| Tau Gamma Delta | |
|---|---|
| ΤΓΔ | |
 | |
| Founded | 1942 Lewis Business College |
| Type | Service |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | African Americans |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | Light Pink and Light Blue |
| Chapters | 16 active |
| Headquarters | Detroit , Michigan United States |
| Website | www |
Tau Gamma Delta is a national African American service sorority. It was established in 1942 in Detroit, Michigan, and has since established community-based and collegiate chapters across the United States.
Tau Gamma Delta was established as a service club Phi Gamma Delta Sorority at the Lewis Business College in Detroit, Michigan in 1942. [1] [2] Its eight founders or Pearls were: [3]
The sorority's name was changed to Tau Gamma Delta on October 17, 1951. [2] [1] Tau Gamma Delta Sorority Inc. was incorporated in the State of Michigan on December 12, 1951. [2] The incorporated sorority's original purpose was to contribute to students ' business and academic training, promote high standards of personal conduct, support community, and civic activities, and "to add to the harmony and discipline and the general welfare of womanhood." [1] [4] [2] [5] Its members were African American professional and business women. [4]
A second chapter, Beta, was established in Detroit Michigan, followed by Gamma in Indianapolis, Indiana. [4] Tau Gamma Delta held its first national convention in 1945. [6] Delta chapter was chartered in Chicago, Illinois in March 1954. [4] At the time, the sorority also had eight affiliate chapters in Augusta, Georgia; Detroit, Michigan; New York City, New York; Pasadina, California; and Sacromento, California. [4]
The sorority had 900 members across the United States in 1974. [7] In March 1976, it had 27 chapters and more than 600 members. [8] By 1979, it had chartered 39 chapters in fifteen states. [9] By 1984, there were also chapters on some college campuses. [10] It had ten collegiate chapters and 36 graduate or community-based chapters in March 1991. [11]
As of 2024, the sorority has at least 16 active chapters in the United States. [12] [13] [14] Some of its records are preserved at the National Archives for Black Women's History. Tau Gamma Delta's headquarters is in Detroit, Michigan. [2]
Tau Gamma Delta members are called "sorors". [4] [10] The sorority's colors are pale pink and pale blue. [10] [2] Its emblem was designed by Elza Neal. [15]
At its Boule, Tau Gamma Delta gives its Scholarship Award to a worthy student and presents its Charity Award to a nonprofit chosen by the host chapter. [1] The Ballard Award is given to an outstanding member. [6] In 2008, the sorority launched its Trunks for Success program at its national meeting. [16] [17] The program is based on the nonprofit Trunk Party Inc. of Chicago, Illinois which provides a trunk filled with essential supplies for college freshmen in need. [17] [16] Trunk Party was the recipient of the sorority's Charity Award in July 2008. [17] [16]
The national sorority also sponsored the Tautette Club, an organization for junior high and high school girls. [10] [8] The Tautlettes is a leadership club that also encourages college education and scholarships. [18] [10] Another national program is Taugadetta which provides scholarships for young artists. [18] [8] Tau Gamma Delta celebrates Founders Day each year in October. [18] [19] [20]
True to its founders purpose, the chapters of the service sorority continued to focus on education, raising funds for scholarships that are given to local students. [10] Its individual members also volunteer at various organizations in their communities. [10]
Tau Gamma Delta conducts business and elects its national officers during its annual national meeting called a Boule. [1] Its officers include the supreme basileus, supreme first anti-basileus, supreme second anti-basileus, supreme grammateus, supreme anti-grammateus, supreme epistaleus, supreme tamiochus, national graduate organizer, national keeper-of-pins, national Tauette director, national chaplain, and national historian. [21] [22]
In addition, it has regional directors for the Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western regions of the United States. [23] Its chapter officers include supreme basileus,anti-basileus, secretary, recording secretary, treasurer, dean of pledges, parliamentarian, chaplain, and editor-in-chief. [4] [19]
In the following incomplete list, active chapters are indicated in bold and inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.
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