Delta Delta Delta | Theta Alpha Chapter - University of Washington

The History of Sororities

In the late 19th century, a woman's place in society was very different from what it is today. Women were not permitted to vote, and few women were found in the workplace. In the frontier states of the mid-west, women began to attend the formerly all-male universities, but they were not welcomed by their male classmates. Because of this cool reception, it was natural for women students to join together in small groups for friendship and support. At first these groups were limited to their individual campuses, but as they developed they imitated the existing men's fraternities, and the various groups spread from one school to another.

By 1885 (when Sarah Ida Shaw entered Boston University), there were six of these "ladies' societies" with enough chapters to be called national organizations: Pi Beta Phi (founded 1867), Kappa Alpha Theta (founded 1870), Kappa Kappa Gamma (founded 1870), Alpha Phi (founded 1872), Delta Gamma (founded 1873) and Gamma Phi Beta (founded 1874). Other groups existed at that time but had only one chapter. They included: Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa and the societies which would later become Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu.

Expansion of these groups into conservative New England was slow. The first to come was Kappa Kappa Gamma to Boston University in 1882, followed by Alpha Phi (also at Boston) in 1883. A chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta opened at Vermont in 1883.

Our Founding

Although there were three women's groups represented at Boston University in 1888 (Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Phi), Sarah Ida Shaw saw a need for a group which would be different from the others. She said to her friend, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, "Let us found a society that shall be kind alike to all and think more of a girl's inner self and character than of her personal appearance."

So the two young women began the work of creating a new national fraternity. Later Sarah wrote, "...The two enthusiastic friends were unaware of the fact that there was something stupendous about the task they had set hands, heads and hearts to accomplish. They were working for a principle, and it never occurred to them that there could be such a thing as failure. Earnestness of purpose, energy and enthusiasm had brought them both success in college and why should not these same qualities bring assurance of good fortune to the new venture."

Not only did they found a fraternity, but at the same time they wrote the rituals and constitution, and designed the emblems. The choosing of the name was a joint decision. Eleanor suggested a triple letter and Sarah chose the letter and worked on the Greek mottos and passwords. Inspiration for these came from a variety of sources: Egyptian lore, Hindu mysticism, Greek and astronomy, reflecting the wide and various interests of Sarah Ida Shaw.

Never before had a sorority been founded so completely and with such depth of meaning from the very beginning, and the actual day of founding is beautifully described in Sarah's words.

"At last, all was finished on Tuesday...November 27, 1888, but there was one more meeting of the two friends on the following afternoon before they separated for the Thanksgiving recess, at the top of the college building in what was then the Philological Library. It was there that the two girls embraced each other and said 'Tri Delta is founded'...It is not strange that the hearts of these sponsors were full of emotion as together they went out of the college building, for each felt there were added reasons why her Thanksgiving should be a very happy one. When they came to the parting of the ways at the historic Boston Common, Miss Pond said, 'We can make the girls we initiate promise secrecy, but what shall hold us two?' So there in the shadow of the old Park Street Church, with a bright new moon and three brilliant stars nearby...the two faithful friends clasped hands and said, 'In the presence of these myriads of witnesses, I swear eternal loyalty and fealty to Delta Delta Delta.'"

Alpha Chapter

After vacation they began the task of building the chapter. Senior Florence Isabelle Stewart, a high school friend of Eleanor's, soon consented to join. Isabel Morgan Breed, another senior, was at first reluctant to join. She was deeply religious and felt fraternities were fundamentally wrong. When the girls convinced her that the aims of the society had strong Christian ideals and asked her to be the chaplain, she consented to join.

Three girls from the junior class, five sophomores and six freshmen were then chosen. Since there was such a short time before the Christmas holiday, initiation was postponed until January. The history of Alpha Chapter describes that initiation: "At the opening of the college term, on Friday, January 15, 1889, the new fraternity pins were received, and in Professor Browne's room in the college building on Somerset Street, the other seniors, Belle Breed and Flora Stewart were initiated."...followed later in the day by the juniors. The remaining 11 were initiated in the evening, bringing the chapter total to 18. "The first initiation service was quite elaborate...After the initiation we had a sumptuous banquet...followed by toasts and the shouting of our call."

The appearance of a new sorority startled the other "society people," who probably expected a weakling organization. The new chapter of Gamma Phi Beta had only 15 members, so they hastily initiated three more. But the Tri Deltas were determined to stay ahead of their rivals, and on March 7 initiated three more of their own, bringing their total to 21.

At 12 Somerset Street on Beacon Hill, Delta Delta Delta was not only created but was developed and expanded by the wise, successful and strong leadership of its two founders, as well as the early members of Alpha Chapter. Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond from the beginnings of Alpha Chapter included their two senior classmates, Isabel Morgan Breed and Florence Isabelle Stewart, as "founders." Therefore, the Fraternity has always recognized the four seniors as Founders of Delta Delta Delta.

