Our Sorority

Foundation & History

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on November 12, 1922, at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, by seven young educators united by a shared commitment to scholarship, sisterhood, and service. The sorority emerged during an era in which African American women faced significant barriers to higher education and professional advancement, shaping its enduring mission of academic excellence and community uplift.

The sorority’s esteemed founders are:

  • 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.

National Expansion

On December 30, 1929, Sigma Gamma Rho was incorporated as a national collegiate sorority, marking an important milestone in the organization’s growth and development. This achievement strengthened the sorority’s foundation, supported its continued expansion, and further strengthened its standing among historically Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs). In 1937, Sigma Gamma Rho joined the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), becoming one of the historically Black Greek-letter organizations collectively known today as the Divine Nine.

A Global Sisterhood

Since its founding in 1922, Sigma Gamma Rho has grown from a small group of seven educators into an international organization of more than 100,000 collegiate and professional women, representing a broad spectrum of professions and disciplines. Today, the sorority maintains more than 500 chapters across the United States and internationally, including the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Ghana, Germany, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United Arab Emirates.

In addition to its chapters, Sigma Gamma Rho sustains affiliate organizations that support and advance the sorority’s mission and vision. These include:

  • The Rhoer Club, through leadership development, service, and educational enrichment;
  • Philos Affiliates, friends of the sorority who assist alumnae chapters in advancing community service initiatives and programming; and
  • The Rhosebud Club, which nurtures the growth and development of girls ages 8 to 11, helping them become well-rounded young ladies, successful students, and productive citizens.

Greater Service, Greater Progress

Our Sorority