DELTA SIGMA THETA

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a non-profit Greek letter organization of college educated women committed to constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community.

In 1913 at Howard University, twenty-two women formed the beloved sisterhood, Delta Sigma Theta. Their founders were Winona Cargile Alexander, Madree Penn White, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Vashti Turley Murphy, Ethel Cuff Black, Frederica Chase Dodd, Osceola Macarthy Adams, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Edna Brown Coleman, Edith Mott Young, Marguerite Young Alexander, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Eliza P. Shippen, Zephyr Chisom Carter, Myra Davis Hemmings, Mamie Reddy Rose, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Florence Letcher Toms, Olive Jones, Jessie McGuire Dent, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Ethel Carr Watson.
These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and public service. The sorority was incorporated in 1913 and the first public service act the founders participated in was the Women's Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913.
Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is the largest organization of women and the largest African- American Greek-lettered organization in the world. The Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has a membership of over 250,000 predominantly African American, college-educated women. The sorority currently has 900-plus alumnae and collegiate chapters located in the United States, Tokyo, Okinawa, Germany; Bermuda, the Bahamas; Seoul, Saint Thomas and Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Jamaica.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority owns property located at 1703, 1705, 1707, and 1709 New Hampshire Avenue in the Dupont Circle area of Northwest Washington, D.C.. This is the site of its national headquarters and the headquarters of the Delta Research and Education Foundation (DREF).

In March 2003, Delta Sigma Theta became a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations (UN). In a presentation by Hanifa Mezoui, Chief NGO Section, Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN (ECOSOC), Past National President Gwendolyn Boyd (who served as National President during this time) accepted the credentials on behalf of the sorority, before 150 members of the organization from across the country. Delta Sigma Theta was welcomed to the United Nations by Assistant Secretary General for External Affairs, Gillian Sorensen, who asked the sorority in her keynote address to, “use your NGO status to monitor the status of women and children in the world and bind together with other NGOs to insure that the UN honors its commitments.” Delta Sigma Theta was granted Special Consultative Status as an NGO to the Economic and Social Council of the UN as a result of its volunteer services and humanitarian efforts performed to address issues throughout the world.

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