Delta Delta Delta – History & Purpose

The Houston Alumnae Chapter began in 1921 as the Tri Delta Houston

Alliance with seven Tri Deltas representing three universities: Sarah

Gaskill (University of Texas), Lillian Evans Settegast (University of

Texas), Alice Lynn Harris Shelor (University of Texas), Eloise Watts

Japhet (University of Texas), Sadie Hudson Williford (Southwestern

University), Agnes McGregor Waddell (Randolph Macon), and Mary

Kate Harrison Kennedy (University of Texas). The aim of the founding

club was to be a social group, but one which would also provide

support for Texas collegiate chapters. The alumnae chapter’s official

installation was November 1, 1923. Since the 1920’s, Houston Tri

Delta alumnae have generously donated their time and fundraising

efforts to women’s collegiate scholarships, children’s charities and the

Houston community. By 1985, more than $125,000 had been raised and

purposed for these endeavors.

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In 1986 the Tri Delta Art Show for Charity, Inc. was incorporated as a

501(c) (3) charity to not only raise monies for Tri Delta scholarships

and selected children’s charities, but to also offer Houstonians cultural

opportunities in the form of varied art programs and shows.

Community events included art exhibits, art walks, children’s creative

projects and unique opportunities at The Museum of Fine Arts,

Houston. Between the years 1987-2012, The Tri Delta Art Show for

Charity, Inc. raised almost one million dollars for Tri Delta Endowed

Scholarships, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Sunshine Kids, Ronald

McDonald House, Texas Children’s Hospital, Camp Periwinkle,

Houston School for Deaf Children, City of Houston Municipal Arts

Commission, Glassell School of Art, Houston Grand Opera and The 

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston which houses a collection of 19th

century European works on paper, funded by the Tri Delta Art Show

for Charity, Inc. In 2014, the corporation was dissolved to make

room for Houston Tri Delta Philanthropies, Inc., with a focus on

funding pediatric cancer research in Houston. Its annual community

event known as the SALE, has to date funded almost two million

dollars for specific research projects at The University of Texas MD

Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital and Texas Children’s Cancer

and Hematology Centers.

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Today the Houston Alumnae Chapter has more than 350 members.

It is one of 222 Tri Delta alumnae chapters in the United States and

Canada, with 225,000 alumnae members worldwide. The year 2023

marks the Centennial anniversary of the Houston Alumnae Chapter

of Tri Delta.