delta History
THE HISTORY OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
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. The sorority was founded on the campus of Howard State University on January 13, 1913, by twenty-two women.
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 throughout the world. 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:
• Economic Development
• Educational Development
• International Awareness and Involvement
• Physical and Mental Health
• Political Awareness and Involvement
For more information, visit our national website at www.deltasigmatheta.org.
delta "22" founders
- 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
- Edith Motte Young
about lambda pi
The Lambda Pi Chapter was charted on June 18, 1974, by seven exemplary college students with support from a member at Ferris State University. Since being chartered, Delta Sigma Theta has been an integral part of the Grand Valley State University history and community for half a century, with members being actively engaged as student leaders, recognized for their academic excellence, and later as distinguished alumni. As the first Black Greek-lettered organization and sorority chartered on campus, we have continuously upheld the principles of sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action.
Our charter members are:
- Elaine (Warren) Morrow
- Deborah (Griffin) Clanton
- Annetta Harden
- Robbie Mondine
- Sylvia Taylor
- Barbara Booker*
- Barabara (Bland) Holmes*
- Bonita Harvey, a special soror who assisted with the chapter’s chartering
Chapter Leadership
Kaiya M. Smith, Chapter President
Email: dstgvsu@gmail.com
Mary Trice, Treasurer
*Assisting Soror
Stacey McGinnis, Financial Secretary
*Assisting Soror
Brenda Mitchner, Audit Chair
*Assisting Soror
Myesha Melvin-Gholston, Primary Advisor
Email : mmgholston@gmail.com
Mia Gutridge, Secondary Advisor
Email: mjgutridge@gmail.com