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 6: Deceased Sorors- Virginia State Clusters, 1940-2018

Folder 1: Deceased Sorors, 1993-2015: Marian P. Capps; Mabel B. Cox; Edith Coltron; Alice Ferguson; Dannie Fitchett; Margo Walker Heath; Audrey B. Hedgespeth; Teresa Griffn Holloman; Olivia G. Johnson; Lora N. Jordan; Ruth Barham Kee; Gail H. Lamondue; Irene B. Lewis; Myrna Nelson Matthews; Margaret D. Peace; Adrienne M. Rooks; Anita L. Thomas; Gladys White; Patricia Godbolt White.
Folder 2: Delta Sigma Theta Song Book, 1940
Folder 3: Events, Community Service Award Breakfast, 2011-2012, 2015-2016
Folder 4: Events, Founders Day Celebration, 1979, 2015, 2016: Founders' Day Celebration, 50th Anniversary, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter; 102nd Founders Day; 103rd Founders Day Celebration.
Folder 5: Events, 85th Anniversary Celebration, 2014 September 20
Folder 6: Events, 75th Anniversary Gala, Invitation and Souvenir Journal, 2004 September 25
Folder 7: Grand Chapter, Community Outreach Programs - Discovered Artistic Youth Day, 1995-1996
Folder 8: Grand Chapter, Constitution and Bylaws, 1990
Folder 9: Grand Chapter, How to Address National Social Action Issues and Policies, 1995
Folder 10: Grand Chapter, Social Action Committee - Social Action Update, 1995 October
Folder 11: Grand Chapter, The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, Certificate, 2000 July 21
Folder 12: History, Mu Sigma, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter, undated
Folder 13: Newsclippings, 1970-1971, 1975, 1979, 1990, 1996-1997, 2011, 2015, undated: Jocelyn Goss; Marion P Capps; Fifth Regional Conference;Hortense Wells; Connie Allen; Arthur Mitchell, founder and director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem; Floyd McKissick; Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Lambda Chapter; Clara D Jones; Dr. Ann McKinney; Mrs. Marjorie Cofield; Miss Glynis Winfield; Achievement Breakfast;Michele Pope; Vickie Cright; Donna Garnette; Hortense Spence; Ruth Malbon; Edith Wright; Evelyn Etheridge; CINCH; outreach; Emily Harkins Filer; Rev. Joseph N. Green; Alena Rawls; Myrtle Byrd; Eubie Blake; Generic Theatre in Norfolk; Stephanie Gordon; Angela Burrus-Lee; Dara Robichaux; May Week 2015; United Negro College Fund; Dr. Samuel Proctor; Dr. Cedric Kirkland Harris; Emma Hoffler; Jocelyn Goss; Charles Pughsley; Florence Crittenden; Cynthia Downs-Taylor; Bertha Roddey; Mona Bailey; Thelma Daley; Mae Wright Peck Williams; Dorothy Height; Grace Branch-Comb Perkins Award recipients; Patricia Godbolt White; Jocelyn Goss; Clifton Taulbert; Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored; Miss Roberta Flack, Grammy Award winning musician; Aurella Addison; Floretta Sears Thomas; Jocelyn Pretlow Goss; Hortense Spence; Lucille Olds; Myrtle Byrd; Dr. Joseph N. Dancy; Autumn Haze Affair.
Folder 14: Newsletter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Norfolk Alumnae Newsletter, 1997: 1997 October, December.
Folder 15: Newsletter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Norfolk Alumnae Newsletter, 1998: 1998 March, May, November.
Folder 16: Newsletter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Norfolk Alumnae Newsletter, 1999 March
Folder 17: Newsletter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Norfolk Alumnae Newsletter, 2000: 2000 June, October.
Folder 18: Newsletter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Norfolk Alumnae Chapter Newsletter, 2001: 2001 April, May.
Folder 19: Newsletter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Norfolk Alumnae Chapter Newsletter, 2002: 2002 June.
Folder 20: Newsletter, Fortitude Gazette, 2008: 2008 March.
Folder 21: Newsletter, Fortitude Gazette, 2015: 2015, May, June.
Folder 22: Officers, 1996-1998
Folder 23: Pamphlet, The Delta Informer, 1977: Questions and Answers.
Folder 24: Program, In Concert- Louis Armstrong - Signed Autograph of Louis Armstrong, 1964 February 9
Folder 25: Programs, 1992-2018: Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble; Caught Up in the Rapture: Afternoon of Musical Moods; Musical Salute to America; 75th Anniversary Initiation Banquet; Celebrating Ten Years of Delta Arts in the Schools; History of Us; Norfolk Youth Male Summit; Rush Program; A Soulful Jazz Affair.
Folder 26: Publications, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Journal, 2012 Summer
Folder 27: Publications, From These Roots: Crimson and Cream Edition, 2003
Folder 28: South Atlantic Region, Meeting Agenda, 1996 October 12
Folder 29: Scholarships, Mildred Dudley Peters Scholarship, 1958-1972, 1992, 2008: Three items.
Folder 30: South Atlantic Region, Virginia State Meeting, Mock Regional Conference, 1997
Folder 31: South Hampton Roads Pan-Hellenic Council, 1992-1996
Folder 32: Virginia Council, 1995-1997: Includes Virginia Council Bulletin 1997 March.
Folder 33: Virginia State Clusters, South Atlantic Region, 1995-1997, undated