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SIGMA1916

Corporation Board for Cal Delta Sigma Sorority

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Our History

Our house was designed and built specifically to house the Sigma Chapter of AOII. It was paid for by donations made to Sigma 1916 (formerly known as Sigma Corporation) by alumnae and others. It has been self-sustaining for more than 100 years.

In 2016, due to a property dispute with the AOII International Executive Board, the Sigma chapter split from AOII and formed a local and thriving independent sorority. The women active in the sorority during that time chose the letters Delta (for change) and Sigma (to honor our history).

The women of Delta Sigma have shown strength, grace and resilience. They are leaders on campus and the community. In addition, membership is thriving, with Delta Sigma consistently welcoming full pledge classes during Fall & Spring recruitment since its founding.

Over the course of our 100+ year history, including this most recent transition, Sigma 1916 (and its previous corporation) has always managed our property responsibly and independently for the good of our members.

Our Board of Directors, entirely made up of sorority alumnae, have steadfastly transitioned custody of the house through regular elections. We currently have an active board of more than 10 women representing a variety of eras. We also have an active, engaged membership with women who were initiated in every decade from the 30's to last year, ranging in age from 22 to over 90.



Photo credit: Alumnae Association of Mills College













IN LOVING MEMORY

Leah Anne Hardcastle-MacNeil
April 30, 1925 - July 7, 2020

Born in San Jose, California, Leah was a veteran of the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, Leah attended San Jose State and was initiated into the Delta Sigma chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi. Later she would earn her master's degree in music from Mills College. Active in many specialties throughout her life, Leah was a concert pianist, governess, wife, mother, homemaker, social worker, world traveler, business owner, philanthropist, producer of plays at Berkeley Repertory Theater and member of Mills College Board of Governors.

Leah was an active AOII alum throughout her life. A member of the East Bay Alumnae of AOII, she attended many conventions and regional meetings. As an active participant in the Northern California Council of AOII, she helped coordinate Founders Day celebrations for many years. Sigma1916 knows her best for long and dedicated service as President of the Corporation Board for the property at 2311 Prospect Street. Leah saw the Sigma Chapter through many difficult times of low membership and was instrumental in keeping the chapter open through her astute money management.

An example of her dedication is after a devastating fraternity fire at Berkeley, UC required fire sprinkler systems to be installed in all campus housing. This major expense was financed personally by Leah until she was repaid by the sale of the Annex at 2317 Prospect Street. Several fraternities and sororities were unable to finance this expenditure and closed. We would literally not be here today without her.

Our beautiful Chapter House continues to be a testament to her hard work and perseverance and continues to provide a beautiful and safe place for Delta Sigma members to live. As a further testament to her appreciation of the Sigma legacy, Leah became an Alumna Initiate into Cal Delta Sigma sorority in the spring of 2018.

Sigma 1916 is proud to name a scholarship in her honor, which has been awarded annually since 2017. If you would like to donate to the scholarship, click here.




Loving Cup

At Delta Sigma Founders' Day, Sigma 1916 gave the new chapter an engraved Loving Cup. To us, this cup represented our past and our hopes for their future. During our college years, we had a Loving Cup that we used in our celebrations, and we hope that the tradition continues.


2311 Prospect Street
Berkeley, CA 94704

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