On March 16, 1896, seven women, consisting of Molly Sumner ’98, Mary Campbell Nye ’99, Genevieve Reitler ’99, Lillian Wherry ’99, Elizabeth Whitney ’99, Martha Shopwell ’99, and Helen Bell Edwards ’99, founded Theta Pi Gamma, the first Greek letter sorority at Beloit College. Within the first week, the seven founding members drew up a constitution and elected Genevieve Reitler as the first President.

 

After facing disapproval from President Eaton the women were almost forced to disband, but on January 6, 1908, sororities were officially recognized at Beloit College due to the perseverance of the women.

 

It was later that same spring that the Theta Pi Gamma Symphony was written by Lois Goldsmith and then adopted on April 2nd, and then on May 4th the Theta Pi Gamma seal was adopted.

In the fall of 1909 the sororities on campus had their first formal rushing season at the same time as the fraternities, that is, two weeks after college opened.

 

During the spring of 1910 that the alumni made arrangements with the college for Theta Pi Gamma to occupy the little house on Clary Street in the Fall. Theta Pi Gamma continued to grow and flourish along with other groups on campus.

 

Then, on February 11, 1922, Theta Pi Gamma was admitted to the Delta Gamma National Sorority, as the Alpha Mu Chapter, Marion Willard being elected the first President. The members were told that they could carry over any Theta Pi Gamma rituals that they wished, and in most cases, members initiated into Delta Gamma, were first initiated into Theta.

 

In the spring of 1962, the Alpha Mu chapter of Delta Gamma decided to pledge their first black woman, Ms. Patricia Hamilton. To the astonishment of the members of Alpha Mu, Delta Gamma refused her admittance. The chapter was confused because Ms. Hamilton had all of the qualities and more to be a member of their sorority. This incident was quickly picked up by the national press, although Delta Gamma firmly denied that the basis of their action was due to her race. They said that Ms. Hamilton was refused for other, unspecified reasons. Alpha Mu, with the support of the college faculty, went ahead and pledged Ms. Hamilton anyway. On June 30, 1962, at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, the National Council of Delta Gamma decided unanimously to place the Alpha Mu chapter at Beloit College on probation. 

 

On October 30, 1962, the Executive Council of Delta Gamma Fraternity received an application for reinstatement of the Alpha Mu chapter. By an unanimous decision of the Council of Delta Gamma, the Beloit chapter was not reinstated. The Delta Gamma’s first president, Mrs. Koppenberg, stated that the suspension only affected the chapter. Each individual woman at Beloit remained a member or pledge of Delta Gamma.

After the Alpha Mu chapter of Delta Gamma was suspended, the women became Theta Pi Gamma again, and ceased all activity with the national society.

 

Theta Pi Gamma continues to grow and flourish at Beloit College. The National Sorority of Delta Gamma has been in contact with Theta Pi Gamma on several occasions offering the possibility of renewing the charter for the Alpha Mu chapter. The members of Theta Pi Gamma, however, have wished to remain Theta Pi Gamma, and have decided not to rejoin Delta Gamma at this time.