Our National History

Tri Deltas the first convention

Not only did they create a fraternity but also wrote the rituals, 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 mythology 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.'"

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 theirrivals, and on March 7 initiated three more of their own, bringing their total to 21.

First Class On the University of Boston campus, 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.

Some of our earliest sisters

Local History

The Gamma Upsilon chapter of Delta Delta Delta began on Valparaiso University's campus with our local sorority, Alpha Phi Delta. In 1998, Alpha Phi Delta applied for and received a charter from Tri Delta Nationals to begin colonization on Valpo's campus. The first initiation took place in May of 1998. Since then, the women of Gamma Upsilon have strived to acheive the ideals of sisterhood orginally set forth by our founders.