National Presidents

191-2025

Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander (1919-1923)

Grand President for 1st National Convention

Creation of Grand Chapter

G. Dorothy Pelham Beckley (1923-1926)

New nomenclature for naming chapters was authorized

Established Omega Omega Chapter

Ethel Lamay Calimese (1926-1929)

Biennial conventions approved

Administration abolished duties of grand pres and grand vice pres to allow regions to select own regional directors

Anna Johnson Julian (1929-1931)

Grand Chapter Incorporated under D.C. laws (1930)

NPHC was formed (served as treasurer)

Gladys Byram Sheppard (1931-1933)

National Boards as component of organizational structure created

Jeannette Triplett Jones (1933-1935)

National Headquarters established

Vivian Osborne Marsh (1935-1939)

Actively involved in civil rights movement on anti lynching bill

Helen Elsie Austin (1939-1944)

Created the Office of Undergraduate coordinator (now knows as National 2nd Vice President)

Mae Wright Downs Peck Williams (1944-1947)

Focus on voting rights for women and minorites and fair employment practices

Purchase of war bonds and ambulances

Emphasized education

Dorothy Irene Height (1947-1956)

Purchase of National Headquarters building

First executive director hired

Dorthy Penman Harrison (1956-1958)

Jeanne L. Noble (1958-1963)

Social Action Commission established

Appointed by pres Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon & Ford to serve on national commissions

Geraldine Pittman Woods (1963-1967)

Delta Teen Lift

Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF) (1967)

Frankie Muse Freeman Esq. (1967-1971)

First woman appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights by President Lyndon B. Johnson

Lilian Pierce Benbow (1971-1975)

Established the National Commission on Arts & Letters

Implemented the Delta Right to Read Project

Thelma Thomas Daley (1975-1979)

Commissioned the sculpture, Fortitude at Howard University