National History

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded November 12, 1922 at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN by seven women. They are: Nannie Mae Johnson, Mary Lou Gardner Little, Vivian White Marbury, Bessie Martin, Cubena McClure, Hattie Mae Dulin Redford and Dorothy Hanley Whiteside. It became incorporated December 30, 1929. Before this time, the first call for a national meeting (boule) was held in Indianapolis at which Mary Lou Little became the first grand Basileus.

The sorority pledge was written by Mary Lou Little. The pin was designed by Cubena McClure. The slogan, Greater Service, Greater Progress was written by Bertha Black Rhoda who was a past grand basileus. The Sorority song was written by members of the Delta Chapter and has been set to music by Zenobia Laws Bailey of Chicago. The Aurora Club ceremony was written by Ruth Cooper Armstrong. Fannie O'Bannon designed the sorority coat of arms. The flower is the yellow tea rose and its colors are royal blue and antique gold.

Sigma Gamma Rho supports the following : NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, and the National Panhellenic Council just to name a few. It also supports Project Africa in conjunction with Africare that provides African women with agricultural assistance; the Vocational Guidance and Workshop Center of New York City which gives GED preparation, career counseling and tutorial service.

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