In May of 1949, Phi Kappa Gamma sorority at San Diego State College was invited to Alpha Phi in ceremonies held at the home of Mrs. Hildreth Peckham (Kappa-Stanford). Alpha Phi alumnae in San Diego were very happy about this because Phi Kappa Gamma, in addition to being involved in campus life and academically minded, were members of the first Greek letter and second oldest women’s social group at the college.
The Gamma Alpha new members of Alpha Phi met in the chapter room every Monday while college was in session, and when the semester ended they continued to meet every Monday throughout the summer. It was the first time that non-deferred recruitment had been in effect on this campus. In addition, recruitment parties were held in the homes of alumnae or colleagues. When recruitment came to an end, the soon to be Gamma Alpha chapter had twenty women who joined Alpha Phi. The next and most important date on the calendar was October 1- initiation and installation day for Gamma Alpha.
Formal initiation ceremonies for 24 collegians and 20 alumnae were conducted by Alpha Phi collegiates from Beta Pi at the University of Southern California and Beta Delta at the University of California at Los Angeles, and by members of Pasadena, Los Angeles, and San Diego alumnae chapters in the active chapter room in the House of Hospitality.
• Gamma Alpha (San Diego) helped in a university program for 15 South Vietnamese students; the goal was to promote good will among students, understanding of the Vietnamese culture and an exchange of ideas.
• During Gamma Alpha’s founding, San Diego State College had no sorority or fraternity houses. Instead social groups met in what is known as the House of Hospitality in the city’s famed Balboa Park. Every sorority had a room in the Spanish style building.
• In 1956 Alpha Phi was the first sorority to build and own a chapter house on campus.
• Located at 6055 Montezuma Road, the house was inspired by Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. The architect wanted the house to feel like a fairytale cottage, built for a society of princesses.
• In the original house, only the New Member Wing existed and only 14 women were able to live in. Since then, the Senior Wing and Lower Wing have been added, currently allowing 40 women to live in the house.
• In the 1960’s, to keep up with the finances of the house, Gamma Alpha announced their chapter took in boarders, often international students, and had relaxed house rules.
• Phyllis Wood Goddard – Foundation Board
• Dorothy Wagner Talmage – International Executive Board
• Mary-Virginia Lovelly Gault - 1984 Michaelanean Award Winner
• Virginia Otis Black – 1986 Michaelanean Award Winner
• Barbara Wolter Hartung – 1986 Ursa Major Award Winner
• Mary-Em Hardie Howard - 1990 Ursa Major Award Winner
• Tami Letford Bender – 2012 Michaelanean Award Winner
Oct 1st, 1949
$110,440.81
