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 2: Executive Board Meetings, 2009-2012, 2001-2003, 2007-2009

Contains minutes and supporting documents for executive board meetings. Most of the items in this box cover 2009-2012. The last folder in this box contains floppy disks and CDs that may contain meeting minutes between 2001-2003: 2007-2009.

There are gaps in this collection. Minutes that are not in this box include:

2010 January, September-December

2011 January, March

2012 June-December

Folder 1: Executive Board Meetings, 2009 January-May

Folder 2: Executive Board Meeting, 2009 August 20

Includes vol. 1, issue 1 of Fortitude Gazette, newsletter of the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter.

Folder 3: Executive Board Meeting, 2009 September 5

Folder 4: Executive Board Meeting, 2009 September 17

Folder 5: Executive Board Meeting, 2009 October 15

Folder 6: Executive Board Meeting, 2009 November 19

Folder 7: Executive Board Meeting, 2009 December 17

Folder 8: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 February 18

Folder 9: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 March 18

Folder 10: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 April 15

Folder 11: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 May 20

Folder 12: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 June 17

Folder 13: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 August 14

Includes details about the Former Felon Voter Restoration Clinic program.

Folder 14: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 September 16

Includes notes on the National Heritage and Archives Workshop for preserving the chapter's organizational records. Also includes list of social activities.

Folder 15: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 October 21

Includes a report from Life Development Committee regarding a new partnership with Norfolk Public Schools PTA Council.

Folder 16: Executive Board Meeting, 2010 November 18

Folder 17: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 January 20

Folder 18: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 February 17

Folder 19: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 March 17

Includes information about African-American Male Summit and Delta Heritage Celebration Day.

Folder 20: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 April 21

Folder 21: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 May 19

Folder 22: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 June 16

Includes information about criteria for Jabberwock Cotillion and award program.

Folder 23: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 September 15

Includes description of EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) program.

Folder 24: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 October 20

Folder 25: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 November 17

Folder 26: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 December 15

Folder 27: Executive Board Meeting, 2012 January 19

Folder 28: Executive Board Meeting, 2012 February 16

Folder 29: Executive Board Meeting, 2012 March 15

Includes May Week activities.

Ninth Delta Days at the United Nations (UN)- Theme: ''The Empowerment of Women and Girls Addressing Poverty, Hunger, Health Disparities, Education and Other Current Challenges", New York, New York, March 8-9, 2012. Includes a description about sorors' interaction with Her Excellency Ambassador Dessima Williams, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the U. N.

Subject/Index Terms:: Williams, Dessima

Folder 30: Executive Board Meeting, 2011 April 19

Folder 31: Executive Board Meeting, 2012 May 17

Folder 32: Executive Board Records, Officer and Committee Chair Operational Manual, 2003-2004

Folder 33: Floppy Discs and CDs, Minutes, 2001-2003, 2007-2009