History
In 1893, ten young women at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois, shared a vision and a dream of a national organization dedicated to the personal growth of women. Their dream became Alpha Xi Delta, one of the oldest women’s fraternities in the United States.

The timeless ideals envisioned by Alpha Xi Delta’s Founders remain constant throughout the years, inspiring pride in each member to pursue individual excellence. Now a national fraternity with more than 144,000 initiated members, our Fraternity is a progressive organization with college chapters and alumnae associations throughout the United States.

Alpha Xi Delta is proud of its rich history and lasting impact on its members and the Panhellenic community. In fact, Alpha Xi Delta’s first National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Chairman wrote the Panhellenic Creed, which all members of NPC still recite on college campuses today.

Alpha Xi Delta’s Founders left us a great legacy. They taught us the value of education because it frees us to achieve our goals and gives us the power to be whatever we choose. They taught us to support one another through shared experiences and understanding. They taught us to serve others and reach out to better the lives of those less fortunate. Because of them, Alpha Xi Delta continues to inspire countless bold and talented women to realize their potential.

Since Alpha Xi Delta’s founding over 114 years ago, we continue to enrich the lives of women throughout the world with by emphasizing the ideals our Founders instilled in our Fraternity: sisterhood, leadership, knowledge and service to our communities. We fully embrace these ideals and the opportunity to bring them to college women.

Theta Lambda Chapter
The closing of a chapter at Southwestern University in the early 1990s created a void for Greek Life. After a Panhellenic-sponsored extension process, Alpha Xi Delta was colonized on January 10, 1992. With the help of its sister chapters – Beta Alpha (University of Texas-Austin), Delta Psi Chapter (Southwest Texas State University), and local alumnae, Alpha Xi Delta participated in all three rounds of the university's formal, deferred recruitment.

The colonization period was filled with many activities. The colony participated in AIDS Awareness Week and Kappa Alpha Derby Days, held a 24-hour swing-a-thon to raise money to collect clothing for a local shelter for abused women and children, held several mixers with fraternities, and sponsored a sexual harassment seminar.

Theta Lambda Chapter was installed on April 25, 1992 by a group of distinguished guests. Jayne Wade Anderson, National President, served as the presiding officer. Also on hand were Linda Dinus, National Extension Vice President; Diane Gregory, National Executive Director; Jane Cooper, Region I Alumnae Director; representatives from many Texas alumnae chapters, and collegiate members from Beta Alpha and Delta Psi Chapters.

April 25, 2003 marked the ten-year anniversary of our chapter’s founding. It was celebrated with a formal dinner and dance in downtown Austin Saturday night. On Sunday, an Alumnae brunch and a Founder’s Day/Rededication ceremony were held. A time capsule closed by the chapter on its installation was opened and revealed many treasures for active and alumnae sisters to enjoy. A video slideshow of memories from the past ten years was shown and a time capsule to be opened at the 25-year celebration was closed.

Symbols
The Coat of Arms of Alpha Xi Delta consists of a shield supported by two griffins. In the golden band across the center of the shield is the Quill. Three conventional roses are at the top of the shield, and a broken sword is in the lower portion of the shield. Above the shield on the knight's helmet is a twist of ribbon in alternating blue and gold, and a blossomed rose.

The colors of Alpha Xi Delta are double blue (light and dark) and gold.

The Fraternity flower is the pink rose, as chosen by our Founders.

Alpha Xi Deltas wear this new member pin during their new member period.

The colony pin is used in place of the new member pin for founding members of a colony. A new chapter of Alpha Xi Delta is called a colony during its initial pledging period.

The Quill, which is worn by initiated members of Alpha Xi Delta, represents our open motto "The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword." The Fraternity has a recognition Quill, which is a miniature Quill that may be worn on coats, suits or other appropriate outer clothing where the badge may not be appropriate.

The Fraternity adopted Al Fuzzie teddy bear as a mascot in 1974. BetXi Bear mascot (left) was adopted in 1989.