The History of

Delta Delta Delta

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 that 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 also 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.'"

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 freshman 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 Prof. 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.