them to move back in February.
As the Chapter grew, larger houses were needed. In 1906 the move was to 712 Irving Avenue. In 1913 the Chapter house address was 744 Comstock Avenue. Final move in 1923 was to our present location, 901 Walnut Avenue. In 1941 the house was completely remodeled with the addition of eight rooms and rearrangement of the dining room, kitchen and chaperone’s apartment. In the 50’s dormitory sleeping was discontinued and this third floor areas was made into combined study and sleeping rooms, as were the other rooms.
Major milestones in our life on the Syracuse University campuses were duly celebrated. At the 25th anniversary Joe Anna Ross was our special guest and main speaker at the banquet. At the Golden Anniversary of our founding in 1951, Joe Anna Ross Pancoast was again our guest of honor. In 1976, at the 75th or Diamond Celebration, Angeline Golly Woolsey, 1901 was especially honored for her 75 years of membership.
We experience two World Wars and Vietnam and struggled through the 70’s when the chapter was very small. It was a difficult time on college campuses, and many sororities folded.
Critical for the success of any chapter is its constant high standard and strive for excellence. Improvement must always occur for a chapter to meet its goals. The consistent performance to meet the five points of the Delta Gamma star, by each member that has passed through the doors or Rho Chapter, has resulted in our 100+ years at Syracuse University.
