About TriDelta

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, the founder of Delta Delta Delta, 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."

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.

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. These four women are considered our founders.

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 Prof. Browne's room in the college building on Somerset Street, the seniors 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 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. Even from the beginning, Tri Delta women strived to be the best among their peers and have been doing so ever since.

The purpose of Delta Delta Delta shall be to establish a perpetual bond of friendship among its members, to develop a stronger and more womanly character, to broaden the moral and intellectual life, and to assist its members in every possible way.

It shall also be the purpose of Delta Delta Delta to promote and develop mutually beneficial relationships between the Fraternity and the colleges and universities where the Fraternity has established chapters, to develop qualities of unselfish leadership among its members, and to encourage them to assume, with integrity and devotion to moral and democratic principles, the highest responsibilities of college women.