Happy Founders Day to the Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

In 1912 at Howard University, twenty-two undergraduate members of the first African-American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), voted to change the organization's name to Delta Sigma Theta. This new name was to reflect the group's desire to change the direction of the group[2] and change in the philosophical underpinnings. The collegiate students sought to move towards social activism and greater public service, rather than social activities.[3] According to Delta Sigma Theta's historian Paula Giddings, the twenty-two young women were concerned that since Alpha Kappa Alpha was not incorporated, there was no "legal entity." Since there was no charter, there was no authority to form other chapters."[2]




The undergraduate members wanted to establish a national organization, enlarge the scope of activities of the sorority, change the sorority's name and symbols, and be more politically oriented.[4] However, conflict arose between one alumnae member who wished to keep the previous name and the remaining collegiate members who voted to change the name to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.[3] When Nellie Quander heard about changing the sorority name, she disagreed and gave the other women a deadline to stop the efforts to reorganize the sorority.[5] The twenty-two declined and unanimously voted to reorganize.[6] Thus Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913, by twenty-two former members