List of Delta Sigma Theta National Conventions

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is an international organization of college-educated women. Originally established for women of color, Delta Sigma Theta now has 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 founded 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 a number of 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 individual 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 major accomplishments of each convention.

Number	Location	Dates^[a]	Significant outcomes	Refs
1st	Howard University, Washington, D.C.	December 27, 1919	Three of existing five chapters present. Plans 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 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 M. Bethune. Alpha Phi Alpha convention in Columbus at same time. Hosted by 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 Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni 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 required to take membership in NAACP. More support enlisted for Urban League. National officers cautioned to report only "facts," not "sentiment." Hosted by Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni Chapter.	[1][2][6][7]
16th	Detroit, Michigan	December 26, 1941–December 30, 1941	Grand President delivered 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 war emergency. Petition was made by undergraduates to be represented on 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 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 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" abolished. Dorothy Height re-elected in "harmony move". Hosted by Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni 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 proposed. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered speech.	[1][2][13]
25th	Washington, D.C.	August 17, 1958–August 23, 1958	Theme: "The Challenge of Changing Patterns." An evaluating of the past and planning for the future. Plans made for the Golden Anniversary Period. The Member-at-Large category 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, West Africa. 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 Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni 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	Congresswoman 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. Promote economically 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/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 passage of California 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	July 27, 2017–August 2, 2017	Theme: “ ”	[2][47]

References

1. Shaped to Its Purpose: Delta Sigma Theta--the First Fifty Years by Mary Elizabeth Vroman pp 187-189
2. Delta Sigma Theta Convention Sites
3. University of Pennsylvania By Amey A. Hutchins, University of Pennsylvania Archives p 85. books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
4. African Americans in the Jazz Age By Mark Robert Schneider p119. books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
5. "Epsilon Chapter history". Dst.org.ohio-state.edu. 1919-11-19. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
6. "DST New York Alumnae Chapter". Dstnyac.org. 1978-04-02. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
7. In search of sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the challenge of the Black sorority movement p182
8. Paul Robeson By Paul Robeson, Joseph Dorinson, Henry Foner, William Pencak p32. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
9. Open Wide The Freedom Gates By Dorothy Height, Maya (FRW) Angelou pp252,256. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
10. In search of sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the challenge of the Black sorority movement p219
11. Jet Sep 9, 1954 p44. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
12. Jet Oct 7, 1954 p11. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
13. 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. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
14. Jet Sep 4, 1958 p32. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
15. The Black Women in the Middle West Project p83. Books.google.com. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
16. Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-first Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun By Gregory S. Parks, Julianne Malveaux, Marc Morial p156. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
17. Jet Aug 29, 1963 p41. Books.google.com. 1919-10-11. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
18. Jet Sep 2, 1965 p 38. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
19. "City of St. Louis resolution 330 Frankie Muse Freeman" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-05.
20. Jet August 17, 1967 p 41. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-05-10.
21. "Deltas to Hold 29th Biennial Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio". The Carolina Times. August 12, 1967. p. 1B.
22. In search of sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the challenge of the Black sorority movement p274
23. "Delta President". The Carolina Times. July 5, 1969. p. 6A.
24. "Delta President Represents U.S. On African Tour". The Carolina Times. July 17, 1971. p. 8B.
25. Black Women in the New World Order By Willa Mae Hemmons p39. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
26. Iota Pi History
27. Jet Aug 7, 1975 p55. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
28. Bernstein Daniel CV Archived January 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
29. Soror Moss' book, "Be Strong" tells of life with Delta founder, The Washington Afro American, August 1, 1981
30. Jet Sep 1983 p24. Books.google.com. 1985-01-07. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
31. Jet Jun 13, 1983 p29. Books.google.com. 1985-01-07. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
32. Jet Feb 22, 1988 p32. Books.google.com. 1990-01-01. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
33. Jet Aug 3, 1992 p30. Books.google.com. 1995-01-02. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
34. Apalachin Alumnae Chapter History Archived November 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
35. The Theology of the Hammer By Millard Fuller p95. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
36. "Orlando Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta History". Oacdst.org. 1954-02-20. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
37. Ebony Aug 1998 p22. Books.google.com. 1988-06-01. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
38. Jet Sep 11, 2000 pp6-12. Books.google.com. 2005-01-03. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
39. Jet Oct 25, 1999 p30. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
40. Ebony Jul 2002 p30. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
41. "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Makes History - Washington Informer". Encyclopedia.com. 2004-08-18. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
42. Jet Sep 6, 2004 p12. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
43. Ebony Jul 2004 p36. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
44. "Delta Sigma Theta Board Moves National Convention From California Atlanta Inquirer January 18, 1997". Highbeam.com. 1997-01-18. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
45. "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Hosts 48th National Convention In Philadelphia". Urbanmecca.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
46. Jet Aug 28, 2006 pp19,22. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
47. "Delta Service Organization Convenes in Orlando". Thepinehillsnews.com. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2010-10-05.