Founder Sarah Ida Shaw Martin, Boston University, poses for a portrait, wearing a floor-length lace gown and decorative hat, in 1907.
After graduating from Boston University in 1889, both Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond remained committed to the ideals of kindness and service that had animated their establishment of Tri Delta, both in their ongoing service to the Fraternity and throughout their lives.
Sarah continued serving Tri Delta as its first grand president (1889-1893), grand commissioner of education (1893-1897), and grand historian (1897-1900). She worked as a teacher of German and classical languages before marrying William Holmes Martin, a widowed father of two, in 1896. After her marriage, Sarah went by the name Ida Shaw Martin.
In addition to her service to Tri Delta, Ida also became a prominent leader in the growing Panhellenic community. In 1907, she published the first edition of The Sorority Handbook, which compiled data on existing sororities and offered advice on the organization of national sororities and local chapters. In the 1920s, Ida also started the Sorority Service Bureau, through which she counseled many different Greek organizations, including some men's fraternities, as well as many women's groups. Ida passed away at her home in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on May 11, 1940. In 1972, Tri Delta renamed its annual Leadership Award in her honor.
