Chapter History

Our Alumnae chapter organized in the home of Ethel Hillyer Kessler in 1931. Charter members were Camilla Brown (Mrs. Earl), Dorothy R. Dalton (Mrs. William), Ethel H. Kessler (Mrs. F.A.W.), Verna LeVitt (Mrs. Grey), Myrtle Lewis (Mrs. Wilber), Mary Palmer (Mrs. John), Ann Powers (Mrs. Harold), and Delome Rogers (Mrs. Ira).

The members met once each month for lunch, fellowship, and bridge. When the membership reached 15, the group became a National Alumnae Group of Delta Delta Delta. According to copies of minutes on file, a meeting of the Topeka Delta Delta Delta Alliance was held on January 17, 1949 at the home of Esther McIntire. Ferne Nixon was the president of that group. This was a dinner meeting and very little business was transacted. One request was for members to provide six dozen cookies for the Panhellenic Tea.

The name of the group was changed to Topeka Alumnae Chapter of Delta Delta Delta in 1956.
Activities through the years have varied. At one time flowers were sent to the collegiate chapters during Rush Week. Some years treats such as apples, popcorn, etc. was sent to the collegiates during final week. Each year the Chapter participated in the Panhellenic scholarship project. The money was raised through fashion shows, handwork exhibits, rummage sales, garage sales and geranium sales.

Our Chapter has been represented at the National Convention on several occasions. On March 21,1965, we hostessed State Day at the Jayhawk Hotel. The purpose of our monthly meetings are to become better acquainted with other Tri Deltas in the area, assist the collegiate chapters, have programs that widen our knowledge of the times and our city. Our meetings have changed from potluck dinners to dessert and a program or lunches at a local restaurant. 

We celebrate Founders Day each year in November as our sorority was founded on Thanksgiving Eve, 1888. At Founders Day the Dorothy Dalton Award is presented to a member that personifies the qualities of Delta Delta Delta. This award is not presented each year. The award was started after her death by her husband, who presented the chapter with a silver tray. At that time it was voted that a member to be selected by a committee appointed for that purpose would receive the silver tray and would keep the tray until a new member was selected to receive the tray. Virginia Cleland presented the Chapter with another silver tray that is given to the President to use during her term in office. The size of our group has grown over the years and our projects and programs have changed to meet our member's evolving needs. We are truly sisters united in Delta Delta Delta.