List of Delta Sigma Theta National Conventions

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is an international organization of college-educated women. Originally established for women of color, Delta Sigma Theta now has membership that includes women of all races. Delta Sigma Theta is the largest single organization historically founded for and by Black Women in the United States. Founded on January 13, 1913 at Howard University by twenty-two visionary collegiate students, Delta Sigma Theta is the first African American Greek lettered organization for women founded on the principles of servings others and political activity. Delta Sigma Theta held its first national convention in 1919 in Washington, D.C. The national body of Delta Sigma Theta previously met annually, but due to a number of factors, the main of which is the establishment of regions and regional leadership, the National body currently meets at biennial [every two years] conventions, and regional conferences are held for each individual region in the years in which conventions are not held. This list of Delta Sigma Theta National Conventions includes dates on which the conventions were held, host cities, and general themes and major accomplishments of each convention.

Number Location Dates[a] Significant outcomes Refs
1st Howard University, Washington, D.C. December 27, 1919 Three of existing five chapters present. Plans made to nationalize. [1][2]
2nd Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio December 28, 1920 Convention authorized The Delta Journal; Honorary Members; The Delta May Week and its slogan, "Invest in Education"; and Alumnae Chapters. [1][2]
3rd University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania December 31, 1921 Committee on Standards appointed, also Committee on Scholastic Grades. Hosted by Gamma chapter. [1][2][3]
4th Chicago, Illinois December 1922 Convention authorized a Scholarship Award Fund and a College Tuition Loan Fund [1][2]
5th Columbus, Ohio December 27, 1923–December 30, 1923 Honorary membership accorded Mary M. Bethune. Alpha Phi Alpha convention in Columbus at same time. Hosted by Epsilon chapter. [1][2][4][5]
6th YWCA on 137th street, New York City, New York December 27, 1924–December 31, 1924 Delta Sigma Theta Hymn adopted. Hosted by Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni Chapter. [1][2][6]
7th Des Moines, Iowa December 27, 1925–December 31, 1925 Regional Conferences established. Revision of nomenclature for chapters. [1][2]
8th Cincinnati, Ohio December 1926 First drive against inactivity in chapters. [1][2]
9th Washington, D.C. December 1927 Strengthened program. Appointment of a National Vigilance Committee [1][2]
10th Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania December 27, 1929 The First Biennial Convention. Policies set for internal organization. [1][2]
11th Nashville, Tennessee December 28, 1931 First mixed Chapter authorized [1][2]
12th Chicago, Illinois August 27, 1933 Increased concern for standards. "B" rated schools accepted for Delta. [1][2]
13th Los Angeles, California August 10, 1935–August 15, 1935 Office of Executive Secretary created, not to be filled for some time. [1][2]
14th Cleveland, Ohio December 27, 1937–December 31, 1937 Much dissension about internal affairs. [1][2]
15th St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, New York City, New York August 28, 1939–August 31, 1939 Theme:"Broader Horizon for the Youth of Tomorrow" 114 chapters represented. All chapters required to take membership in NAACP. More support enlisted for Urban League. National officers cautioned to report only "facts," not "sentiment." Hosted by Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni Chapter. [1][2][6][7]
16th Detroit, Michigan December 26, 1941–December 30, 1941 Grand President delivered address on "Social Maturity." Mary Bethune pointed to the need for Delta service in the war crisis. Particular stress on the service programs. [1][2]
17th Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio August 24, 1944–August 27, 1944 Convention was a year late because of war emergency. Petition was made by undergraduates to be represented on Executive Board. Gloria Hewlett was chosen as the first undergraduate Second Vice-President. [1][2]
18th Richmond, Virginia December 27, 1945–December 30, 1945 First Convention with a theme: "Design for Living in a New Age." Much concern for the Delta program. Eslanda Goode Robeson, wife of Paul Robeson gave speech about Africa. [1][2][8]
19th San Antonio, Texas December 27, 1947–December 31, 1947 Resolution to call on Congress to admit to the U.S. 100,000 selected refugees and displaced persons for the next four years in addition to the regular quota. Formal adoption and copyright of the name Jabberwock. [1][2]
20th Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri August 23, 1948–August 28, 1948 Theme:"Human Rights - Our Challenge - Our Responsibility" Resolution to admit any qualified woman to Delta Sigma Theta, regardless of race, creed, or nationality. Creation of a Public Relations Board [1][2][9][10]
21st University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California August 15, 1950–August 19, 1950 Theme: "Human Rights, from Charter to Practice." Workshops geared to theme. [1][2]
22nd Cleveland, Ohio December 26, 1952–December 31, 1952 Establishment of a National Headquarters. Reorganization of modus operandi-therefore called: The Mending Conference. The position of Executive Director now approved. [1][2]
23rd Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, New York August 14, 1954–August 20, 1954 *Concern for undergraduate status and problems. The "blackball" abolished. Dorothy Height re-elected in "harmony move". Hosted by Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni Chapter. [1][2][9][11][12]
24th Detroit Michigan December 26, 1956–December 30, 1956 Theme: "Windows on the World." Revision of nomenclature. Graduate chapters thereafter to be known as alumnae chapters. The Member-at-Large category proposed. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered speech. [1][2][13]
