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Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. () is a historically African American sorority, international collegiate, and non-profit community service organization that was founded on November 12, 1922, by seven educators on the Irvington campus (1875–1928) of Butler University in
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
,
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...
. It was incorporated within Indiana in November 1922 and became a national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929, when a
charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the re ...
was granted to the Alpha chapter. Sigma Gamma Rho is the only sorority of the four historically African American National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities established at a predominantly white institution instead of at Howard University. The sorority's slogan is "Greater Service, Greater Progress". The main archive URL i
The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage
Sigma Gamma Rho has over 100,000 members with more than 500 undergraduate and
alumnae Alumni (singular: alumnus (masculine) or alumna (feminine)) are former students of a school, college, or university who have either attended or graduated in some fashion from the institution. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for grou ...
chapters in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
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The Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the a ...
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Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
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Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
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South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
, U.S. Virgin Islands and the
United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (Middle East, The Middle East). It is ...
. Sigma Gamma Rho has affiliate groups for women at different stages in life: Rhosebuds (elementary-age girls), the Rhoer Club Affiliates (teenage girls), and the Philos Affiliates (friends of the sorority). It has launched programs such as Sigma Teen Towns in the 1940s and formed partnerships with the March of Dimes, USA Swimming and others. Sigma Gamma Rho has been involved in several hazing controversies.


History

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on November 12, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana, by 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. In 2004, Sigma Gamma Rho's headquarters moved from
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
, Illinois to Cary,
North Carolina North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...
. Their magazine is called ''The Aurora''.


International Grand Basileus

Listed below are the International Grand Basilei since the inception of the sorority on the campus of Butler University. An asterisk (*) denotes a deceased person. * Mary Lou Allison Gardner Little* (1922–1925; acting 1925 to 1926) * Edith Marlone Ward* (1926–1927) * Fannie O’Bannon* (1927–1931) * Edythe Roache Walker* (1931–1934) * Bertha Black Rhoda* (1934–1944) * Ethel Ross Smith* (1944–1948) * Sallie Edwards Johnson* (1948–1954) * Edna Douglas* (1954–1959) * Dr. Lorraine A. Williams* (1959–1962) * Dr. Cleo Surry Higgins* (1962–1963) * Annie Lee Whitehead Neville* (1963–1967) * Dr. Lorraine A, Williams* (1967–1971) * Dr. Annie Lawrence-Brown (1971–1976) * Evelyn Hood (1976–1980) * Dr. Alice M. Swain* (1980–1984) * Rejesta V. Perry* (1984–1988) * Dr. Katie Kinnard White (1988–1992) * Corine J. Green* (1992–1996) * Dr. LaRona J. Morris* (1996–2000) * Helen J. Owens (2000–2004) * Dr. Mynora J. Bryant (2004–2008) * Joann Loveless (2008–2012) * Bonita M. Herring (2012–2016) * Deborah Catchings-Smith (2016–2020) * Rasheeda S. Liberty (2020–present)


Hazing controversies

The ''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' wrote about two hazing incidents involving the sorority. In 2008, a pledge at
San Jose State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) ...
filed a civil suit against the sorority after being severely beaten, harassed, and threatened to keep the abuse a secret. Four sorority members were arrested and served 90 days in county jail. In 2010, at
Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and was ...
, six Sigma Gamma Rho women were arrested and charged with a felony after striking one pledge over 200 times which forced her to seek medical attention. In March 2022, the sorority was expelled from Bowling Green State University following reports of "severe hazing"; the sorority committed at least six policy violations of the BGSU Code of Student Conduct including
aggravated assault An assault is the act of committing physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in cri ...
and forcing pledges to steal alcohol and marijuana.


