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Home · Culture

<p>Sorority Life: Then and Now</p>

Journey down memory lane with Black sorority sisters, past and present.

By · Updated October 27, 2020
01
Legacy

Journey down memory lane with Black sorority sisters, past and present.

02
Alpha Kappa Alpha

1946: A group portrait of the Ivy Leaf Club of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, gathered to plan the year’s Flirtation Ball, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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03
Alpha Kappa Alpha

1953: Marian Anderson and members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority receiving an award at the Philadelphia Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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04
Alpha Kappa Alpha

1962: Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority have tea at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Alpha Kappa Alpha

1966: Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority greet the Lady Bird Special in Richmond, Virginia.

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Alpha Kappa Alpha

1967: Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members prepare for a cultural event.

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Alpha Kappa Alpha

1968: Actress and singer Etta Moten Barnett and members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at the Ben Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 

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Alpha Kappa Alpha

2008: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members bottom to top: Khadija Burns from Northeastern, Tiffany Clark from Northeastern, Myeschea Joell from Boston University and Cristina Wells from Wellesley College, perform during Step Fest 2008 at Northeastern’s Matthew’s Arena in Boston.

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09
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2008: National Council of Negro Women Chairman Dorothy Height, seated, receives a greeting from Del. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, who has come to say a few words to the thousands gathered for an AKA Rally in Washington D.C.

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10
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2008: A view of the centennial celebration and unity march of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, the nation’s first Greek-letter organization founded by African American college women, on the West Front of the Capitol in Washtington D.C.

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11
Alpha Kappa Alpha

Members Barbara Freeman and Consuelo Pettigrew join thousands of sorority sisters arriving and registering for the Alpha Kappa Alpha centenniel celebration.  

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12
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2008: A soror baby attends the Unity Day March in Washington D.C. with her mother and aunt her who are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha.  

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13
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2008: Crystal Cotten Faison embraces a fellow soror Audrey Bennett at the Unity Day March in Washington D.C.  

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14
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2008: A view of the centennial celebration and unity march of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, the nation’s first Greek-letter organization founded by African American college women, on the West Front of the Capitol in Washtington D.C.

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15
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2014: Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. March & Rally at Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia.  

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16
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2015: A proud Alpha Kappa Alpha Soror wears her pin to work in  New Orleans.

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17
Alpha Kappa Alpha

2015: An Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority performs at Gabrielle Union’s “School Daze” birthday celebration Step Show at The Basement in Miami, Florida.

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18
Delta Sigma Theta

1945: Deltas gather around a table in the dining room of Stanley’s Tavern in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

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19
Delta Sigma Theta

1945: Sorority of Delta Sigma Theta, Mu Chapter, pose for a group portrait at the YWCA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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20
Delta Sigma Theta

1950: Members pose at a banquet 

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21
Delta Sigma Theta

1950: Members of Detla Sigma Theta stand proudly at their cotillion. 

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22
Delta Sigma Theta

1950: Members of Detla Sigma Theta take a group photo at their cotillion. 

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23
Delta Sigma Theta

1950: Dorothy I. Height, civil rights activist and member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, welcomes a new pledge. 

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24
Delta Sigma Theta

1954: Dorothy Height addresses officers and members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, as they gathered around a table at the YWCA in Pittsburgh.

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25
Delta Sigma Theta

1955: Dorothy I. Height, civil rights activist, stands with other members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, which received club of the week honors.

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26
Delta Sigma Theta

1956: Delta Sigma Theta sorority memebrs pin corsages on each other at a social event.

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27
Delta Sigma Theta

1956: Deltas pose in lovely dresses.

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28
Delta Sigma Theta

1956: Sorors enjoy an elegant banquet.

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29
Delta Sigma Theta

Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority hold toys for chrity at Morgan State University i Baltimore, Maryland, 

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30
Delta Sigma Theta

1963: Edith Greene and members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority gather at Howard University.

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31
Delta Sigma Theta

1964: Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority pose with their greek letters in Maryland.

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32
Delta Sigma Theta

1964: Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority greet President John F. Kennedty. 

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33
Delta Sigma Theta

1965: Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority at Morgan State University hold a meeting.

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34
Delta Sigma Theta

1968″ Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority at Hampton Institute, in Hampton, Virginia.

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35
Delta Sigma Theta

1969: Sorors chat befor an event.

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36
Delta Sigma Theta

1970: Secretary and members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority pose for a photo in Virginia.

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37
Delta Sigma Theta

1970: Members hold up a “We Need Love” heart sign on Valentines Day.

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38
Delta Sigma Theta

1980: Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority at a conference during an election in Hartford, CT.

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39
Delta Sigma Theta

1999: Members of Baltimore’s Delta Sigma Theta sorority pose with their letters.

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40
Delta Sigma Theta

2000: Halle Berry walks against breast cancer with members if Delta Sigma Theta at Bowling Green State University.

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41
Delta Sigma Theta

2000: Members of CSUN’s sorority Delta Sigma Theta perform to showcase the history of stepping in fraternities and sororities.

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42
Delta Sigma Theta

2009: Howard University’s Delta Sigma Theta Sorority step team members practice for their homecoming step show.

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43
Delta Sigma Theta

2012: Capitol Hill staffers who are members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., pose for a picture in the Cannon rotunda on the 99th Founder’s Day in Washtington D.C.

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44
Delta Sigma Theta

2013: The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority float participates in the 124th Tournamernt of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. 

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45
Delta Sigma Theta

2013: The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority participates in the 124th Tournamernt of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.  

