DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED
COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT & STUDY GUIDE
2024/2025 Edition | 57th National Convention Updates
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive study guide is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for the 2024/2025 cycle. Delta Sigma Theta is a
private, non-profit organization of college-educated women committed to public service with a
primary focus on the Black community.
SECTION 1: FOUNDING AND HISTORY (Questions 1-30)
Q1: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on:
• A. January 13, 1911
• B. January 13, 1913 [CORRECT]
• C. February 18, 1913
• D. March 3, 1913
Rationale: Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 collegiate women at
Howard University in Washington, D.C. February 18, 1913 marks the incorporation of the Alpha
chapter, while March 3, 1913 was the date of the first public act.
Q2: Delta Sigma Theta was founded at which university?
• A. Spelman College
• B. Howard University [CORRECT]
• C. Hampton University
• D. Wilberforce University
Rationale: The sorority was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where all 22
founders were students. Wilberforce University later became home to Beta chapter (1914).
,Q3: How many women founded Delta Sigma Theta?
• A. 16
• B. 20
• C. 22 [CORRECT]
• D. 25
Rationale: Delta Sigma Theta was founded by 22 collegiate women at Howard University.
These women are known as the 22 Founders.
Q4: Many of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta were formerly members of which organization?
• A. Alpha Kappa Alpha [CORRECT]
• B. Zeta Phi Beta
• C. Sigma Gamma Rho
• D. The National Council of Negro Women
Rationale: Many of the founders were former members of Alpha Kappa Alpha who wanted to
change the sorority's name, colors, symbols, and direction to establish a more expansive
organizational identity.
Q5: What was the first public act of Delta Sigma Theta?
• A. Establishing a scholarship fund
• B. Marching in the Women's Suffrage March [CORRECT]
• C. Hosting a national convention
• D. Publishing "The Delta"
Rationale: The first public act of Delta Sigma Theta was members marching in the Women's
Suffrage March in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 1913, demonstrating the organization's
commitment to social activism from its inception.
Q6: On what date did Delta Sigma Theta members participate in their first public act?
• A. January 13, 1913
, • B. February 18, 1913
• C. March 3, 1913 [CORRECT]
• D. January 20, 1930
Rationale: Delta members marched in the Women's Suffrage March on March 3, 1913, just
seven weeks after the sorority's founding, establishing their commitment to political
engagement.
Q7: The Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated on:
• A. January 13, 1913
• B. February 18, 1913 [CORRECT]
• C. March 3, 1913
• D. January 20, 1930
Rationale: The new sorority's Alpha chapter was incorporated on February 18, 1913,
approximately five weeks after the founding date.
Q8: The Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was nationally incorporated on:
• A. January 13, 1913
• B. February 18, 1913
• C. January 20, 1930 [CORRECT]
• D. April 28, 1979
Rationale: On January 20, 1930, the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated as a
perpetual body, eliminating the need for each chapter to seek its own charter and establishing
the sorority as a national organization.
Q9: Which individual disagreed with the proposed changes that led to Delta's founding and got
the women to table the discussion?
• A. Mary Church Terrell
• B. Nellie Quander [CORRECT]
• C. Sadie T.M. Alexander
, • D. Dorothy Height
Rationale: Nellie Quander, the immediate past president of Alpha Kappa Alpha, disagreed with
the proposed changes and successfully got the women to table the discussion until the entire
membership could be polled, leading to the eventual formation of Delta Sigma Theta.
Q10: Delta Sigma Theta became the first Black Greek-lettered organization to participate in
which major annual event in 2013?
• A. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• B. Tournament of Roses Parade [CORRECT]
• C. Super Bowl Halftime Show
• D. Presidential Inauguration
Rationale: During its centennial year, Delta Sigma Theta became the first Black Greek-lettered
organization to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on
January 1, 2013.
Q11: Which founder's father was a professor of religion at Howard University for 31 years, and
whose living room hosted many of the first meetings?
• A. Madree Penn White
• B. Myra Davis Hemmings
• C. Edna Brown Coleman [CORRECT]
• D. Bertha Pitts Campbell
Rationale: Edna Brown Coleman's father was a professor of religion at Howard University for
31 years, and many of the first meetings of Delta Sigma Theta were held in her living room.
Q12: The first National Convention of Delta Sigma Theta was held in which year?
