In 1888 at Boston University, Tri Delta’s founders Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond saw a need for a group which would be different from other women’s fraternities. Sarah said, "Let us found a society that shall be kind alike to all and think more of a girl's inner self and character than of her personal appearance." Thus began the work of creating a new international fraternity.

Later Sarah Ida Shaw wrote, "...The two enthusiastic friends were unaware of the fact that there was something stupendous about the task they had set hands, heads and hearts to accomplish. They were working for a principle, and it never occurred to them that there could be such a thing as failure. Earnestness of purpose, energy and enthusiasm had brought them both success in college and why should not these same qualities bring assurance of good fortune to the new venture."

Since our founding in 1888, Tri Delta has endured this same spirit in establishing new chapters.