About Tri Delta

Sarah Ida Shaw

Sara Ida Shaw The inspirational force behind the founding of Tri Delta was Sarah Ida Shaw. Born in Missouri, Sally (her childhood name) moved to Boston at age six. There she was part of a large but close-knit family. A brilliant student, she was valedictorian of her class at the Girls' Latin School, and originally planned to attend Wellesley College. Her mother's serious illness coupled with her father's absence on business forced a change in plans and she enrolled in Boston University to which she commuted by horse-drawn car from her home in Roxbury.

Sarah was one of the best students in the class of 1889 at Boston University, and her academic excellence was recognized by Phi Beta Kappa. All three of the women's societies (sororities) on campus had invited her to join, but she declined their invitations due to her family responsibilities and active personal life, as well as a preconceived notion that secret societies were foolish. However, she came to realize that a fraternity could fill a great need for young women living away from home and their network of family and friends. This realization led her to start a fraternity - but one which would be different from the type she had seen.

After her graduation, Sarah taught classical languages and German until her marriage in 1896. She continued her involvement with Tri Delta, serving as Grand President from 1889-1893; Grand Commissioner of Education from 1893-1897; and Grand Historian from 1897-1900. She attended Conventions when possible and wrote articles for The Trident.

In 1907, Ida Shaw Martin (she dropped the Sarah after her marriage) published and successfully marketed the first of 11 editions of The Sorority Handbook. The book contained advice on the organization and operation of fraternities, and this began her 30-year career as a professional Greek consultant.

Ida Shaw Martin maintained close contact with Tri Delta's leaders and her Fraternity until her death in 1940. Her vision and idealism never wavered. Tri Delta owes to her the beauty of the Rituals and the knowledge that commitment to an ideal greater than ourselves can bring a new dimension into our lives. She was elected to the Fraternity Hall of Fame in 1976.

Eleanor Dorcas Pond

Eleanor Dorcas Pond Eleanor Dorcas Pond was valedictorian of her high school class and was awarded a scholarship to Boston University. During her freshman year she commuted by train from her home in West Medway, Massachusetts, and in later years boarded closer to campus and commuted by horse-drawn car. Eleanor had no interest in joining the established societies. A person of high intellectual ability, she was also a fun-loving but practical young woman, a perfect complement to Sarah Ida Shaw's visionary personality. It was she who suggested the name be a triple letter, and she also influenced the development of the ritual, badge, emblems and Constitution.

She served as Grand Vice President until the first Convention. After teaching Latin and science for four years, Eleanor entered Tufts Medical College in 1893 and graduated with a degree in medicine in 1896. Her marriage to Arthur Mann in July of 1896 was attended by many Tri Deltas who sang a Tri Delta song in place of the traditional wedding march.

The Manns first moved to Chicago where he was an engineer and she practiced medicine, did post-graduate work and lectured at the Chicago Post Graduate School. She founded the Chicago Alliance (alumnae chapter) in 1897. This group is still in existence today.

Mr. Mann's career took them all over the world, and after a year in Australia, they moved to Schenectady, New York. Here, for more than 20 years, Dr. Eleanor Dorcas Mann had a successful medical practice, specializing in obstetrics and diseases of children. She was active with the members of Beta Chapter (St. Lawrence), and became a charter member of the Syracuse Alliance. She attended the 1906 Convention in Syracuse, and her short speech describing her part in the founding of the Fraternity was a highlight of the banquet program. Eleanor died suddenly in 1924 at the age of 56 from a stroke.

Florence Isabelle Stewart

Florence Isabelle Stewart Florence Isabelle Stewart was the youngest child of a village doctor who was in his 80s when she entered Boston University. Because the family had little money, it was difficult for Flora to remain in school. During her first years she commuted from Medway with her high school friend, Nellie Pond. Later she lived with a brother in Boston and helped with the housework and children. This left her little time for anything but class work.

Flora was an excellent student and salutatorian of her high school class. Her intelligence was matched by her beauty. She served as Grand Secretary from 1889-1893, but was inactive in the Fraternity after this time. For many years after her graduation from Boston University she taught Latin and Greek. She died in 1932 at the age of 65.

Isabel Morgan Breed

Isabel Morgan Breed Isabel came from Lynn, Massachusetts. She had refused sorority bids because deep religious convictions made her question being a part of a selective organization. After learning of the Christian principles and aims of Tri Delta, she consented to become a member.

After graduation she taught Greek and Latin from 1891-1903 and served as president of the Ladies' Library Association of Randolph (Mass.). Because of poor health she retired to the family home in Lynn, Mass. in 1903, where she lived with her three unmarried sisters.

She founded a branch of the Alliance Francaise and served the Lynn Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, the North Shore Club and the Women's Missionary Association of the Baptist Church in various capacities.

Her activity in Tri Delta is limited to serving as Grand Treasurer from 1889-1893, but her interest was unabated, and in her quiet and orderly life she reflected great credit upon the Fraternity. During her last years, she spent much time in study. She died in 1915 at the age of 48.