Mary Lou Allison Gardener Little
Primary
founder, Grand Basileus 1925 - 1926
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Little was raised by her family friend because both of her
parents were killed when she was three. She graduated from Shortridge High
School in 1915 and received a diploma from the Indianapolis Normal school
in 1918 when she began teaching. In 1928, Little moved to Los Angeles with her
husband and finished her undergraduate training in UCLA. She taught
in the Los Angeles school system until her retirement in 1967. The Mary Lou
Allison Loving Cup Award is presented at each Boule to the chapter reporting the
most successful program.
Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson
Founder
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Johnson was a product of the Indianapolis Public School System
and received both B.S. and M.S. degrees from Butler University. In 1923, she
received her first teaching assignment and over the years she was promoted to
principal of one of the largest elementary schools in Indianapolis. She was also
very involved with many clubs and organizations dedicated to community service
and retired in 1966.
Hattie Mae Annette Dulin Redford
Founder
b. Greenville, Kentucky
Redford graduated from South Bend Central High School cum laude,
from Indiana State Teachers College with a B.S., and studied at Western Reserve in Cleveland
and Indiana University Extension. She taught one year in Terra Haute, and
thirty-seven years in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was Grand Epistoleus, Grand
Tamiochus, Financial Consultant and received various awards and honors for the
sorority. Plaques are awarded in Redford's name at each Boule for exhibits for
chapter achievements.
Bessie Mae Downey Rhodes Martin
Founder
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Martin was the youngest of he six children and
attended grade school in Indianapolis. She graduated from the Manual training
High School and the City Teachers Normal. Martin taught school for over 25
years. She married twice and was a devoted wife and hard worker in school and
the Sorority.
Dorthy Hanley Whiteside
Founder
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Whiteside graduated from Shortridge High School and entered the
Indianapolis Normal School. In 1922, when in training as a cadet teacher she met
the teachers who became her best friends and Founders of the Sorority. She
taught school until 1951 when she retired and later helped her husband to
develop a business. She also started her own millinery business and worked with
her church and various organizations. After the death of her husband, she ran
their business from 1955-1957 and returned to teaching in 1959 where she
remained until her retirement in 1970.
Cubena McClure
Founder
McClure graduated from Shortridge High School, the Indianapolis City Normal School
and attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She won the Gregg
Scholarship which she planned to use to attend Columbia University, but due to illness she
could not accept the scholarship. McClure was talented in art and she helped to
design the Sorority pin. She died very young on August 24, 1924.
Vivian White Marbury
Founder
b. Oxford, Ohio
Marbury attended Shortridge High School and the Indianapolis Normal
School. She received a B.S. from Butler University and a Master's from Columbia
University in New York City. Her professional career included teaching at
Morehouse College in Atlanta, Director of Practice Training of teachers from
Butler University, Indianapolis University and Indianapolis State University.
She taught in the Indianapolis school system for nine years. Marbury organized
system for nine years. Marbury organized Public School 87 which grew from a 4
room portable school to 18 rooms and 24 teachers, where she was principal for 39
years until her retirement in 1967. She married in 1929 and is the mother of two
children.
Primary
founder, Grand Basileus 1925 - 1926
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Little was raised by her family friend because both of her
parents were killed when she was three. She graduated from Shortridge High
School in 1915 and received a diploma from the Indianapolis Normal school
in 1918 when she began teaching. In 1928, Little moved to Los Angeles with her
husband and finished her undergraduate training in UCLA. She taught
in the Los Angeles school system until her retirement in 1967. The Mary Lou
Allison Loving Cup Award is presented at each Boule to the chapter reporting the
most successful program.
Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson
Founder
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Johnson was a product of the Indianapolis Public School System
and received both B.S. and M.S. degrees from Butler University. In 1923, she
received her first teaching assignment and over the years she was promoted to
principal of one of the largest elementary schools in Indianapolis. She was also
very involved with many clubs and organizations dedicated to community service
and retired in 1966.
Hattie Mae Annette Dulin Redford
Founder
b. Greenville, Kentucky
Redford graduated from South Bend Central High School cum laude,
from Indiana State Teachers College with a B.S., and studied at Western Reserve in Cleveland
and Indiana University Extension. She taught one year in Terra Haute, and
thirty-seven years in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was Grand Epistoleus, Grand
Tamiochus, Financial Consultant and received various awards and honors for the
sorority. Plaques are awarded in Redford's name at each Boule for exhibits for
chapter achievements.
Bessie Mae Downey Rhodes Martin
Founder
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Martin was the youngest of he six children and
attended grade school in Indianapolis. She graduated from the Manual training
High School and the City Teachers Normal. Martin taught school for over 25
years. She married twice and was a devoted wife and hard worker in school and
the Sorority.
Dorthy Hanley Whiteside
Founder
b. Indianapolis, Indiana
Whiteside graduated from Shortridge High School and entered the
Indianapolis Normal School. In 1922, when in training as a cadet teacher she met
the teachers who became her best friends and Founders of the Sorority. She
taught school until 1951 when she retired and later helped her husband to
develop a business. She also started her own millinery business and worked with
her church and various organizations. After the death of her husband, she ran
their business from 1955-1957 and returned to teaching in 1959 where she
remained until her retirement in 1970.
Cubena McClure
Founder
McClure graduated from Shortridge High School, the Indianapolis City Normal School
and attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She won the Gregg
Scholarship which she planned to use to attend Columbia University, but due to illness she
could not accept the scholarship. McClure was talented in art and she helped to
design the Sorority pin. She died very young on August 24, 1924.
Vivian White Marbury
Founder
b. Oxford, Ohio
Marbury attended Shortridge High School and the Indianapolis Normal
School. She received a B.S. from Butler University and a Master's from Columbia
University in New York City. Her professional career included teaching at
Morehouse College in Atlanta, Director of Practice Training of teachers from
Butler University, Indianapolis University and Indianapolis State University.
She taught in the Indianapolis school system for nine years. Marbury organized
system for nine years. Marbury organized Public School 87 which grew from a 4
room portable school to 18 rooms and 24 teachers, where she was principal for 39
years until her retirement in 1967. She married in 1929 and is the mother of two
children.
The group became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929, when a charter was granted ALPHA chapter at Butler University. The first three years were devoted to organizing and even after 77 years of existence, more than 400 undergraduate and graduate chapters have been established throughout the country, with over 75,000 members internationally.
Our beloved founders believed that self-respect, knowledge, and discipline gained through study would help individuals to recognize their duty and responsibility for their society. Thus, Sigma Gamma Rho was founded on the precept of education and continues to promote and encourage high scholastic attainment.
Sigma Gamma Rho's aim is to enhance the quality of life within the community. Public service, leadership development, and education of youth are the hallmark of the organization's programs and activities. Sigma Gamma Rho addresses concerns that impact society educationally, civically, and economically. As a result, Sigma Gamma Rho, a leading national service organization, has met the challenges of the day and
continues to grow through Sisterhood, Service, and Scholarship.
Our beloved founders believed that self-respect, knowledge, and discipline gained through study would help individuals to recognize their duty and responsibility for their society. Thus, Sigma Gamma Rho was founded on the precept of education and continues to promote and encourage high scholastic attainment.
Sigma Gamma Rho's aim is to enhance the quality of life within the community. Public service, leadership development, and education of youth are the hallmark of the organization's programs and activities. Sigma Gamma Rho addresses concerns that impact society educationally, civically, and economically. As a result, Sigma Gamma Rho, a leading national service organization, has met the challenges of the day and
continues to grow through Sisterhood, Service, and Scholarship.