Archives West Finding Aid

Delta Delta Delta was founded at Boston University in 1888. In 1926 the local sorority Phi Beta, which was established in 1922 at the State University at Missoula (now The University of Montana-Missoula), applied for and was granted a charter as the national sorority Theta Rho of Delta Delta Delta. Theta Rho, the 69th Chapter of Delta Delta Delta, had twenty-eight founding members.

Theta Rho rented their first house, the Rankin house, at 402 Eddy, and later rented a house on Daly Avenue. On August 13, 1937, the Theta Rho Home Association was incorporated in the State of Montana to serve as the finance department of the Chapter. The Home Association purchased land and borrowed money to build the chapter house, which was completed in 1939 at 501 University Avenue in Missoula. The mortgage to the National Fraternity of Delta Delta Delta was repaid in 1950.

The Theta Rho chapter was active throughout the 1940s and 1950s, but by 1960 changes in cultural values brought a huge downturn in the number of students joining sororities and fraternities across the country. At the then-named Montana State University in Missoula it was no different, and the diminishment in numbers and motivation ultimately led to a suspension of the Theta Rho chapter in 1971. The Theta Rho Home Association continued to manage the finances, overseeing the sale of the house and cash donations to the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library at The University of Montana, until a Trust was established with the University in 1979.

The Theta Rho alumnae continue to meet at least once a year. The Home Association was reestablished in 2006.