Global InformationList of Delta Sigma Theta National Conventions information
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is an international organization of college-educated women. Originally established for women of color, Delta Sigma Theta now has a membership that includes women of all races. Delta Sigma Theta is the largest single organization historically founded for and by Black Women in the United States. Founded on January 13, 1913, at Howard University by twenty-two visionary collegiate students, Delta Sigma Theta is the first African American Greek-lettered organization for women based on the principles of servings others and political activity. Delta Sigma Theta held its first national convention in 1919 in Washington, D.C. The national body of Delta Sigma Theta previously met annually, but due to several factors, the main of which is the establishment of regions and regional leadership, the National body currently meets at biennial [every two years] conventions, and regional conferences are held for each region in the years in which conventions are not held. This list of Delta Sigma Theta National Conventions includes dates on which the conventions were held, host cities, and general themes and significant accomplishments of each convention.
| Number | Location | Dates[a] | Significant outcomes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Howard University, Washington, D.C. | December 27, 1919 | Three of the existing five chapters present. Plans were made to nationalize. | [1][2] |
| 2nd | Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio | December 28, 1920 | Convention authorized The Delta Journal; Honorary Members; The Delta May Week and its slogan, "Invest in Education"; and alumnae chapters. | [1][2] |
| 3rd | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | December 31, 1921 | Committee on Standards appointed, also Committee on Scholastic Grades. Hosted by the Gamma chapter. | [1][2][3] |
| 4th | Chicago, Illinois | December 1922 | Convention authorized a Scholarship Award Fund and a College Tuition Loan Fund | [1][2] |
| 5th | Columbus, Ohio | December 27, 1923 – December 30, 1923 | Honorary membership accorded Mary McLeod Bethune. Alpha Phi Alpha convention in Columbus at the same time. Hosted by the Epsilon chapter. | [1][2][4][5] |
| 6th | YWCA on 137th street, New York City, New York | December 27, 1924 – December 31, 1924 | Delta Sigma Theta Hymn adopted. Hosted by the New York Alumnae chapter. | [1][2][6] |
| 7th | Des Moines, Iowa | December 27, 1925 – December 31, 1925 | Regional conferences established. Revision of nomenclature for chapters. | [1][2] |
| 8th | Cincinnati, Ohio | December 1926 | First drive against inactivity in chapters. | [1][2] |
| 9th | Washington, D.C. | December 1927 | Strengthened program. Appointment of a National Vigilance Committee | [1][2] |
| 10th | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | December 27, 1929 | The First Biennial Convention. Policies set for internal organization. | [1][2] |
| 11th | Nashville, Tennessee | December 28, 1931 | First mixed chapter authorized | [1][2] |
| 12th | Chicago, Illinois | August 27, 1933 | Increased concern for standards. "B" rated schools accepted for Delta. | [1][2] |
| 13th | Los Angeles, California | August 10, 1935 – August 15, 1935 | Office of executive secretary created, not to be filled for some time. | [1][2] |
| 14th | Cleveland, Ohio | December 27, 1937 – December 31, 1937 | Much dissension about internal affairs. | [1][2] |
| 15th | St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, New York City, New York | August 28, 1939 – August 31, 1939 | Theme:"Broader Horizon for the Youth of Tomorrow"; 114 chapters represented. All chapters are required to take membership in NAACP. More support is enlisted for the Urban League. Hosted by the New York Alumnae Chapter. | [1][2][6][7] |
| 16th | Detroit, Michigan | December 26, 1941 – December 30, 1941 | Grand President delivered an address on "Social Maturity." Mary Bethune pointed to the need for Delta service in the war crisis. Particular stress on the service programs. | [1][2] |
| 17th | Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio | August 24, 1944 – August 27, 1944 | Convention was a year late because of a war emergency. The petition was made by undergraduates to be represented on the executive board. Gloria Hewlett was chosen as the first undergraduate second-vice president. | [1][2] |
| 18th | Richmond, Virginia | December 27, 1945 – December 30, 1945 | First Convention with a theme: "Design for Living in a New Age." Much concern for the Delta program. Eslanda Goode Robeson, wife of Paul Robeson gave a speech about Africa. | [1][2][8] |
