Delta Kappa Gamma () is an international

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who work (human activity), works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the partic ...

society A society () is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. ...

for women educators. It was established in 1929 at the

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 stud ...

History

Delta Kappa Gamma was founded on May 11, 1929, at the Faculty Women’s Club at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas. Its purpose was to promote excellence in education and women educators' personal and professional growth. Delta Kappa Gamma was conceived by Annie Webb Blanton, faculty member of the University of Texas and a former Texas state

superintendent of public instruction A state education agency or state department of education is the state-level government organization within each U.S. state or U.S. territory, territory responsible for education, including providing information, resources, and technical assistan ...

. Eleven women educators were Delta Kappa Gamma's charter members: Mamie Sue Bastian, Ruby Cole, Mabel Grizzard, Anna Hiss, Ray King, Sue King, Helen Koch, Ruby Terrill Lomax, Cora M. Martin, Lalla M. Odom, and Lela Lee Williams. By 2004, Delta Kappa Gamma had 2,960 chapters and 132,000 members. By 2019, it had chapters in seventeen countries. Delta Kappa Gamma has established scholarships to allow women to pursue graduate degrees and encourage women in foreign countries to seek a degree in education. As of 2025, the society has around 90,000 members in eighteen countries.

Symbols

The name Delta Kappa Gamma was selected to stand for the Greek words ' (teacher), ' (key), and ' (women). The society's motto is "Each for all and all for each." Its seven purposes or pillars are to Unite, Honor, Advance, Support, Endow, Stimulate, and Inform. The society's coat of arms features a red shield with three tutor roses on a gold band, a flaming lamp above the band and an open book below. The three roses represent friendship, helpfulness, and loyalty. The lamp and book symbolize scholarship and knowledge. Above the shield is a gold cup of knowledge, surrounded by a laurel wreath symbolizing achievement. Below the shield, the motto consists of Delta Kappa Gamma in Greek. Its badge is a gold ellipse-shaped key-pin with the Greek letters across its center. Below the letters is the cup of knowledge. Above the letters is a laurel wreath. Delta Kappa Gamma's colors are red and green, with red representing courage and gold symbolizing loyalty. Its symbol and flower are the red rose, representing the beauty of mind and spirit. The red rose logo was developed in a recent rebranding effort.Usage of various graphical properties is explained o
the Society's "Use of Society Graphics PDF"
accessed 12 December 2021.

Membership

Delta Kappa Gamma has four categories of members: active, reserve, honorary, and collegiate. Active members are working or have retired from an educational position. Reserve members can no longer participate due to geographic location or a disability. Collegiate members are in their last two years of seeking a college degree in education and are not yet employed in the field.

Governance

Delta Kappa Gamma is governed by its constitution and international standing rules as adopted by its international convention. Its executive board is elected at the convention. The society is structured in three levels: local, state, and international organizations. Its constitution and standing rules govern activities at all levels. The

Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Headquarters Building The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Headquarters Building is a historic building at 416 West 12th Street in Austin, Texas. Since its construction in 1956, this International style building has housed the international headquarters of Del ...

is at 416 West 12th Street in

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

. It was built for the society in 1956 and was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 2012.

Chapters

As of 2025, Delta Kappa Gamma has chapters in eighteen countries. Member countries as of October 2020 are the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Mexico, Finland, Guatemala, Iceland, The Netherlands, Great Britain, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Estonia, Panama, and Japan.

Notable members

As of 2025, the society has around 90,000 members in eighteen countries.

References

External links

* {{Professional Fraternities American education-related professional associations Student organizations established in 1929 Professional educational fraternities and sororities in the United States 1929 establishments in Texas