Delta Kappa Gamma needlepoint tapestry

This tapestry represents the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, a group founded in 1929 by Annie Webb Blanton and 11 other educators to unite women teachers. Over the years, DKG has worked for better professional preparation, recognition of women’s work in the teaching profession, and teacher scholarships.

Annie Webb Blanton (1870‒1945) began teaching at a rural school in Pine Springs, Texas, at age 16. She advanced to a position training teachers at North Texas State Normal College in Denton where she developed a reputation as a leader among Texas educators. In 1916, Blanton was the first woman to be elected president of the Texas State Teachers Association. In 1918, she was elected State Superintendent of Education. After leaving office, Blanton earned her Ph.D. in 1923 and became a professor at the University of Texas. Upon founding DKG in 1929 she served as the organization’s first president.

​​Handcrafted by Dana Gatchell of Alabama, this tapestry focuses on a female figure who represents the teacher as “The Molder of Destiny.” The border contains letters of the Greek alphabet to signify the chapters and state organizations that make up the Delta Kappa Gamma Society. It was presented to the organization on its 25th anniversary in 1954.