“If she wears the Delta Symbol, then her first Love is DST….”
Happy Founders Day to the all members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. across the globe – all 950+ chapters, located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea (making it the largest sorority in the world).
For 97 years, the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. have embodied sisterhood, intelligence, dignity, and the sorority’s programmatic Five Point Thrust: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.
With its inception on January 13, 1913 at Howard University (Minor Hall to be exact), The Sorority’s 22 Founders (listed below) created a new kind of African-American woman!
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. boasts a rich history; a history which is tightly embedded into the fabric of this country in the years since its founding.
From participating in the 1913 Women Suffrage March just months after its founding, to establishing a lineage of strong women inspiring others to say “I wanna be Delta!”, the sorority’s founders started a ritual of integrity, community service, and the highest regard for education. With traditional components (Delta Days, Delta Research and Development Foundation, Jabberwock), and others created and observed in chapters across the world (Woman to Woman Conference at Howard University, Delta Week, May Week), it’s clear that the founders, and hundreds of notable Deltas after them (Dorothy I. Height, Marian Write Edelman, Shirley Chisholm, Mary-McLoed Bethune, Betty Shabbazz, Ruby Dee Davis, Mary Church Terrell to name a few) have contributed greatly to society.
Only members of the organization know that special feeling and personal sentiment of sisterhood today brings. Again, Happy Founders Day! And as we all reminisce on the life changing days of becoming, being, and making Deltas (whether they are few or years in number), please continue to follow in the footsteps of the legacy that has been laid before us.
“….you have to be a DELTA, to know the reason why!”
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a spectacular organization and this highlight comes at no better time. Let us continue to work together and respond with service to those in need, both on a daily basis and as a result of devastating events as the recent earthquake in Haiti. I’m sure doing so makes our founders extremely proud.
Founders
As the sorority celebrates 97 years of service and dedication, it is only fitting to pay homage to the founders individually. A special thanks for giving the gift of Delta: Osceola Macarthy Adams, Marguerite Young Alexander, Winona Cargile Alexander,, Ethel Cuff Black, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Zephyr Chisom Carter, Edna Brown Coleman, Jessie McGuire Dent, Frederica Chase Dodd, Myra Davis Hemmings, Olive C. Jones, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Vashti Turley Murphy, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Mamie Reddy Rose, Eliza Pearl Shippen, Florence Letcher Toms, Ethel Carr Watson, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Madree Penn White, and Edith Motte Young.
Happy Founders Day Sorors and a special Happy Anniversary to fellow members from Alpha Chapter!
Yours in Delta,
0 responses to “DST Founder’s Day: “If she wears the Delta Symbol, then her first Love is DST….””
ARU – Thanks for giving me the opportunity to pay homage to our founders and to say ‘Happy Founders Day’ to all your viewers who are Sorors. It was a challenge putting all that is Delta (97 years worth) into a one-page post. I hope it proves worthy of the day and the organization.
Happy Founders Day Sorors!
Well said Linesister! Happy Founder’s Day to you too.
Happy Founders Day! (again in 2011).
*BTW, I know we are at 98 years – this post was written last year!
http://www.rememberingDelta.com
THE FIRST COLLECTIVE WIKI OF ‘PUBLIC’ DELTA STORIES!