DELTA SIGMA DELTA
History of Delta Sigma Delta
Two dental students (Lou Mitchell and Chas Howard) at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor were invited to join Nu Sigma Nu, a medical fraternity. However, they declined. Why should they join a medical fraternity when they were going to be dentists? So on November 15, 1882, seven dental students met at Mrs. Slattery's boarding house and founded the first dental fraternity in the world. For a name, they transposed the initials of the DDS degree, which they were soon to receive, to DSD and substituted the Greek letters for the english. Thus, Delta Sigma Delta was born and the new chapter became known as the Alpha Chapter.
After graduation these men became scattered in all directions but they strongly desired to maintain their associations and friendships of college days.This was the beginning of the Supreme (or Alumni) Chapter, which was also founded in Ann Arbor at the time of their graduation from dental school in 1884.
Soon a second chapter, Beta, was formed at the Chicago College of Dental Surgery in 1885 by Dr. L.L. Davis, who migrated there to practice dentistry. Then a third, Gamma, at Harvard was begun. ANd so we grew. Today there are 37 active undergraduate chapters in dental schools throughout the United States. Thirty-eight alumni or graduate chapters are located in almost every state in the union.
DESMOS, the official publication of Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity, was first published in October 1894.
Approximately 57,000 members have been initiated since the fraternity was founded 117 yrs ago. Delta Sigma Delta is truly an international fraternity. Presently, its 30,600 Life (active) members are located in all the cities of the world and in many smaller communities too.