• A. 1913
• B. 1916
• C. 1919 [CORRECT]
• D. 1920
COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT & STUDY GUIDE
2024/2025 Edition | 57th National Convention Updates
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive study guide is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for the 2024/2025 cycle. Delta Sigma Theta is a
private, non-profit organization of college-educated women committed to public service with a
primary focus on the Black community.
SECTION 1: FOUNDING AND HISTORY (Questions 1-30)
Q1: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on:
• A. January 13, 1911
• B. January 13, 1913 [CORRECT]
• C. February 18, 1913
• D. March 3, 1913
Rationale: Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 collegiate women at
Howard University in Washington, D.C. February 18, 1913 marks the incorporation of the Alpha
chapter, while March 3, 1913 was the date of the first public act.
Q2: Delta Sigma Theta was founded at which university?
• A. Spelman College
• B. Howard University [CORRECT]
• C. Hampton University
• D. Wilberforce University
Rationale: The sorority was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where all 22
founders were students. Wilberforce University later became home to Beta chapter (1914).
,Q3: How many women founded Delta Sigma Theta?
• A. 16
• B. 20
• C. 22 [CORRECT]
• D. 25
Rationale: Delta Sigma Theta was founded by 22 collegiate women at Howard University.
These women are known as the 22 Founders.
Q4: Many of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta were formerly members of which organization?
• A. Alpha Kappa Alpha [CORRECT]
• B. Zeta Phi Beta
• C. Sigma Gamma Rho
• D. The National Council of Negro Women
Rationale: Many of the founders were former members of Alpha Kappa Alpha who wanted to
change the sorority's name, colors, symbols, and direction to establish a more expansive
organizational identity.
Q5: What was the first public act of Delta Sigma Theta?
• A. Establishing a scholarship fund
• B. Marching in the Women's Suffrage March [CORRECT]
• C. Hosting a national convention
• D. Publishing "The Delta"
Rationale: The first public act of Delta Sigma Theta was members marching in the Women's
Suffrage March in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 1913, demonstrating the organization's
commitment to social activism from its inception.
Q6: On what date did Delta Sigma Theta members participate in their first public act?
• A. January 13, 1913
, • B. February 18, 1913
• C. March 3, 1913 [CORRECT]
• D. January 20, 1930
Rationale: Delta members marched in the Women's Suffrage March on March 3, 1913, just
seven weeks after the sorority's founding, establishing their commitment to political
engagement.
Q7: The Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated on:
• A. January 13, 1913
• B. February 18, 1913 [CORRECT]
• C. March 3, 1913
• D. January 20, 1930
Rationale: The new sorority's Alpha chapter was incorporated on February 18, 1913,
approximately five weeks after the founding date.
Q8: The Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was nationally incorporated on:
• A. January 13, 1913
• B. February 18, 1913
• C. January 20, 1930 [CORRECT]
• D. April 28, 1979
Rationale: On January 20, 1930, the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated as a
perpetual body, eliminating the need for each chapter to seek its own charter and establishing
the sorority as a national organization.
Q9: Which individual disagreed with the proposed changes that led to Delta's founding and got
the women to table the discussion?
• A. Mary Church Terrell
• B. Nellie Quander [CORRECT]
• C. Sadie T.M. Alexander
, • D. Dorothy Height
Rationale: Nellie Quander, the immediate past president of Alpha Kappa Alpha, disagreed with
the proposed changes and successfully got the women to table the discussion until the entire
membership could be polled, leading to the eventual formation of Delta Sigma Theta.
Q10: Delta Sigma Theta became the first Black Greek-lettered organization to participate in
which major annual event in 2013?
• A. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• B. Tournament of Roses Parade [CORRECT]
• C. Super Bowl Halftime Show
• D. Presidential Inauguration
Rationale: During its centennial year, Delta Sigma Theta became the first Black Greek-lettered
organization to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on
January 1, 2013.
Q11: Which founder's father was a professor of religion at Howard University for 31 years, and
whose living room hosted many of the first meetings?
• A. Madree Penn White
• B. Myra Davis Hemmings
• C. Edna Brown Coleman [CORRECT]
• D. Bertha Pitts Campbell
Rationale: Edna Brown Coleman's father was a professor of religion at Howard University for
31 years, and many of the first meetings of Delta Sigma Theta were held in her living room.
Q12: The first National Convention of Delta Sigma Theta was held in which year?
• A. 1913
• B. 1916
• C. 1919 [CORRECT]
• D. 1920
