Delta Delta Delta
Encyclopedia : D : DE : DEL : Delta Delta Delta
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Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ), also known as Tri Delta, is a national collegiate sorority founded on November 27, 1888.
History
Delta Delta Delta was founded by Sarah Ida Shaw, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, Florence Isabelle Stewart and Isabel Morgan Breed at Boston University.Three women's groups were already represented at Boston University in 1888 (Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Phi). However, Sarah Ida Shaw saw a need for another group which would be different from the others. She enlisted the help of Eleanor Dorcas Pond and told her: "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."
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."
Shaw and Pond not only found a fraternity, but also wrote the rituals and constitution as well as designing the emblems. The choosing of the name was a mutual decision. Eleanor suggested a triple letter while Sarah chose the actual letter and developed Greek mottos and passwords. The inspiration for these came from a variety of sources such as Eygptian Lore, Hindu mysticism, Greek and astronomy, which reflected the wide and various interests of Sarah Ida Shaw.
The Founders of ΔΔΔ:
 Sarah Ida Shaw
|  Eleanor Dorcas Pond
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 Florence Isabelle Stewart
|  Isabel Morgan Breed
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Famous Firsts
- First women's fraternity to be founded as a national organization with complete plans for governmental structure and expansion.
- First to plan an alumnae system.
- First to publish a book-length history: A Detailed Record of Delta Delta Delta, 1888-1907.
- First women's fraternity to hold a national Leadership Conference.
- First to establish a central office (now called Executive Office).
Traditions and Legacy
- Each newly inducted member receives a gold pin with three deltas painted on a crescent moon. Above this are three stars; each holds a small pearl inside of it which is hand placed since all the pins are handmade.
- Tri Delta began regular publication of its quarterly magazine earlier in its existence than any other women's fraternity. The Trident has been published continuously since 1891.
Philanthropy
In 1999, Tri Delta joined with St. Jude Children’s Research hospital to form a partnership. With this arrangement St. Jude (through the fundraising branch, ALSAC) assists Tri Delta chapters to plan philanthropy events that will directly benefit the children and subsidize research costs at St. Jude. In less than four years, Tri Deltas across the nation raised over $1,000,000 dollars to build a Teen Room at the Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Tri Delta also raises money annually to support various Children's Cancer Charities.
Trivia
Tri Delta has been featured by Saturday Night Live in a series of short skits, where a sorority member answers the telephone "Delta Delta Delta, can I help ya, help ya, help ya?"
Notable alumnae
For a full list of notable Delta Delta Delta alumnae please visit here. [link]
- Lee Phillip Bell (Upsilon) - Talk show host
- Dixie Carter (Delta Sigma) - Actress
- Kiran Chetry (Alpha Pi) - News Anchor
- Kellie Coffey (Theta Gamma) - Musician
- Catherine Crier (Theta Zeta) - Judge, TV personality
- Mary Frances Crosby (Theta Zeta) - Actress
- Katie Couric (Beta Sigma) - News personality
- Elizabeth Dole (Alpha Omicron) - US Senator
- Cathy Guisewite (Iota) - Comic Author
- Cynthia Geary (Chi) - Actress
- Joanna Garcia (Alpha Eta) - Actress
- Leeza Gibbons (Alpha Lambda) - News personality
- Hoda Kotb (Beta Nu) - News Anchor
- Deborah Norville (Alpha Rho) - News Anchor
- Anne Rivers Siddons (Phi Theta) - Author
- Molly Sims (Delta Gamma) - Actress, Model, MTV Host
External link
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