| Alpha Delta Gamma | |
| Letters: | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΔΓ |
| Crest: | ADG-Coat-of-Arms.1925.png |
| Affiliation: | NIC |
| Type: | Social |
| Scope: | National |
| Status: | Active |
| Emphasis: | Catholic |
| Motto: | "Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Γνωσθεντες εφ Φιλων" (Known to Friends) |
| Nickname: | ADGs G's Alpha Delts Delts |
| Flower: | Red carnation |
| Publication: | Alphadelity History of ADG, Mark of Honor |
| Chapters: | 7 |
| Colors: | Scarlet Red and Gold |
| Philanthropy: | Habitat for Humanity |
| Free Label: | Insect |
| Free: | Praying Mantis |
| Address: | 946 Sanders Drive |
| City: | St. Louis |
| State: | Missouri |
| Zip Code: | 63126 |
| Country: | United States |
Alpha Delta Gamma (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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 32 chapters in its long history. Today, Alpha Delta Gamma operates nine active chapters at private and public colleges across the United States, stretching from Los Angeles, California, to Atlanta, Georgia.[2]
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!"
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. 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.
Alpha Delta Gamma has remained a small national fraternity, granting charters to 32 collegiate chapters, nine of which are active. Most chapters are located at Catholic universities but there are no religious requirements for membership.
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 Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Α, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Δ, and Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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.
These are nine active chapters of Alpha Delta Gamma fraternity, listed in bold. Inactive chapters are listed in italic.[3]
These names and additional famous Alpha Delts are listed on the Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity website.[6]