Delta Delta Delta was founded at Boston University on November 28, 1888, which fell on the day before Thanksgiving that year. Founders’ Day is celebrated on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Sarah Ida Shaw [Martin] and Eleanor Dorcas Pond [Mann, M.D.] were both graduated first from their respective high school classes.
Sarah Ida Shaw Martin
In the fall of 1888, four women seniors, who had not joined any of the women’s fraternities then at Boston University – Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Phi, or Gamma Phi Beta – discussed their situation. Pond talked to Shaw and they decided to start a society of their own. Pond suggested that they use a triple Greek letter and Shaw chose the Greek letter Delta. Shaw also developed the mottoes and passwords.
Shaw and Pond threw themselves into the details associated with the founding. All was finished by Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, 1888, but the two met again on Wednesday afternoon, before leaving for the holiday. They met in the Philological Library at the top of the college building. Shaw and Pond embraced and said “Tri Delta is founded.”
Shaw and Pond were intent on getting the other two unaffiliated seniors to join their organization. Florence Stewart quickly agreed, but Isabel Breed took a little more convincing due to her highly religious nature. When she was given the job of chaplain, she relented and joined her three friends. Although these two did not take part in the actual formation of Delta Delta Delta as Pond and Shaw had done, the four are considered founders. Soon three juniors pledged allegiance to Delta Delta Delta as well as five sophomores and six freshmen. These women were initiated at the Joy Street home of Emily F. Allen on January 15, 1889.
