Virgin Islands, Canada, Germany, and Korea. By 2020, the sorority had more than 85,000 members representing over 500 chapters throughout the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, the U.S. Eight years later in 1937, the organization joined the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) (also known as the “Divine Nine ”), a collaborative umbrella group composed of historically Black Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities.Īs the decades progressed, Sigma Gamma Rho’s membership grew. On December 30, 1929, Sigma Gamma Rho became an incorporated national collegiate sorority with a charter to the Alpha Chapter at Butler University. One of these groups, the Alpha Sigma Chapter, organized to serve alumnae in Indianapolis. The first alumnae chapters, meanwhile, formed in 1929. For the next several years, the sorority committed itself to establish new undergraduate chapters throughout the country, especially at Black colleges and universities.

Sigma Gamma Rho’s first national convention (known as a “boule”) took place December 27-29, 1925, in Indianapolis. While originally composed solely of teachers, membership expanded to encompass all Black women interested in higher education as well as community service. This work included the establishment of the group’s organizational structure, symbols, and goals.

Sigma Gamma Rho devoted its first three years to organizing.

Sigma gamma rho sorority symbols