Delta Sigma Theta Founders - facts

Osceola Macarthy Adams

Founder who selected the delta mottoes; Charter member and 1st President of Lambda Chapter; an acclaimed actress and Directress of the America Negro Theater.

Marguerite Young Alexander

Born in Illinois; constant supporter of Alpha Chapter; charter member of Lambda Chapter;

Winona Cargile Alexander

First custodian (historian) of the Alpha Chapter; was the first Black social worker with New York City and New York County charities; The Jacksonville chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta has a scholarship named after her.

Ethel Cuff Black

The first Vice President of Alpha Chapter; first Black teacher in Richmond County, NY; charter member of the Queens Alumnae Chapter.

Bertha Pitts Campbell

The only Black student enrolled at her school; was the valedictorian of the class of 1908.

Zephyr Chisom Carter

Born in El Paso, Texas; featured in the Crisis Magazine in 1913; reporter for Alpha Chapter.

Edna Brown Coleman

President and valedictorian of her graduating class; married a Founder of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Jessie McGuire Dent

First Corresponding secretary of Alpha Chapter; instrumental in integrating the Galveston Public School System.

Fredrica Chase Dodd

First Sergeant-at-Arms of the Alpha Chapter; Charter member of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter.

Myra Davis Hemmings

First President of the Alpha Chapter; was an active member of the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women. She went from being President of Alpha Kappa Alpha to being president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Olive C. Jones

Accomplished pianist who taught school in Washington, D.C.

Jimmie Bugg Middleton

President and National Treasurer of National association of College Women; Dean of Girls at the Black High School in Raleigh, N.C.

She helped lobby Delta Sigma Theta to participate in the March for Women's Suffrage.

Pauline Oberdorfer Minor

She was the Alpha's Chapter first Treasurer. ; author of "Get off the Judgment Seat." In 1914, she graduated valedictorian of the Teacher's College.

Vashti Turley Murphy

Mother of five daughters, four of whom became Deltas; member of the Baltimore Branch of the National Association of College Women. In 1908, she was appointed to teach in Washington D.C. public schools.

Naomi Sewell Richardson

Last surviving founder when she died in 1993; the first Black graduate of Washingtonville High School; married a member of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Mamie Reddy Rose

First of the Founders. to enter into the Omega Omega Chapter on Feb. 17, 1919. Of all the other founding members, She got married and became a homemaker.

Eliza Pearl Shippen

Graduated magna cum laude from Howard University; received her M.A. and PhD.

Florence Letcher Toms

Presented First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to parents at the John Wesley AME Zion Church in 1945; had interactions with multiple US Presidents including William H. Taft and John F. Kennedy. She collected elephants, which has become a hobby to Delta's all over the world.

Ethel Carr Watson

Teacher for more than 30 years then began a career in dramatics. During the significant March for Women's Suffrage, She confided that her family told her not to march, but was forced to defy the order because she was selected to hold the banner since she was the tallest.

Wertie Blackwell Weaver

Author of the novel entitled "The Valley of the Poor." Her book focused on racism and poverty in the South.

Madree Penn White

Accomplished linguist who spoke German, French, Greek, and Latin; designed ceremony for inducting Honorary Members; first woman of the campus paper, The Howard University Journal.

Edith Motte Young

Served as Alpha Chapter's first Recording Secretary. Taught at Claflin College in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She was also an accomplished pianist.