Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter Records, 1940-2021 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Lee Furr

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Collection Overview

Title: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter Records, 1940-2021

Predominant Dates:1993-2014

ID: 001/01/MSS 2017-023

Primary Creator: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter

Extent: 12.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged by topic.

Date Acquired: 04/10/2017

Subjects: African American women, African American women--Societies and clubs, African American women college students, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter, Greek letter societies, Norfolk (Va.)--History, Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--20th century, Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--21st century, Organizations, Women--Socialization, Women--Societies and clubs

Forms of Material: Awards, Biographies (documents), Bylaws (administrative records), Clippings (information artifacts), Fliers (printed matter), Handbooks, Minutes (administrative records), Newsletters, Pamphlets, Photographs, Plaques (flat objects), Publications (document genre)

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists of the organizational records of the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and documents the chapter's outreach efforts, activities, and achievements. Committees include: Arts and Letters, Delta Academy, Habitat for Humanity, Hospitality, Life Development, May Week, Pan Hellenic, Policies and Procedures, Program, Project, Scholarship, Social, and Social Action. The collection includes committee reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, constitution and bylaws, policies and procedures, guidelines, handbooks, bio-sketches, newsletters, news-clippings, awards, outreach efforts, program development, documents covering events and scholarships, pamphlets, publications, and photographs.

Most of the records span between the 1990s-2014; however, some documents date back to the 1940s. Among the events represented are May Week, the chapter's 85th Anniversary, cultural performances, forums, tributes, and various social activities.

Biographical Note

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority officially began in January 1913 when twenty-two African-American female college students from Howard University in Washington, D.C. founded the private, not-for-profit organization. Their mission was to create a sisterhood of African-American female college graduates who encouraged academic excellence, promoted community development, and sponsored those in need primarily within the African-American community. Mu Sigma Chapter, chartered in September 1929 in Norfolk, Virginia, was the first chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to be formed in the state of Virginia. Mu Sigma Chapter consisted of eleven members from Norfolk, Hampton, and Newport News in Virginia and Elizabeth City in North Carolina. In response to a growing number of sorority members in the Tidewater area during the 1940s, the chapter was reorganized to consist of only Delta members from Norfolk, and thus changed its name to the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter.

Subject/Index Terms

African American women
African American women--Societies and clubs
African American women college students
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter
Greek letter societies
Norfolk (Va.)--History
Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--20th century
Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--21st century
Organizations
Women--Socialization
Women--Societies and clubs

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers. Some materials may be restricted due to privacy concerns.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter by donation

Preferred Citation: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter Records, MSS 2017-023, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed September 2018.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Executive Board Meetings, 1988-2008],
[Box 2: Executive Board Meetings, 2009-2012, 2001-2003, 2007-2009],
[Box 3: Chapter Meetings, 1987-2008],
[Box 4: Chapter Meetings, 2009-2012],
[Box 5: Administrative- Conventions, 1963-2016],
[Box 6: Deceased Sorors- Virginia State Clusters, 1940-2018],
[Box 7: Photographs, Anniversary - Community Action Forum, 1983-2015],
[Box 8: Photographs, Community Outreach - Mildred Dudley Peters, 1988-2013],
[Box 9: Plaques and Artifacts, 1929-2020],
[Box 10: Restricted- closed to the public, 1993-2011],
[Box 11: Miscellaneous Materials, circa 1960s-2021],
[Box 12: Miscellaneous Materials, circa 1960s-2021],
[Box 13: Miscellaneous Materials, circa 1983-2022],
[Box 14: Photographs, 1980s-1990s],
[Box 15: Oversized Materials, 2006],
[All]

Box 3: Chapter Meetings, 1987-2008

Contains minutes and supporting documents of chapter meetings. There are gaps in this collection. Minutes not included in this box are:

1987 January-September

1989 June-December

1990-1994

1995 January-April, December

1996 January-June

1999 January

2001 September-December

2002 January-December

2003 January, March, April, June-September, November-December

2004 January-December

2005 January-September

2006 January-December

2007 January- May

2008 March, December

Folder 1: Chapter Meetings, 1987 October-December

Folder 2: Chapter Meetings, 1988 January-December

Folder 3: Chapter Meetings, 1989 January-May

Folder 4: Chapter Meetings, 1995 May-June

Folder 5: Chapter Meeting, 1995 September-December

Folder 6: Chapter Meeting Agendas, 1996 January, March, May-June

Folder 7: Chapter Meetings, 1996 September-December

Folder 8: Chapter Meetings, 1997 January-March

Includes Social Action newsletter, vol. 2, no. 2. Leading article is entitled ''Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Leader calls for a more honest dialogue on race relations in the United States.''

Folder 9: Chapter Meetings, 1997 April-June

Folder 10: Chapter Meetings, 1997 September-December

Folder 11: Chapter Meetings, 1998 January-March

Includes Norfolk Alumnae newsletter, vol. 3 issue 7.

Folder 12: Chapter Meetings, 1998 April-June

Includes: Protocol and Traditions Training.

Norfolk Alumnae Newsletter, vol. 3 issue 9.

Folder 13: Chapter Meeting, 1998 September-December

Folder 14: Chapter Meetings, 1999 February-June

Folder 15: Chapter Meetings, 1999 September-December

Includes: a flyer advertising opening day of Delta Academy.

Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Folder 16: Chapter Meeting, 2000 January-March

Folder 17: Chapter Meetings, 2000 April 1

Folder 18: Chapter Meetings, 2000 May-June

Folder 19: Chapter Meetings, 2000 September 9

Includes report about the 45th National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, held in 2000 July, submitted by Norfolk Alumnae Chapter sorors.

Folder 20: Chapter Meetings, 2000 October-December

Folder 21: Chapter Meetings, 2001 January-February

Includes Committee Meeting Minutes of the African-American Development Conference.

Folder 22: Chapter Meeting, 2001 March-April

Folder 23: Chapter Meeting, 2001 May-June

Folder 24: Chapter Meetings, 2003 February-March

Folder 25: Chapter Meeting, 2003 May 3

Includes flyer advertising National Book Month and Eloise Greenfield, celebrated author and poet.

Folder 26: Chapter Meeting, 2003 October 4

Folder 27: Chapter Meeting, Agenda, 2005 September 10

Folder 28: Chapter Meeting, 2007 June 2

Folder 29: Chapter Meeting, 2007 September 8

Folder 30: Chapter Meeting, 2007 October 6

Folder 31: Chapter Meeting, 2007 November 3

Folder 32: Chapter Meeting, 2007 December 1

Folder 33: Chapter Meeting, 2008 January 5

Folder 34: Chapter Meeting, 2008 February 2

Includes flyer advertising Martin Luther King March and Observance.

Fortitude Gazette, newsletter.

Folder 35: Chapter Meeting, 2008 April 5

Folder 36: Chapter Meeting, 2008 May-June

Folder 37: Chapter Meetings, 2008 September 10

Folder 38: Chapter Meeting, 2008 October 11

Folder 39: Chapter Meeting, 2008 November 1

Folder 40: Chapter Meeting, 2008 December 6