<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 10/31/97
000 C000000 0000027801
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
001 B000000 811-249
001 C000000 2152552926
002 A000000 2005 MARKET STREET
002 B000000 PHILADELPHIA
002 C000000 PA
002 D010000 19103
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 2
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 DELAWARE FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 DEVON FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
020 A000001 PAINEWEBBER, INC.
020 B000001 13-2638166
020 C000001 129
020 A000002 BEAR STEARNS & CO., INC.
020 B000002 13-3299429
020 C000002 110
020 A000003 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES
020 B000003 13-3224016
020 C000003 81
020 A000004 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES, INC.
020 B000004 22-2347336
020 C000004 73
020 A000005 BERSTEIN (SANFORD C.) & CO., INC.
020 B000005 13-2625874
020 C000005 71
<PAGE> PAGE 2
020 A000006 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
020 B000006 13-2518466
020 C000006 49
020 A000007 ROULSTON & CO., INC.
020 C000007 27
020 A000008 SMITH BARNEY, HARRIS, UPHAM & CO., INC.
020 B000008 13-1912900
020 C000008 22
020 A000009 UBS
020 C000009 21
020 A000010 WEEDON & CO
020 C000010 21
021 000000 876
022 A000001 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000001 22-2347336
022 C000001 24929
022 D000001 42487
022 A000002 FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION (THE)
022 B000002 13-5659485
022 C000002 39846
022 D000002 22544
022 A000003 SMITH BARNEY, HARRIS, UPHAM & CO., INC.
022 B000003 13-1912900
022 C000003 22742
022 D000003 31988
022 A000004 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 B000004 13-2518466
022 C000004 37474
022 D000004 9414
022 A000005 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000005 13-2655998
022 C000005 22202
022 D000005 13655
022 A000006 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000006 13-5108880
022 C000006 22524
022 D000006 12219
022 A000007 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
022 B000007 13-5674085
022 C000007 21998
022 D000007 10618
022 A000008 CLARK (G.X.) & CO.
022 B000008 13-2969143
022 C000008 14315
022 D000008 15311
022 A000009 LUMMIS & CO.
022 C000009 26135
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
022 B000010 13-2642206
022 C000010 15120
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 D000010 10376
023 C000000 336239
023 D000000 234259
024 00AA00 N
027 000000 Y
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
080 A00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.
080 B00AA00 GULF INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C00AA00 40000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 115
082 A00AA00 Y
082 B00AA00 50
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
028 A010100 3880
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 6504
028 B010100 5478
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 5365
028 C010100 15561
028 C020100 3674
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 7595
028 D010100 6401
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 7253
028 E010100 5253
028 E020100 0
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 5152
028 F010100 10661
028 F020100 3745
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 11491
028 G010100 47234
028 G020100 7419
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 43360
028 H000100 21712
029 000100 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 4
030 A000100 558
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 94
031 B000100 0
032 000100 464
033 000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 100
042 D000100 0
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 1221
044 000100 0
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 Y
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 Y
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 5
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 Y
070 K010100 Y
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 Y
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 Y
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 562256
071 B000100 534610
071 C000100 661706
071 D000100 81
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 16659
072 C000100 9154
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 3492
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 92
072 I000100 1150
072 J000100 11
072 K000100 30
072 L000100 56
072 M000100 17
072 N000100 73
072 O000100 4
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 19
072 S000100 25
072 T000100 1221
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 276
072 X000100 6466
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 19347
072AA000100 91107
<PAGE> PAGE 6
072BB000100 7737
072CC010100 30998
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 16272
072DD020100 4962
072EE000100 57146
073 A010100 0.0000
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 1.9200
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 158
074 B000100 7257
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 232170
074 E000100 3578
074 F000100 489437
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 3652
074 K000100 501
074 L000100 3180
074 M000100 86
074 N000100 740019
074 O000100 6323
074 P000100 964
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 359
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 732373
074 U010100 24155
074 U020100 7740
074 V010100 0.00
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 25183
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 683455
076 000100 0.00
028 A010200 5833
028 A020200 0
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 1005
028 B010200 8000
028 B020200 0
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 715
<PAGE> PAGE 7
028 C010200 7261
028 C020200 118
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 3213
028 D010200 7835
028 D020200 0
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 767
028 E010200 8522
028 E020200 0
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 1678
028 F010200 6941
028 F020200 144
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 3352
028 G010200 44392
028 G020200 262
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 10730
028 H000200 24473
029 000200 Y
030 A000200 532
030 B000200 4.75
030 C000200 0.00
031 A000200 91
031 B000200 0
032 000200 441
033 000200 0
042 A000200 0
042 B000200 0
042 C000200 100
042 D000200 0
042 E000200 0
042 F000200 0
042 G000200 0
042 H000200 0
043 000200 251
044 000200 0
062 A000200 N
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 Y
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 N
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 Y
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 N
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 N
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 Y
070 K010200 Y
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 Y
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 Y
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 86939
071 B000200 31106
071 C000200 48615
071 D000200 64
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 200
072 C000200 1034
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
072 F000200 310
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 6
072 I000200 187
072 J000200 3
072 K000200 5
072 L000200 8
072 M000200 6
072 N000200 20
072 O000200 10
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 7
072 S000200 1
072 T000200 251
072 U000200 0
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 23
072 X000200 837
072 Y000200 91
072 Z000200 488
072AA000200 6562
072BB000200 815
072CC010200 6227
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 362
072DD020200 138
072EE000200 1668
073 A010200 0.0000
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.9650
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 0
074 B000200 1025
074 C000200 0
074 D000200 0
074 E000200 502
074 F000200 88024
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 0
074 K000200 787
074 L000200 114
074 M000200 0
074 N000200 90452
074 O000200 400
074 P000200 46
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 10
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 362
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 89644
074 U010200 2758
074 U020200 2266
074 V010200 0.00
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 7313
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 51845
076 000200 0.00
SIGNATURE ROSEMARY E. MILNER
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> DELAWARE FUND A CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 628,813,175
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 732,441,737
<RECEIVABLES> 7,331,359
<ASSETS-OTHER> 240,665
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 740,019,113
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,322,942
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,322,967
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,645,909
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 31,895,404
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 511,416,669
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 24,154,955
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 23,058,229
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,991,674
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 82,440,895
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 103,628,562
<NET-ASSETS> 554,448,340
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 9,154,195
<INTEREST-INCOME> 16,658,635
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 6,466,275
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19,346,555
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 83,369,699
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 30,998,183
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 133,714,437
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 16,272,302
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 44,815,558
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 41,923,741
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 67,004,197
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 47,456,233
