Making history
Among the students in the fall term of 1901 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, VA, were five women who had become very good friends. Attractive, vivacious and intelligent, each woman had been extended invitations to member...
1901
Fall
Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority founded
On Nov. 15, 1901, a new sorority was organized and named Alpha Sigma Alpha. As stated in the charter, “The purpose of the association shall be to cultivate friendship among its members, and in every way to create pure and […]...
1901
Nov
15
First anniversary
On Nov.15, 1902, the five Founders of the Sorority, all wearing Alpha Sigma Alpha’s first membership badge, announced to the campus that a new sorority had been organized....
1902
Nov
15
First step to expansion
On Feb. 13, 1903, Alpha Sigma Alpha was chartered in the Circuit Court of Prince Edward County, VA, by Juliette Jefferson Hundley (Gilliam)’s father Judge George Jefferson Hundley. The Sorority was chartered to legalize its existence...
1903
Feb
13
Continuing to grow
The third initiation was held March 20, 1903, for Grace Wilson Bosworth and Katherine Earle Boyd, cousin of Virginia Boyd Noell. The fourth initiation occurred May 11, 1903, for Mary Elizabeth Moore....
1903
Mar
20
Anti-Sorority sentiment
With its first national council, Alpha Sigma Alpha set out to continue its course of national expansion. However, efforts for expansion were not without difficulties. Anti-sorority sentiment and legislation were beginning to flourish i...
1905
Fall
Sorority becomes professional
Alpha Sigma Alpha becomes a professional sorority within the field of education....
1911
Chapter roll diminishing
Although Alpha Sigma Alpha installed 13 chapters in those early years, by 1912 it had diminished to four chapters and had lost all national leadership. Three chapters were released to other sororities, and by 1913 Alpha Chapter was the...
1912
Sorority turns to Ida Shaw Martin
Under the leadership of Chapter President Dorothy Batten, A, Alpha Chapter turned to Ida Shaw Martin, author of the well-known and respected Sorority Handbook, for assistance. Mrs. Martin, a member of Delta Delta Delta Fraternity, had ...
1912
Fall
Ida Shaw Martin becomes honorary member
Ida Shaw Martin was designated as an honorary member of Alpha Sigma Alpha. With her assistance, Alpha Sigma Alpha focused on expanding to teachers colleges and colleges of education within universities, and contacted every local sorori...
1913
May