The Founding of Delta Sigma Theta

Twenty-two women at Howard University in Washington, D.C., founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on January 13, 1913. Some of these women were already members of the Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority, including the elected officers of Alpha Kappa Alpha: Myra Davis Hemmings, president; Ethel Cuff Black, vice-president; Edith Motte Young, secretary; Jessie McGuire Dent, corresponding secretary; Winona Cargile Alexander, custodian; Frederica Chase Dodd, sergeant-at-arms; and Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, treasurer.

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is an organization of college-educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities worldwide. Since its founding, more than 300,000 women have joined the organization.

 

The organization is a sisterhood of predominantly Black, college-educated women. The sorority currently has over 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters located in the United States, Canada, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Republic of Korea, the Arabian Gulf, Southern Africa and West Africa. The major programs of the Sorority are based upon the organization’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust:

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• Economic Development

• Educational Development

• International Awareness and Involvement

• Physical and Mental Health

• Political Awareness and Involvement

 

Delta Sigma Theta Today

Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is one of four college sororities for African American women and is the largest African American Greek-letter sorority in the world. Since its founding, more than 350,000 women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds have held membership in Delta Sigma Theta. The sorority currently has 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters located in the United States, Canada, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Republic of Korea.

 

Delta Sigma Theta’s community service, social, and philanthropic projects revolve around the “Five-Point Thrust.” The five points include economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.

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For more information, visit our national website at www.deltasigmatheta.org.

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