The Eta Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta was installed at UC Berkeley on April 29, 1894. In 1893, three women of the Berkeley class of 1895 decided to form a women's social organization and apply to become a member of a national women's fraternity. The new group called themselves "Tau Delta" and asked Mr. Leon Richardson, a Latin instructor and member of Psi Upsilon, which national sorority they should petition. Mr. Richardson answered that "Unqualifiedly, Gamma Phi Beta is the best national sorority in existence." The Tau Delta members decided that they would petition Gamma Phi Beta and wrote to be granted a chapter. Eta became the first chapter of Gamma Phi Beta west of the Mississippi River.

 

FACTS

Founding members: Lida Baldwin, Nellie Mott, Vida Redington, Rachel Vrooman, Grace Wilson, Edith Byxbee, Helen Andros, Bessie Gaskill, Bertha Knox, Helen Lathrop, Cora Mott, Lena Redington

Our House: It was built in 1937 by William Wurster in the shape of a gamma. The front door is the door from the original 1912 Gamma Phi Beta house and the chestnut tree in the backyard is the only chestnut tree in Berkeley. Our house had the first bay window in the Bay Area and people came from all over just to see it.