Bottom Row: Winona Cargile Alexander, Madree Penn White, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Vashti Turley Murphey, Ethel Cuff Black, Frederica Chase Dodd;
Middle Row: Osceola Macarthy Adams, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Edna Brown Coleman, Edith Motte Young,
Marguerite Young Alexander, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Eliza Pearl Shipper;
Top Row: Zephyr Chisom Carter, Myra Davis Hemmings, Mamie Reddy Rose, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Florence Letcher Toms, Olive Claire Jones, Jessie McGuire Dent, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Ethel Car Watson.
The founders of Delta Sigma Theta,
Sorority, Inc. were a group of twenty-two college-educated women who envisioned
an organization that went beyond self-fulfillment. These courageous women wanted
an organization that focused more upon the social issues of their time, in lieu
of creating one that would cater to social whims of the community. Along with
their concerns for the welfare of human beings, they also promoted academic
excellence and wanted to culturally enrich community life. Although these
twenty-two women shared similar values and concerns for humankind, they were
each individuals who possessed their own unique inner and outer strengths. These
strengths ultimately came together to produce one flame and one vision for which
the torch will burn forever
| Founder: | Interesting Fact: |
| Osceola Macarthy Adams | One of the first Black actresses on Broadway |
| Marguerite Young Alexander | French and Spanish Correspondent Secretary |
| Winona Cargile Alexander | First Black social worker in New York City |
| Ethel Cuff Black | First Black teacher in Richmond County, NY |
| Bertha Pitts Campbell | Charter member of Christian Friends for Racial Equality |
| Zephyr Chisom Carter | Singer on television |
| Edna Brown Coleman | President and Valedictorian of Howard Class of 1913 |
| Jessie McGuire Dent | Display in Texas Cultural Archives for her service to the Galveston, TX community |
| Frederica Chase Dodd | Helped establish a YWCA for Black women in Dallas |
| Myra Davis Hemmings | Active in the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women |
| Olive C. Jones | Accomplished pianist |
| Jimmie Bugg Middleton | President and National Treasurer of the National Association of College Women |
| Pauline Oberdorfer Minor | Hymn writer and Soprano soloist |
| Vashti Turley Murphy | Served with National Association of College Women |
| Naomi Sewell Richardson | Teacher; Last surviving Founder |
| Mamie Reddy Rose | Acclaimed Dramatic Reader |
| Eliza P. Shipper | Received a Master's Degree from Columbia University and Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania |
| Florence Letcher Toms | Served on Board of Directors of the Family Welfare Association |
| Ethel Carr Watson | Teacher and dramatic performer |
| Wertie Blackwell Weaver | Author of the novel, The Valley of the Poor |
| Madree Penn White | First female Editor of The Howard University Journal |
| Edith Motte Young | Professor and Master's Degree from Oberlin College |
