List of Delta Sigma Theta National Conventions

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is an international organization of college-educated women. Originally established for women of color, Delta Sigma Theta now has a 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 based 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 several 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 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 significant accomplishments of each convention.

NumberLocationDates [a] Significant outcomesRefs
1st Howard University, Washington, D.C. December 27, 1919Three of the existing five chapters present. Plans were made to nationalize. [1] [2]
2nd Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio December 28, 1920Convention 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, 1921Committee on Standards appointed, also Committee on Scholastic Grades. Hosted by the Gamma chapter. [1] [2] [3]
4th Chicago, Illinois December 1922Convention authorized a Scholarship Award Fund and a College Tuition Loan Fund [1] [2]
5th Columbus, Ohio December 27, 1923December 30, 1923Honorary membership accorded Mary McLeod Bethune. Alpha Phi Alpha convention in Columbus at the same time. Hosted by the Epsilon chapter. [1] [2] [4] [5]
6th YWCA on 137th street, New York City, New York December 27, 1924December 31, 1924Delta Sigma Theta Hymn adopted. Hosted by the New York Alumnae chapter. [1] [2] [6]
7th Des Moines, Iowa December 27, 1925December 31, 1925Regional conferences established. Revision of nomenclature for chapters. [1] [2]
8th Cincinnati, Ohio December 1926First drive against inactivity in chapters. [1] [2]
9th Washington, D.C. December 1927Strengthened program. Appointment of a National Vigilance Committee [1] [2]
10th Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania December 27, 1929The First Biennial Convention. Policies set for internal organization. [1] [2]
11th Nashville, Tennessee December 28, 1931First mixed chapter authorized [1] [2]
12th Chicago, Illinois August 27, 1933Increased concern for standards. "B" rated schools accepted for Delta. [1] [2]
13th Los Angeles, California August 10, 1935August 15, 1935Office of executive secretary created, not to be filled for some time. [1] [2]
14th Cleveland, Ohio December 27, 1937December 31, 1937Much dissension about internal affairs. [1] [2]
15thSt. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, New York City, New York August 28, 1939August 31, 1939Theme:"Broader Horizon for the Youth of Tomorrow"; 114 chapters represented. All chapters are required to take membership in NAACP. More support is enlisted for the Urban League. Hosted by the New York Alumnae Chapter. [1] [2] [6] [7]
16th Detroit, Michigan December 26, 1941December 30, 1941Grand President delivered an 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, 1944August 27, 1944Convention was a year late because of a war emergency. The petition was made by undergraduates to be represented on the executive board. Gloria Hewlett was chosen as the first undergraduate second-vice president. [1] [2]
18th Richmond, Virginia December 27, 1945December 30, 1945First 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 a speech about Africa. [1] [2] [8]
19th San Antonio, Texas December 27, 1947December 31, 1947Resolution 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, 1948August 28, 1948Theme:"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, 1950August 19, 1950Theme: "Human Rights, from Charter to Practice." Workshops geared to theme. [1] [2]
22nd Cleveland, Ohio December 26, 1952December 31, 1952Establishment of a National Headquarters. Reorganization of modus operandi-therefore called The Mending Conference. The position of executive director is now approved. [1] [2]
23rd Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, New York August 14, 1954August 20, 1954*Concern for undergraduate status and problems. The "blackball" was abolished. Dorothy Height was re-elected in "harmony move". Hosted by New York Alumnae chapter. [1] [2] [9] [11] [12]
24th Detroit Michigan December 26, 1956December 30, 1956Theme: "Windows on the World." Revision of nomenclature. Graduate chapters thereafter to be known as alumnae chapters. The member-at-large category is proposed. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech. [1] [2] [13]
25th Washington, D.C. August 17, 1958August 23, 1958Theme: "The Challenge of Changing Patterns." An evaluation of the past and planning for the future. Plans made for the Golden Anniversary Period. The member-at-large category was adopted. Approximately 1,000 attendees. Held jointly with Alpha Kappa Alpha [1] [2] [14]
26th Palmer House Hotel, Chicago, Illinois August 14, 1960August 21, 1960Theme: "The Creative Life in Freedom and Dignity." Resolution to complete the maternity wing of the Chania Medical Center in Kenya. Resolution to support the stand taken by young Negro Americans to secure equal rights. [1] [2] [15]
27thAmericana Hotel, New York City, New York August 11, 1963August 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 the New York Alumnae chapter. [1] [2] [16] [17]
28th Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California August 14, 1965August 19, 1965Theme: "The Woman's Role in Civil Rights and War on Poverty" [2] [18]
29th Cincinnati, Ohio August 14, 1967August 18, 1967 [2] [19] [20] [21]
30th Baltimore, Maryland August 10, 1969August 18, 1969Theme:“One Nation or Two? , . . One Nation!” [2] [22] [23]
31st Houston, Texas August 8, 1971August 13, 1971 [2] [24]
32nd Atlanta, Georgia August 1973 Barbara Jordan delivered speech. [2] [25] [26]
33rd Seattle, Washington 1975Premiere 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, 1981August 5, 1981 [2] [29]
37th Detroit, Michigan August 12, 1983August 17, 1983Resolutions: step up Black voter registration and promote the economic solvency of women [2] [30] [31]
38th Dallas, Texas 1985 [2]
39th San Francisco, California July 8, 1988July 14, 198875th Diamond Jubilee. [2] [32]
40th Miami, Florida 1990 [2]
41st Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland August 17, 1992Theme: "The Delta Launch 2000: A New Leadership for A New Century" [2] [33] [34]
42nd St. Louis, Missouri July 17, 1994July 24, 1994Plans to build and rehabilitate houses through Habitat For Humanity [2] [35]
43rd Orlando, Florida July 18, 1996July 24, 1996Co-hosted by Orlando Alumnae chapter [2] [36]
44th Hilton New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana August 8, 1998August 13, 1998 [2] [37]
45th McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois July 18, 2000July 21, 2000Nearly 15,000 attendees. [2] [38] [39]
46th Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia July 19, 2002July 24, 2002 [2] [38] [40]
47th MGM Grand Las Vegas and Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada July 22, 2004July 28, 2004Theme:"Keeping the Connection, Building on the Past and Focusing on the Future" 12,000 attendees. Originally planned for San Diego, moved due to the passage of Proposition 209. [2] [41] [42] [43] [44]
48th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 27, 2006August 2, 2006Theme: "One Mission, One Sisterhood: Empowering Communities Through Committed Service" [2] [45] [46]
49th Orlando, Florida July 24, 2008July 30, 2008Theme: "One Mission, One Sisterhood: Empowering Communities Through Committed Service". More than 15,000 attendees. [2] [47]
50th New Orleans, Louisiana July 29, 2010August 4, 2010Theme: "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, 2013July 17, 2013Theme: Centennial Celebration. [2] [47]
52nd Houston, Texas July 23, 2015July 29, 2015Theme: “Uncompromising Commitment to Communities: Service, Leadership, Empowerment.” [2] [47]
53rd Las Vegas, Nevada August 3, 2017August 9, 2017 [2] [47]
54th New Orleans, LA July 9, 2019July 14, 2019Theme: “ Joy in our Sisterhood, Power in our Voice and Service in our Heart ” Convention ended two days early, on July 12, 2019, due to Hurricane Barry. The sorority donated 17,000 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank for those in need. [2] [47]
55th Atlanta, Georgia November 18, 2021November 22, 2021Theme: “Joy in our Sisterhood, Power in our Voice and Service in Our Heart ” [2] [47]

See also

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