On January 13, 1913 on the campus of Howard University, twenty-two women founded our illustrious organization and made a pledge of dedication to community service and changing the world to improve the welfare of all citizens. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The legacy that they began continues even stronger into the future. These women were:

                       

            Mrs. Osceola McCarthy Adams           Mrs. Jimmie Bugg Middleton

        Mrs. Marguerite Young Alexander         Mrs. Pauline Oberdorfer Minor

          Mrs. Winona Cargile Alexander             Mrs. Vashti Turley Murphy

                 Mrs. Ethel Cuff Black                   Mrs. Naomi Sewell Richarson

              Mrs. Bertha Pitts Campbell                 Mrs. Mamie Reddy Rose

              Mrs. Zephyr Chisom Carter                  Ms. Eliza Pearl Shippen

               Mrs. Edna Brown Coleman               Mrs. Florence Letcher Toms

                Mrs. Jessie McGuire Dent                   Mrs. Ethel Carr Watson

               Mrs. Frederica Chase Dodd              Mrs. Wertie Blackwell Weaver

             Mrs. Myra Davis Hemmings                   Mrs. Madree Penn White  

                   Ms. Olive C. Jones                           Mrs. Edith Motte Young

 

Five Point Thrust and National Involvement

From the beginning, Delta Sigma Theta has established itself as a public service organization whose purpose is to provide services and programs to promote human welfare especially for African Americans. This allows Delta members to provide an array of public services that center on a Five-Point Program Thrust:

Economic Development

Educational Development

International Awareness and Involvement

Political Awareness and Involvement

Physical and Mental Health