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46
Delta Sigma Theta

2013: Sorority sisters celebrate 100 years of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at Howard University in Washington, DC.

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47
Delta Sigma Theta

2013: Sorority sisters from around the country celebrate 100 years of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at Howard University in Washington, DC.

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48
Delta Sigma Theta

2013: A member prouldy holds up the Delta symbol at the celebration of 100 years of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at Howard University in Washington, DC.

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49
Delta Sigma Theta

2013: Sorority sisters retrace the footsteps of their founders during the 100th year celebration of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at Howard University in Washington, DC.

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50
Delta Sigma Theta

2013: Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc  are dressed as the 22 founders that participated in the Women’s Suffrage March of 1913 in Washington D.C. 

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51
Delta Sigma Theta

2015: U.S. Attorney General and Delta Sigma Theta member Loretta Lynch speaks to sorors at her nomination in January. 

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52
Delta Sigma Theta

2015: Delta Sigma Theta sorority members, in red, listen during a Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing for Loretta Lynch in Washington D.C. 

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53
Zeta Phi Beta

1950: Members of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority pose with their letters.

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54
Zeta Phi Beta

Zeta Phi Beta sorors dressed in white for their cotilion.

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55
Zeta Phi Beta

1951; Zeta Phi Betas in matching outfits.

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56
Zeta Phi Beta

1951: Members of Zeta Phi Beta decked out in their Sunday best.

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57
Zeta Phi Beta

1951: Zeya Phi Beta sorors pose outside on a warm day.

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58
Zeta Phi Beta

1951: Members chat at an event.

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59
Zeta Phi Beta

1958: Members of Zeta Phi Beta dressed to impress.

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60
Zeta Phi Beta

1958: Sorors perform for their chapter.

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61
Zeta Phi Beta

1961: Members if the Zeta Phi Beta sorority donate food for charity.

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62
Zeta Phi Beta

1961: Members of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority pose outside in their finest furs and tweeds.

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63
Zeta Phi Beta

1961: Sorors take a group photo at an event.

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64
Zeta Phi Beta

1961: Members of Zeta Phi Beta wave flags and cheet at an event.

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65
Zeta Phi Beta

1961: Zetas pose outside on campus.

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66
Zeta Phi Beta

A member crowns her soror sister Miss Blue Revue during the Zeta Phi Beta pageant.

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67
Zeta Phi Beta

1965: Soror Sisters pose at a pageant.

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68
Zeta Phi Beta

Co-Chairman Mrs. Winfred Bell presents citations to young girls at the “Spotlight on Youth” program sponsored by Zeta Zeta Zeta Chapter, Zeta Phi beta sorority during “Finer Womanhood Week.” 

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69
Zeta Phi Beta

2010: California State University Sacramento Zeta Phi Beta sorority members step with confidence at the Sprite Step Off Service Challenge in San Fransisco.

Tony Avelar / AP Images for Sprite
70
Zeta Phi Beta

2010: Members of the Grambling State University Psi Beta chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority compete for the win in the annual Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands and Greek Show in New Orleans.

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
71
Zeta Phi Beta

2014: Members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. participate in the 2014 Martin Luther King, Jr. March & Rally in Atlanta.  

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72
Zeta Phi Beta

2015: Zeta Phi Beta sorors recruit new members in front of their booth in the student union at the University of Central Florida.

Phelan M. Ebenhack via AP
73
Sigma Gamma Rho

1962: Members of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority stand outside for a Christmas tree lighting at Morgan State University in Baltimore.

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74
Sigma Gamma Rho

1968: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority presenting debutantes at a Denver Hilton Hotel ball in Oakland, California.

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75
Sigma Gamma Rho

1974: Debutantes and their Escorts wait to be preseneted.

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76
Sigma Gamma Rho

1970: Boston members address invitations to a Cotillion Ball in Denver, Colorado.

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77
Sigma Gamma Rho

1981: Sorors help each other with the finishing touches on their gowns prior to a Sigma Gamma Rho dinner and ball in Denver.

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78
Sigma Gamma Rho

1990: Members meet up for an event.

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79
Sigma Gamma Rho

1993: Members of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority during a Founders Day celebration in Baltimore, Maryland.

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80
Sigma Gamma Rho

1993: Members of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority seated for a portrait during a Founders Day celebration in Baltimore, Maryland.

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81
Sigma Gamma Rho

The Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority step team from the University of Illinois perform for scholarship prizes at the Sprite Step Off in Chicago.

Peter Barreras/AP Images for Sprit
82
Sigma Gamma Rho

2010: Sorority members perform at the Sprite Step Off Service Challenge in San Francisco.

Tony Avelar / AP Images for Sprite
83
Sigma Gamma Rho

2010: Kids from the Boys and Girls club dance with the steppers of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority from the University of Louisiana during the Sprite Step Off Service Challenge at Park Forest Middle School in Baton Rouge, LA. 

Liz Condo / AP Images for Sprite
84
Sigma Gamma Rho

2013: Member MC Lyte speaks during the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Public Meeting to kickoff the 71st Northeastern Regional Conference in Dorchester, Massachusetts. 

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85
Sigma Gamma Rho

2015: Sorors remember their sister Sandra Bland in Lisle, Illinois. 

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86
Sigma Gamma Rho

2015: Ashley Turner and other members of her sorority pose for photos as they make a video for their Florida Atlantic University Sigma Gamma Rho chapter, in Miami’s Wynwood art section.

AP Photo/J Pat Carter

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