History

Delta Delta Delta

Beta Theta Chapter
at Clemson University

The History of Delta Delta Delta

    In the late 19th century, a woman's place in society was very different from what it is today. Women were not permitted to vote, and few women were found in the workplace. In the frontier states of the mid-west, women began to attend the formerly all-male universities, but they were not welcomed by the male class mates. Because of the cruel reception, it was natural for women students to join together in small groups for friendship and support. At first these groups were limited to their individual campuses, but as they developed they imitated the existing men's fraternities, and the various groups spread from one school to another.
      By 1885 (when Sarah Ida Shaw entered Boston University), there were six of these "ladies' societies" with enough chapters to be called national organizations: Pi Beta Phi (founded in 1867), Kappa Alpha Theta (founded in 1870), Kappa Kappa Gamma (founded in 1872), Alpha Phi (founded in 1872), Delta Gamma (founded in 1873), and Gamma Phi Beta (founded in 1874). Other groups also existed at that time but had only one chapter. Expansion of these groups into conservative New England was slow. The first to come was Kappa Kappa Gamma to Boston University in 1882, followed by Alpha Phi (also at Boston) in 1883. A chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta opened at Vermont in 1883.
      Although there were three women's groups represented at Boston university in 1888, Sarah Ida Shaw saw a need for a group which would be different from the others. She said to her friend, Eleanor Dorcus 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." Hence Delta Delta Delta was formed...
     There are currently chapters across the United States and Canada. The national headquarters is located in Arlington, Texas.

The History of the Beta Theta Chapter

    Even though national sororities are a more recent part of our campus, local sororities were founded shortly after Clemson became coeducational in 1955. The ancestor of Beta Theta was one of the first local sororities established. Chi Chi Chi was formed in December 1959. Tri Chi was renamed Delta Theta Chi in 1966 by the 13 member organization. The women students who realized the need for social fellowship as an important part of college life formed the local group. Since the time of its founding, the sorority continued to grow, always striving to increase its bonds of sisterhood. Their number increased from a handful in 1959, to an ever-increasing number in the later years.
    In September of 1969, the Board of Trustees of Clemson University voted to allow representatives of several national sororities to come to the Clemson Campus. The members of the Delta Theta Chi then began a period of interviewing the visiting national groups. Kappa Delta was interviewed first, then Delta Delta Delta, and finally Alpha Delta Pi. Delta Delta Delta then sent a second representative to talk with the members of Delta Theta Chi. The members of the sorority voted and decided unanimously to petition Delta Delta Delta for acceptance as a chapter of the national group. Two days after the petition was sent, the local chapter received a telegram from the national group that their petition had been accepted and that they were welcomed as the newest pledge chapter of the national organization. Thus on November 12, 1969 the tenth anniversary of the founding of Chi Chi Chi, Delta Theta Chi becam Delta Delta Delta and a new age began for the 23 members of the chapter. It began formally in the Clemson House on January 4, 1970 when the members of the Chapter were pledged in the first pledge pinning ceremony for the Beta Theta Chapter.
    Recruitment in January brought 24 pledges into the bonds of Tri Delta. Then the period of pledgeship began for the 47 members of Beta Theta. Their hard work was duly rewarded as initiation time arrived. On April 4, 1970, Beta Theta hald its first initiation. At a banquet following initiation, the collegians were presented with a sterling silver tea set and baby cup for the baby chapter by the national office. They also gave books on Southern literature to the university library.
    Delta Delta Delta has continued to grow and develop at Clemson University.

Page 1 of 1

Coat of Arms

Dolphin

Flag

Pansy

Pearl

Pine Tree

Our Symbols

The Coat of Arms was designed by Richard B. Lockwood of New York and adopted at the 1906 Convention. It consists of a quartered shield. The first and fourth quarters are blue, on which of each is a silver trident. The second and third quarters are gold, on each of which is a pine tree. Above the shield is a crest, which consists of a torse with six folds alternating gold and blue, from which rises a white, gold, and blue pansy. Below the shield is the motto "Let us steadfastly love one another" written in Greek on a scroll. The coat of arms may be used by both new members and initiated members.

The dolphin was a good omen symbolizing rebirth, friendship, and leadership to the ancient Greeks. In Tri Delta, the dolphin is symbolic of "clear skies and smooth sailing" and has a special significance for the sorority's elected officers

The flag was adopted by the 1906 Convention. It has three vertical bars; the first sea grean with three white deltas, the second white with a green pine tree, and the third sea green with three white stars.

The pansy is symbolic of our alumnae and is third step in the lifetime development of the Delta Delta Delta members.

The pearl symbolizes the new member because it is the only jewel that grows, developing from a tiny nucleus into a thing of value and beauty.

The pine tree represents the collegiat member.