Delta Sigma Theta

This article is about the historically African American service sorority established in 1913. For the professional pharmaceutical fraternity, see Delta Sigma Theta (professional).

Delta Sigma Theta
ΔΣΘ
FoundedJanuary 13, 1913; 111 years ago (1913-01-13)
Howard University
TypeSocial
AffiliationNPHC
StatusActive
EmphasisAfrican American
ScopeInternational
Motto"Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom"
Colors  Crimson and   Cream
SymbolPyramid, Lady Fortitude, Delta Torch
FlowerPurple Violet
Chapters1,000+[1] (including alumnae chapters)
NicknamesDeltas, DST, Devastating Divas
Headquarters1707 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
United States
Websitewww.deltasigmatheta.org
[2]

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (ΔΣΘ) is a historically African American sorority. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that assist the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two women at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Membership is open to any woman, regardless of religion, race, or nationality. Women may apply to join through undergraduate chapters at a college or university or through an alumnae chapter after earning a college degree.

The sorority currently has over 350,000 members and over 1,000 chapters located in the Bahamas, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bermuda, Canada, England, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, West Africa and South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States. Delta Sigma Theta is also a member of the umbrella organization National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) – an organization of nine international Black Greek-letter sororities and fraternities. The current (28th) International President and CEO is Elsie Cooke-Holmes.

The first public act of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was some of its members marched as students of Howard University, in the collegiate section in the Women's Suffrage March in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 1913.[3] Delta Sigma Theta has created programming to improve political, education, and social and economic conditions, particularly within black communities. The sorority is most known for its collaboration with community organizations and corporations to further its programming goals. The sorority reached a centennial year and became the first Black Greek-lettered organization to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2013, with a float entitled "Transforming Communities through Sisterhood and Service".[4]

  1. ^ Delta Sigma Theta website Archived April 12, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  2. ^ Delta Sigma Theta Vendor Code of Conduct
  3. ^ Dubois, William Edward Burghardt (April 1913). "Suffrage Paraders". The Crisis. Vol. 5. p. 296.
  4. ^ "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Celebrates Centennial". January 13, 2013.