Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated was established on November 12, 1922, at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, by seven African American women: Mary Lou Allison Gardner Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian Irene White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Annette Dulin Redford, Bessie Mae Downey Rhoades Martin, and Cubena McClure. The foundation of the sorority was a testament to resilience amid prevailing racism, symbolized by the Indiana Ku Klux Klan and Grand Dragon, D.C. Stephenson, who resided adjacent to Butler University. The founders actively challenged prevailing stereotypes that belittled the intellectual, cultural, and moral standing of African Americans. Initially established as a sorority for teachers, its members vehemently opposed racism and endeavored to promote education, community, and social justice.

On December 30, 1929, the Alpha chapter at Butler University obtained its charter, officially recognizing Sigma Gamma Rho as a national collegiate sorority. Today, the sorority proudly encompasses a membership of over 100,000 collegiate and professional women who represent diverse vocations, spanning over 500 chapters in the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Ghana, Germany, Japan, South Korea, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United Arab Emirates. Our motto, “Greater Service, Greater Progress,” encapsulates our dedication to constructive and proactive community engagement both at a national and international level.