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HISTORY OF THETA ALPHA
NATIONAL HISTORY
At the birth of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 1913 at Howard University, the founders envisioned an organization of college women committed to serious endeavors and community service. These students demonstrated a vital concern for de-emphasizing the social aspect of sorority life. Their ideals have withstood the test of time. Surviving on the strength of its sisterhood, today Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit organization providing programs and services to improve society. Commencing a long tradition of public service, the founders of Delta Sigma Theta represented Howard University in the women’s suffrage march of 1913. This historic act, which took place only a few months after the sorority’s inception, was the first of many dedicated service projects. Over the years, the sorority’s commitment to public service has persisted. Current National Projects include School America, Delta Habitat for Humanity and the DST-NAACP Partnership for Change. Since 1930, Delta Sigma Theta’s record of incorporation had been filed in the Congressional Library in Washington, D.C. Today, the sorority stands more than 200,000 strong with more than 870 chapters world-wide including chapters in Liberia, the Virgin Islands, Germany and Japan.
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 Oberdofer 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
CHAPTER HISTORY
The Theta Alpha Chapter  of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered at Northwestern University and National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, on January 9, 1971 by 12 undergraduate Charter Members. These young women, who were initiated into the sorority through Gamma Omicron Chapter (now Evanston-Northshore Alumnae Chapter) felt the need for a campus-based undergraduate chapter.
With a philanthropic spirit, the Theta Alpha Chapter enthusiastically began their first service project, an exchange program with junior high school girls from Evanston and the Cabrini- Green Housing Project. The Deltas facilitated cultural enrichment activities with the young ladies. Over the years, the women of Theta Alpha have served the community in several capacities: hospital volunteers; election canvassing and voter registration; annual food drives; seminars on current events and issues of importance to the community; career counseling; volunteer tutors; big sister program with high school girls; volunteer at local housing for the elderly; and soup kitchen volunteering. Theta Alpha women have also been active at the national level of the sorority, with candidates in 1977 and 1990 for Second National Vice Presidents, a Regional Representative in 1978, and a winning candidate for Second National Vice President in 1981. We also have Theta Alpha women serving on the national board. Please check the Programs tab to view a current listing of Theta Alpha Service Projects.
CHARTER MEMBERS
Michelle Roberts Aikens
Pamela Barnes
Beverly Henry Barton
Deborah Dillon
Cynthia Ramos Griffith
Gail Roberts House
Esther Jenkins
Anita Brice Kelley
Karin Robinson Binion Mitra
Patricia Prescott
Dale Wallace Thompson
Adrian Williams