| 19th | San Antonio, Texas | December 27, 1947 – December 31, 1947 | Resolution to call on Congress to admit to the U.S. 100,000 selected refugees and displaced persons for the next four years in addition to the regular quota. Formal adoption and copyright of the name Jabberwock. | [1][2] |
| 20th | Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri | August 23, 1948 – August 28, 1948 | Theme:"Human Rights - Our Challenge - Our Responsibility" Resolution to admit any qualified woman to Delta Sigma Theta, regardless of race, creed, or nationality. Creation of a public relations board | [1][2][9][10] |
| 21st | University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California | August 15, 1950 – August 19, 1950 | Theme: "Human Rights, from Charter to Practice." Workshops geared to theme. | [1][2] |
| 22nd | Cleveland, Ohio | December 26, 1952 – December 31, 1952 | Establishment of a National Headquarters. Reorganization of modus operandi-therefore called The Mending Conference. The position of executive director is now approved. | [1][2] |
| 23rd | Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, New York | August 14, 1954 – August 20, 1954 | *Concern for undergraduate status and problems. The "blackball" was abolished. Dorothy Height was re-elected in "harmony move". Hosted by New York Alumnae chapter. | [1][2][9][11][12] |
| 24th | Detroit Michigan | December 26, 1956 – December 30, 1956 | Theme: "Windows on the World." Revision of nomenclature. Graduate chapters thereafter to be known as alumnae chapters. The member-at-large category is proposed. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech. | [1][2][13] |
| 25th | Washington, D.C. | August 17, 1958 – August 23, 1958 | Theme: "The Challenge of Changing Patterns." An evaluation of the past and planning for the future. Plans made for the Golden Anniversary Period. The member-at-large category was adopted. Approximately 1,000 attendees. Held jointly with Alpha Kappa Alpha | [1][2][14] |
| 26th | Palmer House Hotel, Chicago, Illinois | August 14, 1960 – August 21, 1960 | Theme: "The Creative Life in Freedom and Dignity." Resolution to complete the maternity wing of the Chania Medical Center in Kenya. Resolution to support the stand taken by young Negro Americans to secure equal rights. | [1][2][15] |
| 27th | Americana Hotel, New York City, New York | August 11, 1963 – August 17, 1963 | "The Golden Anniversary Jubilee" Theme:"The Past Is Prologue" Decision to participate in March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. Vote to launch voter registration drive among Negros. Hosted by the New York Alumnae chapter. | [1][2][16][17] |
| 28th | Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California | August 14, 1965 – August 19, 1965 | Theme: "The Woman's Role in Civil Rights and War on Poverty" | [2][18] |
| 29th | Cincinnati, Ohio | August 14, 1967 – August 18, 1967 | [2][19][20][21] | |
| 30th | Baltimore, Maryland | August 10, 1969 – August 18, 1969 | Theme:“One Nation or Two? , . . One Nation!” | [2][22][23] |
| 31st | Houston, Texas | August 8, 1971 – August 13, 1971 | [2][24] | |
| 32nd | Atlanta, Georgia | August 1973 | Barbara Jordan delivered speech. | [2][25][26] |
| 33rd | Seattle, Washington | 1975 | Premiere of "Countdown at Kusini" starring Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee | [2][27] |
| 34th | Denver, Colorado | August 11, 1977 | [2][28] | |
| 35th | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1979 | [2] | |
| 36th | Washington Sheraton, Washington, D.C. | August 1, 1981 – August 5, 1981 | [2][29] | |
| 37th | Detroit, Michigan | August 12, 1983 – August 17, 1983 | Resolutions: step up Black voter registration and promote the economic solvency of women | [2][30][31] |
| 38th | Dallas, Texas | 1985 | [2] | |
| 39th | San Francisco, California | July 8, 1988 – July 14, 1988 | 75th Diamond Jubilee. | [2][32] |
| 40th | Miami, Florida | 1990 | [2] | |
| 41st | Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland | August 17, 1992 | Theme: "The Delta Launch 2000: A New Leadership for A New Century" | [2][33][34] |
| 42nd | St. Louis, Missouri | July 17, 1994 – July 24, 1994 | Plans to build and rehabilitate houses through Habitat For Humanity | [2][35] |
| 43rd | Orlando, Florida | July 18, 1996 – July 24, 1996 | Co-hosted by Orlando Alumnae chapter | [2][36] |
| 44th | Hilton New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana | August 8, 1998 – August 13, 1998 | [2][37] | |
| 45th | McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois | July 18, 2000 – July 21, 2000 | Nearly 15,000 attendees. | [2][38][39] |
