For women the late 19th century proved to be a very different world than the one we know today. With the integration of women in the mid-west into formerly all-male universities, women were not welcomed. It was natural in this situation then for these women to come together in groups to gain friendship and support through these changing times. This was the beginning of “ladies’ societies” and what we now know as sororities.

In 1885 Sarah Ida Shaw, the leading founder of Delta Delta Delta, began her college career at Boston University. By 1888 there were already three women’s groups established at Boston University, but Sarah saw a need for an additional group that would be different from the others. In talking with her friend and another one of our founder’s, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, Sarah said, “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.”

These two young women set out immediately to not only found a new national fraternity but also wrote the rituals and constitution, and designed the emblems. 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.’”

Alpha Chapter

In returning from Thanksgiving break, the two women began the process of building their new chapter. Two of their first members were Florence Isabelle Stewart, a high school friend of Eleanor’s, and Isabel Morgan Breed, both of which became the other two founding sisters of Tri Delta. With furthering recruiting, the first initiation for the Alpha Chapter included 18 new sisters. The appearance and number of initiates of the new sorority startled the others because Tri Delta already seemed stronger than them

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.

 

 

Sarah Ida Shaw

The inspirational force behind the founding of Tri Delta was Sarah Ida Shaw. Born in Missouri, Sally (her childhood name) moved to Boston at age six. There she was part of a large but close-knit family. A brilliant student, she was valedictorian of her class at the Girls’ Latin School. All three of the women’s societies (sororities) on campus had invited her to join, but she declined their invitations due to her family responsibilities and active personal life, as well as a preconceived notion that secret societies were foolish. However, she came to realize that a fraternity could fill a great need for young women living away from home and their network of family and friends. This realization led her to start a fraternity - but one which would be different from the type she had seen.

Ida Shaw Martin maintained close contact with Tri Delta’s leaders and her Fraternity until her death in 1940. Her vision and idealism never wavered. Tri Delta owes to her the beauty of the Rituals and the knowledge that commitment to an ideal greater than ourselves can bring a new dimension into our lives. She was elected to the Fraternity Hall of Fame in 1976.

 

Eleanor Dorcas Pond

In being valedictorian of her high school class, Eleanor Dorcas Pond was awarded a scholarship to Boston University. Initially, Eleanor had no interest in joining an established society. A person of high intellectual ability, she was also a fun-loving but practical young woman, a perfect complement to Sarah Ida Shaw’s visionary personality. It was she who suggested the name be a triple letter, and she also influenced the development of the ritual, badge, emblems and Constitution.

 

 

 

Florence Isabelle Stewart

In entering Boston University, Florence Isabelle Stewart was the youngest child of a village doctor who. Because the family had little money, it was difficult for Flora to remain in school. During her first years she commuted from Medway with her high school friend, Nellie Pond. Later she lived with a brother in Boston and helped with the housework and children. This left her little time for anything but class work. Flora was an excellent student and salutatorian of her high school class. Her intelligence was matched by her beauty.

 

 

Isabel Morgan Breed

Isabel came from Lynn, Massachusetts. She had refused sorority bids because deep religious convictions made her question being a part of a selective organization. After learning of the Christian principles and aims of Tri Delta, she consented to become a member.