Delta Psi Omega Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Beginning

December 4, 1948

There were two sorors from Ann Arbor, Michigan who attended the twenty-seventh Boule meeting in Cleveland, Ohio from August 18 – 23, 1947. They were Sorors Roberta Ellis Britt and Catharine Roberts Williams They went to Cleveland to secure the approval of the Boule for the chartering of a graduate chapter in the Ann Arbor Area. In 1947, Beta Eta Chapter at the University of Michigan was a combination chapter with both undergraduate and graduate members meeting together The sorors who traveled to Cleveland were successful in obtaining the permission they sought from the Boule. Between September 1947 and December 1948, sorors met to complete and comply with the requirements necessary for chartering the graduate chapter There were eleven charter members.

After fifteen months of hard work, on December 4, 1948, the chartering of Delta Psi Omega Chapter took place at Britt House in Ann Arbor. The Britt House was provided by the University of Michigan as housing for Black female students. It was named for and operated by Soror Roberta Ellis Britt Soror Ruth M Thomas, Great Lakes Regional Director from Wilberforce University in Ohio, conducted the chartering ceremony.

The charter members of Delta Psi Omega Chapter made a life long pledge to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Roberta Ellis Britt was a life member, and chapter history refers to her as the “Guiding Light” Catharine Roberts Williams was the chapter’s first “Golden Soror”, and the longest active charter member Yvonne Williams served as the chapter’s first Basileus. She continued as Basileus until May 1949, and then served again for several terms from 1950–1954

Today, Delta Psi Omega Chapter is truly blessed to celebrate 75 Years on the Vine!

October 27, 1973