The Founding of Delta Delta Delta
Even though there were already three women’s groups established at Boston University in 1888, Sarah Ida Shaw recognized a need for a new group which would be different from the others. She said to her friend, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, “Let us found a society that shall be kind alike to all and think more of a girl's inner self and character than of her personal appearance."
With this, the two women began the work of creating a new national fraternity. Later Sarah wrote, "...The two enthusiastic friends were unaware of the fact that there was something stupendous about the task they had set hands, heads and hearts to accomplish. They were working for a principle, and it never occurred to them that there could be such a thing as failure. Earnestness of purpose, energy and enthusiasm had brought them both success in college and why should not these same qualities bring assurance of good fortune to the new venture."
The two friends finalized their commitment to the fraternity and to one another under a bright new moon and three brilliant stars, thus establishing one of the sorority's most precious emblems.
The 18 women of the Alpha Chapter were initiated on January 15, 1889.
