Soror Florence Letcher Toms

Soror Florence Letcher Toms was an enthusiastic participant in many civil rights organizations. Her involvement in a community project in 1945 led to her presenting First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the audience of parents at John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church. Soror Toms is that U.S. President William H. Taft presented the diplomas to her high school graduating class, and also presented her a scholarship award to Howard University.

She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Family Welfare Association and the Federation of Parent Teachers Associations. She served as an Assistant Principal of the Garnet-Patterson Junior High School in Washington, D.C.

A myth has grown up around the fact that Soror Toms was a collector of elephants. Soror Toms' collection of several hundred elephants was given to the Sorority, and is housed in the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  Many sorors do collect elephants in the honor of Soror Toms.

DST History