Notable members

*
Aisha N. Braveboy Aisha Nazapa Braveboy (born July 29, 1974) is an American politician and attorney, who represented district 25 in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2007 to 2015. In 2018, she was elected as Prince George's County State's Attorney. Background ...
- former Maryland state delegate, state's attorney for
Prince Georges County ) , demonym = Prince Georgian , ZIP codes = 20607–20774 , area codes = Area codes 240 and 301, 240, Area codes 240 and 301, 301 , founded date = April 23 , founded year = 1696 , named for = Prince George of Denmark , leader_title = E ...
* Gwen Cherry - 1st African American female to serve on the State Legislator in
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and ...
, educator, lawyer, author, Florida House Representative * Nina Turner - Former
Ohio state senator The Ohio Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly. The State Senate, which meets in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, first convened in 1803. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the ...
* Wendy Raquel Robinson - Actress, Producer and co-founder of Amazing Grace Conservatory * MC Lyte - The first solo rapper to release her own, full-length album. Actress, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist. Co Founder of the Hip Hop Sisters Foundation. * Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor - Known professionally by her mononym Fantasia, is an American R&B singer and actress. She rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. *
Deshauna Barber Deshauna Barber (born December 6, 1989) is an American beauty pageant titleholder, motivational speaker, and captain in the United States Army Reserve. On June 5, 2016, she was crowned Miss USA 2016 by outgoing titleholder Olivia Jordan of Oklah ...
-Miss USA 2016 * Nichole "Nicci" Gilbert- R&B Singer, Founding Member of Brownstone * Arin Jackson- R&B Singer, Member of Brownstone * Teisha Brown- R&B Singer, Member of Brownstone * Marsha Ambrosius- English R&B Singer and Songwriter * Ezinma- Violinist, Model, Music Educator and Film composer * Kelly Price- 9x Grammy nominated R&B and gospel singer *
Maranda Curtis Maranda Curtis (born August 4, 1979) is an American gospel singer and praise and worship leader formerly with The Potter's House Church, Dallas. Her music has garnered her several nominations from the Stellar Awards and the Dove Awards. She was ...
- Gospel Singer and Praise and Worship Leader * Alexis Jones- Grammy Nominated Singer and Actress * Tonya Edwards- Retired Professional Basketball Player and current assistant coach of the Chicago Sky * Barbara Lee- U.S. representative for California's 13th congressional district, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and vice chair and a founding member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. *
Rebecca Roberts Rebecca Boggs Roberts (born 1970) is the Curator of Programming at Planet Word, and was formerly an American journalist. She was one of the hosts of POTUS '08 on XM Radio, which offered live daily coverage of the 2008 presidential election. She ...
- Curator of Programming at Planet Word, and was formerly an American journalist. * Hattie McDaniel- American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian. The first African American to win an Oscar * Jekalyn Carr- Gospel Singer, speaker, entrepreneur, actress, and author. * Robin Kelly- American politician from Illinois who has served as the U.S. representative from Illinois's 2nd congressional district * Lisa Price- Founder of
Carol's Daughter Carol's Daughter is an American multi-cultural beauty brand headquartered in New York City. Its founder and president, Lisa Price, established the brand in 1993 in Brooklyn, New York City. The brand was named after Lisa Price's mother, Carol. T ...
multi-cultural beauty brand. * Georgia Davis Powers-American politician who served for 21 years as a state senator in the Kentucky Senate * Carmelita Jeter- retired American sprinter, known as the Fastest Woman Alive, who competed in the 60 metres, 100 m and 200 m. he is also a three-time Olympic medallist. * Hydeia Broadbent- United-States-based HIV/AIDS activist *
Carolyn Tyler Guidry Carolyn Tyler-Guidry, a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was the first woman appointed to be a presiding elder in the Fifth Episcopal District of the AME Church and the second woman to become a bishop in the denomination. Biograph ...
- bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was the first woman appointed to be a presiding elder in the Fifth Episcopal District of the AME Church and the second woman to become a bishop in the denomination. * Marilyn McCoo- Singer, Actress, and Television Presenter * Maritza Correia- the first African-American woman to make the U.S. Olympic swim team and medal * Gwen Cherry- the 1st black woman to serve in the Florida state congress. 1st black woman to practice law in Dade County, FL * Vanessa Bell Armstrong- Four-time Grammy-nominated gospel Singer * Maysa Leak- Jazz singer. Known for solo work and work with the band Incognito *
Sandra Bland Sandra Annette Bland was a 28-year-old African-American woman who was found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas, on , 2015, three days after being arrested during a traffic stop. Her death was ruled a suicide. It was followed by protest ...
- Activist. Her death following a traffic stop invigorated the Black Lives Matter movement. * Renee Powell- A PGA Hall of Fame golfer. 2nd black woman to compete on the LPGA Tour. 1st woman of color elected to the membership in the PGA of America in 1996. *
Alice Allison Dunnigan Alice Allison Dunnigan (April 27, 1906 – May 6, 1983) was an American journalist, civil rights activist and author.James, p. 183. Dunnigan was the first African-American female correspondent to receive White House credentials,Disney series. * Lindy Boggs- 1st woman from Louisiana elected to Congress in 1973. 1st woman to chair the Democratic National Convention * Mary T. Washington- 1st African-American CPA * Dame Mary Eugenia Charles- 1st woman to hold the position of Prime minister of Dominica (1980-1995) *
Anna Maria Horsford Anna Maria Horsford is an American actress, known for her performances in television comedies. Horsford is best known for her roles as Thelma Frye on the NBC sitcom ''Amen'' (1986–91), and as Dee Baxter on the WB sitcom ''The Wayans Bros.'' (1 ...
- Actress *
Ellia English Ellia English is an American singer, dancer, stage and film actress. She is best known for her role as Aunt Helen King on the comedy sitcom ''The Jamie Foxx Show'' which originally ran from 1996 to 2001, where she was featured in a central role a ...
- singer, dancer, stage and film actress.


References


External links

* {{Authority control National Pan-Hellenic Council Student societies in the United States African-American fraternities and sororities International student societies Fraternities and sororities in the United States Women's rights organizations 1922 establishments in Indiana Student organizations established in 1922