The National Delta Kappa Gamma Society was nine years old when Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, the National Founder, made the long trip by train from Austin, Texas, to Lansing, Michigan, to officiate at the ceremonies which would initiate the Michigan Founders and install the first two chapters of the state. The Hotel Olds was the site where, on Saturday, May 28, 1938, fifteen of the nineteen women* from Michigan colleges and universities who had accepted the invitation of Dr. Blanton to be Founders were initiated along with those they brought with them. Each city was allowed to choose key women teachers from its area for the initiation, with a minimum of twelve members needed to form a chapter.

Effie Downer, first Alpha Iota State President remembered:

Alpha and Beta Chapters were organized on the same day that Michigan was founded. As soon as we were initiated and had elected state officers, Annie Webb Blanton asked all the Detroit people to go to one side of the room. Those from Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor also met and because these two groups had twelve members or more, they were installed as Chapters Alpha and Beta. Several other cities lacked only a few of the required number. Much interest was aroused by the other towns represented, and Gamma Chapter was installed early in 1939. Dr. Blanton was present and supervised the whole thing.  We were all so green she had to direct each move.

State Officers were elected and installed. Miss Effie Downer became the first State President. The two chapters also selected their officers with Maude E. Fiero of Detroit as the president of Alpha Chapter and Marion F. Stowe of Ypsilanti as president of Beta Chapter.

* Only nineteen were considered founders because Dr. Blanton had made a rule that no more than eighteen were to be listed as Founders in any one state.  Laura B. Millar, the only public school representative from the public schools, was leaving for Europe on the day set for initiation so Dr. Blanton decided to initiate her the night before. Two others officially listed as founders were not present at the official initiation. Dr. Butler had carried on long correspondence with Dr. Blanton, but three weeks before the initiation she was taken to the University Hospital and died there of cancer June 16 without ever having been discharged. Dr. Watson was absent with a conflicting commitment and was initiated later. Dr. Ruth Barber had been invited to go to Atlantic City in February to be initiated in order that she might assist Dr. Blanton with organizing the new state in May.
 
 

© 1999 Alpha Iota State Organization, Michigan

PAST PRESIDENTS OF ALPHA IOTA STATE
 

1938-1942	Miss Effie M. Downer	Alpha
1942-1944	Mrs. Mabel S. Ehlers	Theta
1944-1946	Dr. Ruth A. Barnes	Beta
1946-1948	Dr. Elizabeth E. Lichty	Alpha Psi
1950-1953	Dr. Ola B. Hiller	Mu
1953-1955	Miss Kennetha Schaal	Alpha
1955-1957	Miss Catherine Riggs	Iota
1957-1959	Miss Mary L. Dixson	Rho
1959-1961	Miss Anna C. Betts	Gamma
1961-1963	Miss Florine Hall	Omicron
1963-1965	Miss Jane O'Connor	Psi
1965-1967	Miss Helen Ross Fullerton	Lambda
1967-1969	Dr. Naida M. Dostal	Zeta
1969-1971	Mrs. Katherine Keeling	Omicron
1971-1973	Mrs. Mabel Jacobs	Alpha
1973-1975	Mrs. Emile Stern	Kappa
1975-1977	Miss Roberta Dye	Zeta
1977-1979	Miss Betsey Cooper	Alpha Psi
1979-1981	Mrs. Kathryn Walker	Omicron
1981-1983	Mrs. Marie Grassa	Phi
1983-1985	Dr. Paula A. Dent	Zeta
1985-1987	Dr. Betty J. Brogan	Alpha Phi
1987-1989	Dr. Helene  Zimmerman	Tau
1989-1991	Mrs. Nancy Whitfield	Nu
1991-1993	Mrs. Marlene Veldheer	Beta Omicron
1993-1995	Mrs. Sharleen Gonzalez	Gamma Beta
1995-1997	Mrs. Sarah Garrison	Gamma Delta
1997-1999	Eileen Rodak	Zeta
1999-2001	Mary Tracey	Beta Omicron
2001-2003	Helen Popovich	Beta Kappa
2003-2005	Judy Foster	Epsilon
2005-2007	Marilyn Mitchell	Gamma Theta
2007-2009	J-Jay Pechta	Gamma