Images from Beyond This Place Project. All images © Jarrad Henderson. 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Ross writes, “the founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority begins, curiously, through another sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.” This is due to the fact that “a group of undergraduate AKAs at Howard decided that they wanted to change the name, motto, color and symbols of the sorority.” Yet, a graduate AKA by the name of Nellie Quander rallied other graduate AKAs to advocate for the preservation of the sorority that was already in place. The disagreement between the two groups created the split that gave birth to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. On Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University, the 22 determined undergraduates founded the sorority after refusing to drop their newfound name and return to AKA. Following their incorporation, the women did not waste any time and “began putting their new political and scholastic focus into action.”
via pbseast.org
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
Though founded on the campus of Howard University on Jan. 9, 1914, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s conception truly took place in Memphis, Tennessee. According to Ross’ book, in the summer of 1910, A. Langston Taylor developed the idea of forming a new African-American fraternity while he was still in high school. Furthermore, “after arriving to Howard, by fall of 1913, Taylor had almost completed his task of creating a new fraternity.”
