| Name
|
Original chapter
|
Notability
|
References
|
| Osceola Macarthy Adams
|
Alpha
|
Founder; born in Albany, Georgia. Within the ranks of Delta, Adams called upon her prior leadership experience to aid in the founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In Chicago, Illinois, she was installed as the first president of Lambda, and she served as the grand treasurer of the national organization. She directed the debut of actors Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier.
|
[3]
|
| Pauline Oberdorfer Minor
|
Alpha
|
Founder; born in Charlottesville, Virginia; an excellent musician. She was the Alpha Chapter's first Treasurer. In 1914, she graduated as valedictorian of the Teacher's College. She was also the President of the Teachers' Club. Minor taught school in Alabama, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. She wrote the book Soul Echos, which featured 40 of her compositions. She also became a renowned mezzo-soprano recitalist.
|
[1]
|
| Zephyr Chisom Carter
|
Alpha
|
Founder; born in El Paso, Texas. During her years at Howard University, she played an active role in the collegiate chapter of the NAACP. In Delta, she became the Alpha Chapter's first reporter. She was a singer and actress, and for several years she sang for television shows.
|
[1]
|
| Edith Motte Young
|
Alpha
|
Founder; North Carolina native. She was the Alpha Chapter's first Recording Secretary. Upon graduation from Howard University, she moved to Youngstown, Ohio. Later, she taught at Claflin College in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She received her M.A. degree in Biblical Literature from Oberlin College in Ohio. She was also an accomplished pianist.
|
[1]
|
| Edna Brown Coleman
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Washington, D.C. native. Her father had a prestigious career at Howard University for 31 years as a professor of religion. Many of the first meetings of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. were held in her living room. She was dedicated and studious, and graduated from Howard in 1913 as valedictorian and class president. Upon graduating from Howard, Brown wed Frank Coleman, the co-founder of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. She played a crucial role in the development of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
|
[1]
|
| Bertha Pitts Campbell
|
Alpha
|
Founder; born in Winfield, Kansas, but grew up in Colorado. She entered the Teaching College at Howard. On March 13, 1913, she participated in the March on Washington, Delta's first public act as a sorority. 68 years later, she repeated this walk on August 2, 1981. Even though a limo was provided for her, at the grand age of 92, she refused to ride and chose to walk. Campbell became an educator, and she spent the vast majority of her adulthood working in Seattle, Washington, toward better race relations.
|
[1]
|
| Frederica Chase Dodd
|
Alpha
|
Founder; born in Dallas, Texas. Her family had a substantial amount of financial and social authority. She was enrolled in the Teacher's College. After graduating from Howard University, she took on a brief career as a teacher. She became the first Sergeant at Arms of the Alpha Chapter. In 1926, she helped to create the graduate chapter of Delta in Dallas, which became the first Greek letter organization in the city
|
[1]
|
| Myra Davis Hemmings
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Gonzales, Texas native. Of all the founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she had the most assertive leadership skills. She went from being President of Alpha Kappa Alpha to being president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her daily life, she continued to be a role model through her involvement in the Alpha Phi Literary Society. She acted in Go Down Death: The Story of Jesus and the Devil.
|
[1]
|
| Ethel Cuff Black
|
Alpha
|
Founder; born in Wilmington, Delaware into a prosperous family. She enjoyed fine arts and expressed this through her involvement in the Howard University Choir. She was continuously involved with community organizations, such as the YWCA, where she became chairperson of the collegiate committee from 1911 to 1912. After graduating, she became a teacher in the New York City public school system. In 1953, she assisted in the creation of the Queens Alumnae Chapter.
|
[1]
|
| Winona Cargile Alexander
|
Alpha
|
Founder; born in Columbus, Georgia. Her unique personality allowed her to flourish in any environment and appeal to many people. Alexander valued education, and upon graduating, became a teacher. Always giving back to the community and her sorority, she became the first social worker for the New York City and County Charities, and she was the Alpha chapter's first Custodian.
|
[1]
|
| Marguerite Young Alexander
|
Alpha
|
Founder; charter member of Lambda chapter; born in Chicago, Illinois. While at Howard University, she concentrated her studies on two foreign languages. After graduation, she returned to Chicago, where she became a French and Spanish Correspondence Secretary. In 1950, as a member of the housing group, Alexander helped the Alpha Nu chapter purchase a sorority house on the campus of the University of Illinois
|
[1][4]
|
| Ethel Carr Watson
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Parkersburg, West Virginia native. During the March for Women's Suffrage, Watson's family told her not to march, but she was forced to defy the order as she was selected to hold the banner since she was the tallest. She pursued her teaching career for over 30 years. She then retired and began a second career as a dramatic performer.
|
[1]
|
| Florence Letcher Toms
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Washington, D.C. native. At graduation from Howard, her diploma and scholarship were given to her by William Howard Taft. She was chosen to present to Lady Eleanor Roosevelt before an audience. Toms collected elephants, which has become a hobby of Deltas all over the world.
|
[1]
|
| Jimmie Bugg Middleton
|
Alpha
|
Founder; active supporter of Delta from Lynchburg, Virginia. She helped lobby Delta Sigma Theta to participate in the March for Women's Suffrage. In 1936, she received her master's degree from Howard University. By 1938, after years of effort, she witnessed her Raleigh Alumnae chapter, Alpha Zeta Sigma, established in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1944, she was appointed to the Scholarship Board of New York's 22nd Congressional District.
|
[1]
|
| Jessie McGuire Dent
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Galveston, Texas native. She was the first corresponding secretary of the Alpha Chapter. She enrolled in the Teacher's College at Howard University. She became a teacher in the Galveston School District. Dent took on the Galveston School District in court and won equal wages for Black teachers.
|
[1]
|
| Madree Penn White
|
Alpha
|
Founder; the driving force and inspiration behind Delta Sigma Theta. She is originally from Atchison, Kansas, but moved to Omaha, Nebraska. White drafted the constitution and set of bylaws. She selected the Greek letter symbols and created the initiation ritual. She was the first woman on the Howard University JournalTemplate:'s staff as an editor. She was the founder and President of the Triangle Press Company in St. Louis, Missouri.
|
[1]
|
| Wertie Blackwell Weaver
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Kansas City, Missouri native. After graduation, she was appointed to teach in East St. Louis. She published the novel The Valley of the Poor, which focused on racism and poverty in the South.
|
[1]
|
| Olive Jones
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Washington, D.C. native. She became a music teacher in the Washington public school system.
|
[1]
|
| Naomi Sewell Richardson
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Washingtonville, New York native. She was involved in extreme activism and civic service. She was appointed to the East St. Louis public school system after graduation by Dean Lewis B. Moore. She also taught in Illinois, Princeton, New Jersey, and New York City. Richardson was the last surviving founder when she died in 1993.
|
[1]
|
| Vashti Turley Murphy
|
Alpha
|
Founder; a Washington, D.C. native. She graduated from M Street High School, later known as Dunbar High School. This was the first public high school for Blacks in the United States. She then attended Miner Normal School, which had a historic association with Howard University and became part of the DC Public School System in 1879. In 1908, she was appointed to teach in Washington public schools. Murphy was an ardent supporter of the major political issues of the day, including voting rights for women.
|
[1]
|
| Eliza Pearl Shippen
|
Alpha
|
Founder; Washington, D.C. native. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from the Howard College of Arts and Sciences. She received her M.A. from the Teachers College of Columbia University and her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Shippen was the only founder to receive a Ph.D. and one of the only two founders who never married. She strongly believed in the public service of Delta.
|
[1]
|
|
Script error: No such module "If empty".
|