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 107,610,348
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,879,763
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 56,216,990
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,492,255
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6,466,275
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 523,418,659
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 21.260
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.610
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.680
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.680
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.920
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.950
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.970
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> DELAWARE FUND B CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 628,813,175
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 732,441,737
<RECEIVABLES> 7,331,359
<ASSETS-OTHER> 240,665
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 740,019,113
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,322,942
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,322,967
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,645,909
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 31,895,404
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 511,416,669
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 728,001
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 324,181
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,991,674
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 82,440,895
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 103,628,562
<NET-ASSETS> 16,658,926
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 9,154,195
<INTEREST-INCOME> 16,658,635
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 6,466,275
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19,346,555
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 83,369,699
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 30,998,183
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 133,714,437
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 261,292
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 710,891
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 10,047,187
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2,119,134
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 910,380
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 107,610,348
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,879,763
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 56,216,990
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,492,255
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6,466,275
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 11,228,631
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 21.200
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.452
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.658
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.510
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.920
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.880
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.780
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 013
<NAME> DELAWARE FUND C CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 628,813,175
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 732,441,737
<RECEIVABLES> 7,331,359
<ASSETS-OTHER> 240,665
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 740,019,113
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,322,942
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,322,967
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,645,909
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 31,895,404
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 511,416,669
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 353,768
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 93,924
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,991,674
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 82,440,895
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 103,628,562
<NET-ASSETS> 8,090,196
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 9,154,195
<INTEREST-INCOME> 16,658,635
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 6,466,275
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19,346,555
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 83,369,699
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 30,998,183
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 133,714,437
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 110,135
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 217,176
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6,084,168
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 811,843
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 315,208
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 107,610,348
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,879,763
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 56,216,990
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,492,255
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6,466,275
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4,817,470
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 21.180
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.460
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.655
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.505
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.920
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.870
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.780
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 014
<NAME> DELAWARE FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 628,813,175
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 732,441,737
<RECEIVABLES> 7,331,359
<ASSETS-OTHER> 240,665
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 740,019,113
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,322,942
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,322,967
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,645,909
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 31,895,404
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 511,416,669
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6,658,680
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,904,013
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,991,674
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 82,440,895
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 103,628,562
<NET-ASSETS> 153,175,742
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 9,154,195
<INTEREST-INCOME> 16,658,635
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 6,466,275
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19,346,555
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 83,369,699
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 30,998,183
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 133,714,437
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 4,590,915
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 11,402,169
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 29,047,615
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 29,541,550
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 15,968,541
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 107,610,348
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,879,763
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 56,216,990
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,492,255
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6,466,275
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 141,250,373
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 21.300
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.659
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.681
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.720
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.920
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 23.000
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.780
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> DEVON FUND A CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 80,180,170
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 89,551,050
<RECEIVABLES> 900,076
<ASSETS-OTHER> 408
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 90,451,534
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 400,310
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 407,438
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 807,748
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 5,024,343
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 69,446,986
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,757,834
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,020,347
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 59,952
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 5,741,625
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 9,370,880
<NET-ASSETS> 49,261,907
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,033,970
<INTEREST-INCOME> 199,844
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 745,693
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 488,121
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 5,746,895
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6,227,315
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 12,462,331
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 362,273
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1,104,351
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 38,641,388
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 11,875,438
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,427,106
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 66,991,944
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 72,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,662,834
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 310,229
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 836,550
