The history of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa
Theta Chapter was chartered on November 5, 1927. Theta became the 8th chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Sorors from Alpha, Beta and Delta Chapters conducted the initiation at the home of Gertrude Robinson. Founder Gladys Cannon Nunery conducted the induction service and presented the charter to the nine ladies who were known as charter members.
The charter members are:
| Estelle Anderson | Lillian Reddish |
| E. Dora Day | Gertrude Robinson |
| Constance Evans | Eunice Shreeves |
| Gertrude Herbert | Anna Small |
| Bernice Overall |
Theta Chapter has been actively supporting the programs of the Sorority. The chapter hosted Conclaves in 1932, 1939 and 1958. In 1973 they co-hosted the Fiftieth Anniversary Conclave with three other chapters from the metropolitan area. Theta hosted Regionals and Youth Conferences. The chapter has had two National Scholarship winners: Gloria Assine in 1938 and Gloria Cochrane in 1947.
The following Sorors have served as National Officers from Theta Chapter:
Supreme Basileus
| Gertrude Robinson | 1940 – 1947 |
| Helen Maxwell | 1958 – 1963 |
1st Supreme Anti-Basileus
| Gertrude Robinson | 1929 – 1933 |
| Elizabeth Waddell | 1933 – 1936 |
| Gertrude Robinson | 1936 – 1939 |
| Helen Harris | 1941 – 1945 |
| Helen Maxwell | 1952 – 1958 |
| Florence O. King | 1999 – 2003 |
2nd Supreme Anti-Basileus
| Cleo Daniels | 1940 – 1949 |
Supreme Epistoleus
| Florence O. King | 1995 – 1999 |
Supreme Tamias
| Gertrude Herbert | 1927 – 1928 |
| Lorraine Finley | 1937 – 1941 |
National Program Director
| Grace Racker | 1955 – 1959 |
Editor-In-Chief “The Krinon”
| Nell Becker | 1932 – 1938 |
| Helen Harden | 1943 – 1946 |
The following Sorors have served as Regional Officers for the Eastern Region:
Eastern Regional Director
| Helen Harris | 1943 – 1945 |
| Helen Maxwell | 1952 – 1958 |
| Florence O. King | 1991 – 1995 |
Member-At-Large
| Cleo Daniel | |
| Hortense Brabham | 1968 – 1971 |
Eastern Region Grarnmateus
| Gertrude Brown | 1973 – 1977 |
| Catherine Southerland | 1998 – 2001 |
Eastern Region Epistoleus
| Florence O. King | 1987 – 1991 |
Many of Theta’s Sorors have served as Chairpersons of National and Regional Committees.
The following Sorors have received Regional Citations:
- Hortense Brabham
- Aileen James
- Dorothy Murphy
The following Sorors have served as the Basileus of Theta Chapter:
| Dorothy Spragen | Ramona Lucien |
| Gertrude Robinson | Dorothy Murphy |
| Edna Harrison | Florence O. King |
| Anne Yearwood | Catherine Southerland |
| Jessie Turnquest | Savannah Gillespie |
| Helen Maxwell | Lucy Bullock-McDonald |
| Hortense Brabham | Juanita Randolph |
| Helen Harris | Barbara Burke-Dean |
| Aileen James | Cathleen G. Snyder |
| Elise Rollock | Donna M. Sowerby |
| Aileen James | Cathleen G. Snyder |
| Elise Rollock | Donna M. Sowerby |
The following are honorary members of Theta Chapter:
| Gladys Graham | Alma Johns |
The following Sorors are Life Members of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.:
| Sharen McKinney-Alston | Florence O. King | Grace Racker |
| Norma Beckles | Drusilla Kinzonzi | Mary Reed |
| Hortense Brabham | Cassie Kluttz | Pauline Riley |
| Bessie Brown | Louise Lynch | Evelyn Sealey |
| Gertrude Brown | Lucy Bullock-McDonald | Evelyn Simmons |
| Gloria Bushel | Frances McGhee | Lillie Sims |
| Edythe Cables | Elizabeth McKinney | Catherine Southerland |
| Lorna Christie | Sandra Louise Moore | Nestina Thomas |
| Beatrice Coleman | Dorothy Murphy | Mercedes Walker |
| Barbara Delaney | Shirley Neville | Pearl Ware |
| Ella Gardner | Fannie Porter | Peyton Watkins |
| Ethel Haynes | Marguerite Powell | Dorothy Wynn |
| Aileen James |
The Sorority has chartered 137 Chapters of which 117 are still active. Theta Chapter sponsored Epsilon Chi Chapter, which is the 137th Chapter of the Sorority. The new chapter was chartered on November 19, 2005 in the Rockland-Orange Counties of New York. Fifteen young women became the charter members of that chapter.
Theta Chapter recommended Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm to become a National Honorary Member of our Sorority. The Honorable Shirley Chisolm was inducted into our Sorority during the Fiftieth Anniversary Conclave at the New York Hilton Hotel in July 1973.