Delta Sigma Theta () was an international pharmacy fraternity founded in the fall of 1914. It was created to promote the healing arts of pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry. The fraternity went inactive sometime after 2021, with Chi Chapter in St. Louis as the last active chapter.
History In the fall of 1914, Delta Sigma Theta was established at Brooklyn College of Pharmacy as an outgrowth of the Mortar and Pestle club (local). It was created to promote the healing arts of pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry. There were six founders led by A. Bertram Lemon. The organization was started on December 11, 1915, and one year later was incorporated in New York State as Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.Brooklyn College of Pharmacy Pharmakon yearbook, 1927, p.213
The fraternity then expanded within New York and across New England. It also expanded to include other healthcare professions, including medicine and dentistry. Some notable chapters founded during this era include Rutgers' Epsilon chapter and Columbia's Delta chapter. By 1926, it had eight chapters and 700 members.
By the late 1920s, Delta Sigma Theta became an international fraternity by establishing chapters in Beirut, Rome, and Great Britain. The growing fraternity paused in its growth like other such societies when the start of World War II led to a decrease in fraternity enrollment nationwide. However, once the war concluded, Delta Sigma Theta expanded westward; the Chi chapter was founded in May 1963 by a Mu chapter alumnus, Alfonso Tobias. However Chi was its last chapter to be established and, in 1963, it had six active chapters and eleven inactive chapters. Eventually, all chapters ceased operations and the fraternity went defunct.
Governance Delta Sigma Theta was governed by a Supreme Royal Council, elected at an annual national convention. Its officers include a supreme royal chancellor, supreme royal vice chancellor, supreme royal scribe, supreme royal assistant scribe, supreme royal treasurer, supreme royal assistant treasurer, supreme royal historian, and a supreme royal sentinel. Its national headquarters were in New York City, New York.
Chapters In the following list, inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha1917–xxxx ?St. Louis College of PharmacyBrooklyn, New YorkInactiveBeta1917–19xx ? Columbia University College of Dental MedicineManhattan, New York City, New YorkInactiveGamma1917–19xx ? New York University College of DentistryNew York City, New YorkInactiveDelta1923–Columbia University College of Pharmaceutical SciencesNew York City, New YorkInactiveEpsilon1924–xxxx ?Ernest Mario School of PharmacyNew Brunswick, New JerseyInactiveZeta1924–19xx ?, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental MedicinePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaInactiveEta1924–19xx ?New York Flowers Hospital MedicalValhalla, New YorkInactiveTheta1924–19xx ?Tufts University School of MedicineBoston, MassachusettsInactiveIota1924–19xx ?Temple University School of Dentistry Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaInactiveKappa1924–19xx ?Long Island University - School of MedicineLong Island, New YorkInactiveLambda1924–19xx ?Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBoston, MassachusettsInactiveMu1927St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health ScienceBrooklyn, New YorkInactive ?Rho1927–19xx ?University of Rome Medical CollegeRome ItalyInactiveSigma1927–19xx ?American University of BeirutBeirut, LebanonInactiveTau1927–19xx ?Edinburgh Medical CollegeEdinburgh, ScotlandInactiveOmega1953Northeastern University School of PharmacyBoston, MassachusettsInactive ?Phi1958–Hampden College of Pharmacy Chicopee, MassachusettsConsolidatedChi1963–2021University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisSt. Louis, MissouriInactive
See also Professional fraternities and sororities Rho Chi, co-ed, pharmacy honor society
References