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 30,654,531
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.61
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.182
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.243
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.210
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.965
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.860
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.25
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 022
<NAME> DEVON FUND B CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 80,180,170
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 89,551,050
<RECEIVABLES> 900,076
<ASSETS-OTHER> 408
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 90,451,534
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 400,310
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 407,438
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 807,748
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 5,024,343
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 69,446,986
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,615,428
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 233,773
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 59,952
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 5,741,625
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 9,370,880
<NET-ASSETS> 28,757,111
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,033,970
<INTEREST-INCOME> 199,844
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 745,693
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 488,121
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 5,746,895
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6,227,315
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 12,462,331
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 55,613
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 264,305
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 22,994,757
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 689,717
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 309,109
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 66,991,944
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 72,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,662,834
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 310,229
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 836,550
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 13,878,195
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.54
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.081
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.219
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.075
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.965
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.800
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.95
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 023
<NAME> DEVON FUND C CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 80,180,170
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 89,551,050
<RECEIVABLES> 900,076
<ASSETS-OTHER> 408
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 90,451,534
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 400,310
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 407,438
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 807,748
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 5,024,343
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 69,446,986
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 330,385
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 72,657
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 59,952
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 5,741,625
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 9,370,880
<NET-ASSETS> 5,875,898
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,033,970
<INTEREST-INCOME> 199,844
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 745,693
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 488,121
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 5,746,895
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6,227,315
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 12,462,331
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 11,501
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 82,511
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,650,415
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 354,298
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 90,323
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 66,991,944
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 72,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,662,834
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 310,229
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 836,550
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,644,909
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.53
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.071
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.229
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.075
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.965
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.790
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.95
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 024
<NAME> DEVON FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 80,180,170
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 89,551,050
<RECEIVABLES> 900,076
<ASSETS-OTHER> 408
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 90,451,534
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 400,310
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 407,438
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 807,748
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 5,024,343
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 69,446,986
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 320,696
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 224,213
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 59,952
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 5,741,625
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 9,370,880
<NET-ASSETS> 5,748,870
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,033,970
<INTEREST-INCOME> 199,844
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 745,693
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 488,121
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 5,746,895
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6,227,315
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 12,462,331
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 70,878
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 216,937
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3,219,483
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2,002,961
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 287,815
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 66,991,944
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 72,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,662,834
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 310,229
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 836,550
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4,667,482
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.67
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.211
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.284
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.270
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.965
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.930
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.95
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
Report of Independent Auditors
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Delaware Group Equity Funds I, Inc.
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements
of Delaware Group Equity Funds I, Inc., (the Fund) for the year
ended October 31, 1997, we considered its internal control,
including control activities for safeguarding securities, in
order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of
expressing our opinion on the financial statements and to comply
with the requirements of Form N-SAR, not to provide assurance on
internal control.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and
maintaining internal control. In fulfilling this responsibility,
estimates and judgments by management are required to assess the
expected benefits and related costs of controls. Generally,
controls that are relevant to an audit pertain to the entity s
objective of preparing financial statements for external purposes
that are fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. Those controls include the safeguarding
of assets against unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or
irregularities may occur and not be detected. Also, projection
of any evaluation of internal control to future periods is
subject to the risk that it may become inadequate because of
changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and
operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily
disclose all matters in internal control that might be material
weaknesses under standards established by the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants. A material weakness is a
condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the
internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low
level the risk that errors or irregularities in amounts that
would be material in relation to the financial statements being
audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by
employees in the normal course of performing their assigned
functions. However, we noted no matters involving the internal
control and its operation, including controls for safeguarding
securities, that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined
above at October 31, 1997.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of the
board of directors and management of Delaware Group Equity Funds
I, Inc. and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
December 4, 1997