| 46th | Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia | July 19, 2002 – July 24, 2002 | [2][38][40] | |
| 47th | MGM Grand Las Vegas and Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada | July 22, 2004 – July 28, 2004 | Theme:"Keeping the Connection, Building on the Past and Focusing on the Future" 12,000 attendees. Originally planned for San Diego, moved due to the passage of Proposition 209. | [2][41][42][43][44] |
| 48th | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | July 27, 2006 – August 2, 2006 | Theme: "One Mission, One Sisterhood: Empowering Communities Through Committed Service" | [2][45][46] |
| 49th | Orlando, Florida | July 24, 2008 – July 30, 2008 | Theme: "One Mission, One Sisterhood: Empowering Communities Through Committed Service". More than 15,000 attendees. | [2][47] |
| 50th | New Orleans, Louisiana | July 29, 2010 – August 4, 2010 | Theme: "Delta Sigma Theta - A Sisterhood Called to Serve: Transforming Lives, Impacting Communities". More than 12,000 attendees. | [2][47] |
| 51st | Washington, District of Columbia | July 11, 2013 – July 17, 2013 | Theme: Centennial Celebration. | [2][47] |
| 52nd | Houston, Texas | July 23, 2015 – July 29, 2015 | Theme: “Uncompromising Commitment to Communities: Service, Leadership, Empowerment.” | [2][47] |
| 53rd | Las Vegas, Nevada | August 3, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | [2][47] | |
| 54th | New Orleans, LA | July 9, 2019 – July 14, 2019 | Theme: “ Joy in our Sisterhood, Power in our Voice and Service in our Heart ” Convention ended two days early, on July 12, 2019, due to Hurricane Barry. The sorority donated 17,000 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank for those in need. | [2][47] |
| 55th | Atlanta, Georgia | November 18, 2021 – November 22, 2021 | Theme: “Joy in our Sisterhood, Power in our Voice and Service in Our Heart ” | [2][47] |
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- ^ Hutchins, Amey A. (2004). University of Pennsylvania By Amey A. Hutchins, University of Pennsylvania Archives p 85. ISBN 9780738535227. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ Schneider, Mark Robert (2006). African Americans in the Jazz Age By Mark Robert Schneider p119. ISBN 9780742544178. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ "Epsilon Chapter history". Dst.org.ohio-state.edu. 1919-11-19. Archived from the original on 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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- ^ In search of sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the challenge of the Black sorority movement p182
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- ^ King, Martin Luther; Carson, Clayborne; Luker, Ralph E.; Holloran, Peter; Russell, Penny A. (1992). The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Volume IV: Symbol of the Movement, January 1957-December 1958 By Martin Luther King Clayborne Carson Ralph Luker Penny A. Russell, Martin Luther Jr. King, Martin Luther King Jr. p85. ISBN 9780520222311. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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- ^ "City of St. Louis resolution 330 Frankie Muse Freeman" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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- ^ "Deltas to Hold 29th Biennial Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio". The Carolina Times. August 12, 1967. p. 1B.
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- ^ "Delta President". The Carolina Times. July 5, 1969. p. 6A.
- ^ "Delta President Represents U.S. On African Tour". The Carolina Times. July 17, 1971. p. 8B.
- ^ Hemmons, Willa Mae (1996). Black Women in the New World Order By Willa Mae Hemmons p39. ISBN 9780275952082. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ "Iota Pi History". Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
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- ^ Bernstein Daniel CV Archived January 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Soror Moss' book, "Be Strong" tells of life with Delta founder Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Afro American, August 1, 1981
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- ^ Apalachin Alumnae Chapter History Archived November 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Theology of the Hammer By Millard Fuller p95. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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- ^ Jet Aug 28, 2006 pp19,22. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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