25th Washington, D.C. August 17, 1958–August 23, 1958 Theme: "The Challenge of Changing Patterns." An evaluating of the past and planning for the future. Plans made for the Golden Anniversary Period. The Member-at-Large category adopted. Approximately 1,000 attendees. Held Jointly with Alpha Kappa Alpha [1][2][14]
26th Palmer House Hotel, Chicago, Illinois August 14, 1960–August 21, 1960 Theme: "The Creative Life in Freedom and Dignity." Resolution to complete the Maternity Wing of the Chania Medical Center in Kenya, West Africa. Resolution to support the stand taken by young Negro Americans to secure equal rights. [1][2][15]
27th Americana Hotel, New York City, New York August 11, 1963–August 17, 1963 "The Golden Anniversary Jubilee" Theme:"The Past Is Prologue" Decision to participate in March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. Vote to launch voter registration drive among Negros. Hosted by Delta Sigma Theta New York Alumni Chapter. [1][2][16][17]
28th Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California August 14, 1965–August 19, 1965 Theme: "The Woman's Role in Civil Rights and War on Poverty" [2][18]
29th Cincinnati, Ohio August 14, 1967–August 18, 1967 [2][19][20][21]
30th Baltimore, Maryland August 10, 1969–August 18, 1969 Theme:“One Nation or Two? , . . One Nation!” [2][22][23]
31st Houston, Texas August 8, 1971–August 13, 1971 [2][24]
32nd Atlanta, Georgia August 1973 Congresswoman Barbara Jordan delivered speech. [2][25][26]
33rd Seattle, Washington 1975 Premiere of "Countdown at Kusini" starring Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee [2][27]
34th Denver, Colorado August 11, 1977 [2][28]
35th New Orleans, Louisiana 1979 [2]
36th Washington Sheraton, Washington, D.C. August 1, 1981–August 5, 1981 [2][29]
37th Detroit, Michigan August 12, 1983–August 17, 1983 Resolutions: Step up Black voter registration. Promote economically solvency of Women [2][30][31]
38th Dallas, Texas 1985 [2]
39th San Francisco, California July 8, 1988–July 14, 1988 75th Diamond Jubilee. [2][32]
40th Miami, Florida 1990 [2]
41st Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland August 17, 1992 Theme: "The Delta Launch 2000: A New Leadership for A New Century" [2][33][34]
42nd St. Louis, Missouri July 17, 1994–July 24, 1994 Plans to build/rehabilitate houses through Habitat For Humanity [2][35]
43rd Orlando, Florida July 18, 1996–July 24, 1996 Co-hosted by Orlando Alumnae chapter [2][36]
44th Hilton New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana August 8, 1998–August 13, 1998 [2][37]
45th McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois July 18, 2000–July 21, 2000 Nearly 15,000 attendees. [2][38][39]
46th Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia July 19, 2002–July 24, 2002 [2][38][40]
47th MGM Grand Las Vegas and Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada July 22, 2004–July 28, 2004 Theme:"Keeping the Connection, Building on the Past and Focusing on the Future" 12,000 attendees. Originally planned for San Diego, moved due to passage of California Proposition 209. [2][41][42][43][44]
48th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 27, 2006–August 2, 2006 Theme: "One Mission, One Sisterhood: Empowering Communities Through Committed Service" [2][45][46]
49th Orlando, Florida July 24, 2008–July 30, 2008 Theme: "One Mission, One Sisterhood: Empowering Communities Through Committed Service" More than 15,000 attendees. [2][47]
50th New Orleans, Louisiana July 29, 2010–August 4, 2010 Theme: "Delta Sigma Theta - A Sisterhood Called to Serve: Transforming Lives, Impacting Communities" More than 12,000 attendees. [2][47]
51st Washington, District of Columbia July 11, 2013–July 17, 2013 Theme: Centennial Celebration. [2][47]
52nd Houston, Texas July 23, 2015–July 29, 2015 Theme: “Uncompromising Commitment to Communities: Service, Leadership, Empowerment.” [2][47]
53rd Las Vegas, Nevada August 3, 2017–August 9, 2017 Theme: “ ” [2][47]
54th New Orleans, LA July 9, 2019–July 14, 2019 Theme: “ Joy in our Sisterhood, Power in our Voice and Service in our Heart ” Convention ended two days early, on July 12, 2019, due to Category 1 Hurricane Barry, and the Sorority donated 17,000 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank for those in need. [2][47]
55th Atlanta, Georgia July 9, 2021–July 14, 2021 Theme: “ TBD ” [2][47]

References
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  18. Jet Sep 2, 1965 p 38. Johnson Publishing Company. 2 September 1965. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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  24. "Delta President Represents U.S. On African Tour". The Carolina Times. July 17, 1971. p. 8B.
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  26. "Iota Pi History". Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
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  28. Bernstein Daniel CV Archived January 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  29. Soror Moss' book, "Be Strong" tells of life with Delta founder Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Afro American, August 1, 1981
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  33. Jet Aug 3, 1992 p30. Johnson Publishing Company. 1995-01-02. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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  40. Ebony Jul 2002 p30. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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  43. Ebony Jul 2004 p36. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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  46. Jet Aug 28, 2006 pp19,22. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  47. "Delta Service Organization Convenes in Orlando". Thepinehillsnews.com. 2008-07-15. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
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