January 13, 2013 marks the 100th birthday of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. To commemorate the occasion, the sorority celebrated with a float entered in the New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade. The theme of the float was "Transforming Communities through Sisterhood and Service." Delta Sigma Theta was the first African-American women's organization and the first National Pan-Hellenic Council Greek-letter organization to sponsor a float in the parade. The National President, Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre, and Past Presidents as well as the Executive Board, rode on the float. Marching alongside it were 122 Deltas wearing red and white, 100 marking each year of public service and 22 in honor of the founders.
Delta Sigma Theta was founded at Howard University by 22 collegians - Winona Cargile Alexander, Madree Penn White, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Vashti Turley Murphy, Ethel Cuff Black, Frederica Chase Dodd, Osceola Macarthy Adams, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Edna Brown Coleman, Edith Mott Young, Marguerite Young Alexander, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Eliza P. Shippen, Zephyr Chisom Carter, Myra Davis Hemmings, Mamie Reddy Rose, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Florence Letcher Toms, Olive Jones, Jessie McGuire Dent, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, and Ethel Carr Watson.
Nearly two months later, on March 3, 1913, the women took part in the historic suffrage march in Washington, D.C. They were the only African-American women's group to participate. Honorary member Mary Church Terrell joined them in their march.
In 1923, at the fifth national convention, Mary McLeod Bethune, a prominent educator, became an Honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta.
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