As
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrates the 92th anniversary
of its inception, one has to stand in awe of the achievements
that have been made. The first public act performed by the
Founders,
the participation in the Women's Suffrage March in Washington
D.C., March 1913, further proves this Sorority has a rich legacy
woven into the fabric of American history.
A
vision held by 22 young women has blossomed into the reality
of over
275,000 members worldwide. Founded at Howard University on January
13, 1913, Delta has chapters in the majority of states in the
union as well as in Africa, Europe, South America, Asia,
the Bahamas and the US VIrgin Islands.
for further information, please visit the national website www.deltasigmatheta.org or read A Search for Sisterhood by Soror Paula Giddings
Osceola Macarthy
Adams
Actress
and member of the Repertory Playhouse Associates of New York. Directress
of the American Negro Theater during which time she directed the play
in which Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte made their acting debuts.
Teacher of dramatics at Bennett College in North Carlina. Directress
of the Harlem School of the Arts.
Maguerite Young
Alexander
A
constant supporter of Delta Sigma Theta and the Alpha Chapter. Founder
Alexander was born in Illinois.
Winona Cargile
Alexander
The
first Black social worker in the state of New York and with the New York
County Charities. Shw was also a social worker with "Colored Indigents" with
the Duval County Welfare Biard in Florida.
Ethel Cuff Black
A
social studies teacher in various cities across the country. She was
the first Black teacher in Richmond County, NY.
Bertha Pitts
Campbell
Teacher
at Topeka (Kansas) Industrial Institute. At age 92, Founder Cambell,
led 100 Deltas in a march commemorating the Founders' participation in
the suffrage march held in 1913. Charter member of the Christian
Friends for Racial Equality.
Zephyr Chisom
Carter
A
constant supporter of Delta. She was very active in college affairs at
Howard and was one of two seniors featured in the Crisis Magazine, edited
by W.E.B. Dubois for the NAACP, in 1913. She was also a teacher in the
state of Texas.
Edna Brown Coleman
Considered
to be the most brilliant girl in the class, she was the president and
valedictorian of her graduating class. She married Frank Coleman, one
of the Founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Jessie McGuire
Dent
Instrumental
in integrating the Galveston Public School System, she was recognized
for her efforts by having her portrait placed in permanent
display in the Texas Cultural Archives.
Frederica Chase
Dodd
Helped
to establish a YWCA for Black women in Dallas. Was Director of the Emergency
Relief Station for Black and was a charter member of the Dallas Alumnae
Chapter.
Myra Davis Hemmings
The
first president of Delta Sigma Theta. Also served as a president of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Active in the NAACP and the National Council
of Negro Women. Chartered the San Antonio Alumnae Chapter.
Olive Jones
A
constant supporter of Delta, she was an accomplished pianist who taught
in the Washington D.C. school system.
Jimmie Bugg
Middleton
President
and national treasurer of the National Association of College Women.
Also served as the Dean of Girls at the Black High School in Raleigh.
Pauline Oberdorfer
Minor
Teacher
in the Alabama, South Carolina and Pennsylvania school systems.
A soprano soloist who also wrote a book of hymns, Get Off the Judgment
Seat.
Vashti Turley
Murphy
Mother
of 4 Deltas. Acitve with the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter and
member of the Baltimore branch of the National Associaon of College
Women.
Naomi Sewell
Richardson
The
last surviving Founder. Taught in Missouri, Illinois and
New York. Passed away in 1993 in New York.
Mamie Reddy
Rose
First
Founder to enter the Omega Omega Chapter in 1919. While at Howard, she
won numerous awards as a dramatic reader.
Eliza Pearl
Shippen
Graduated
Magna Cum Laude from Howard and earned her masters from Columbia University.
She earned her Ph.D in English Literature from UPENN.
Florence Letcher
Toms
Involved
in many civil rights organizations. Presented First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
to an audience of parents at her church. Member of the Board of Directors
of the Family Welfare Association and the Federation of Parent Teachers
Associations.
Ethel Carr Watson
A
teacher for more than thirty years. After retiring from teaching, she
began a second career as a dramatic performer.
Wertie Blackwell
Weaver
Lifelong
supporter of Delta. She wrote a book entitled The Valley of the Poor about
poor Blacks in the South.
Madree Penn
White
An
accomplished linguist, speaking German, French and Latin. Instrumental
in the inception of Delta, she was the second president of Delta and
the Alpha Chapter.
Edith Motte
Young
Constant
supporter of Delta.Teacher at Claflin College in South Carolina. Received
a masters in Biblical Literature from Oberlin College in Ohio
The Kappa Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Inc. was chartered on April 15th, 1973 on the campus of the University
of Oklahoma. Prompted by the need for leadership and excellence, 9
dedicated women sought to uphold the vision of the original 22. They
understood that they were of the elite and that the concerns of the
community were theirs to shoulder. Thus began another great chapter,
Kappa Alpha, in the history of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated!
Alfreda Lawson
Eady
Elizabeth Deloney Hepburn
Velma Jean Proutt Jones
Vicki Banks Land
Virgena Meloney Lewis
Jacquelyn Robbins
Cassandra Smithers Roberts
Sybil Armstead Sherman
Freddie Garrison Young |
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