Chapter History
The idea of a Delta graduate chapter in the Western Suburbs was conceived over brown bag lunches at Irving School in Maywood, IL in 1976, by three sorors, Georgia Edwards, Denise Hendry, and Shirley Johnson. The desire to be active and committed was a difficult task for sorors, with the closest chapter to Maywood being located in Chicago. After attending a Founders Day/Rededication Ceremony held by the Chicago Alumnae Chapter, these sorors decided to do something about their desire to continue their dedicated service to the organization to which they had pledged a lifetime commitment. Upon securing the information needed to begin the process from Soror Anna Johnson Julian, who was a resident of Oak Park, IL and the 4th National President (1929-1931) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Georgia, Denise, and Shirley set out to organize the chapter.
By word of mouth Deltas from all around the western suburbs were found. These sorors came from the following communities: Maywood, Dekalb, Oswego, Sycamore, Carol Stream, Schaumburg, Broadview, Glen Ellyn, and Aurora.The core group included the following sorors: Denise Hendry, Georgia L. Edwards, Shirley G. Johnson, Catherine Watson, Hazel Dandridge, Mary Wells, Katherine Hainey, Thomasine Leon, Ira Redmond, Pamela Hannon Smith, Virginia Lucas Lasenby, Murial Watkins and C'Ella Williams.
After months of meetings, gathering data, completing numerous forms and calls to the Regional Director, Soror Barbara Curtis, authorization to be chartered was granted. The chartering ceremony was held on January 23, 1977, at the Holiday Inn in Hillside, IL. The Regional Director at that time was Soror Bernadine Dennings. The following twenty-four charter members started an unforgettable legacy:
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Jacqueline Anderson Helen Branch Geraldine Crider Hazel Dandridge Georgia L. Edwards Dr. Lois Garland-Patterson Carolyn Gibson Katherine Hainey |
Denise Hendry Angela Jackson Theresa Jackson Shirley G. Johnson Virginia Lucas Lasenby Thomasine Leon Phyllis Lewis Katherine Owens |
Patricia Robinson Pamela Hannon Smith Ira Redmond Thompson Tempie Thornton Muriel Watkins Catherine Watson Mary Wells C’Ella Williams |
As a result of all of the correspondence being forwarded to National Headquarters from an address in Bolingbrook, IL, the original name given to the chapter was the Bolingbrook Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. however, the name was changed to Glen Ellyn Area Alumnae Chapter (GEAAC) because this proved to be the central location of the chartering sorors. The chapter annual dues were set at $25.00 per soror.
The first chapter officers were:
- Theresa Jackson (President)
- Ira Redmond (Secretary)
- Shirley G. Johnson (Corresponding Secretary)
- Catherine Watson (Treasurer)
The first major fundraiser was Miss Jabberwock (1979), in the form of a talent competition. The program was held in the auditorium of the St. Paul School in Melrose Park, IL where there were 10 lovely contestants who were gifted in their own areas of competition. The winner, La Vera Washington of Chicago, IL, presented a superb performance. The first Jabberwock Cotillion in the dinner dance format was held in 1982 at the Indian Lakes Country Club in Bloomingdale, IL. The winner was Sharon McIntosh. At this time the awarding of scholarships and book awards was implemented. Pamela Johnson (Soror) was GEAAC’s first awardee. During the early years some of GEAAC’s public service projects included: food baskets for needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, weekly story hour at Loyola Children’s Hospital, service and assistance in shelters, Toy Disco, assistance at the Baptist Nursing Home, book drives, compiling and submitting list of Afro-American books to public schools, and contributions to the DuPage County NAACP.
The first membership intake occurred in 1978 and included Thelma Clarkson, Carolyn Jones, Virginia Steele, and Linda Taylor. GEAAC has expanded greatly since the time of its charter.
In 1996 the Minerva Educational Foundation (MEF) was established as the nonprofit entity for GEAAC. The purpose of the foundation was to organize and administer educational programs for young people; to conduct seminars and programs that provide cultural, social and educational enrichment for youth, especially in the African American Community. Since its inception, MEF has awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships and book awards.
GEAAC recently celebrated its 30th year anniversary with a “Trip Down Memory Lane” which highlighted each membership line and the history of the chapter. Between 1978 and 2008, one hundred-fifty five members were initiated and, the chapter reached the highest membership level in its history at 201 members for fiscal year 2008-2009.