Sigma Sigma Sigma Collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
Longwood University
Archives and Special Collections
Greenwood Library
Longwood University
401 Redford Street
Farmville, VA 23909
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (434) 395-2432
Fax: (434) 395-2453
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions to access or use for research purposes

Summary

Extent:
26 Linear Feet (26 containers)
Language:
English .

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes scrapbooks, composites, photographs, records, and plaques related to Longwood University's Alpha Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma. Items in the collection commemorate chapter events, governance, social life and general activity of the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Biographical / historical:

Sigma Sigma Sigma, also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women's sorority and is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). Founded on April 20, 1898 by Margaret Batten, Louise Davis, Martha Trent Featherston, Isabella Merrick, Sallie Michie, Lelia Scott, Elizabeth Watkins, and Lucy Wright at State Female Normal School in Farmville (now Longwood University). The organization established a charter of incorporation in 1903 and adopted a constitution in the same year. As the organization began to grow and add chapters, Sigma Sigma Sigma along with Alpha Sigma Alpha founded the Association of Education Sororities (AES) in 1915, to serve as a national organization for sororities at teacher training institutions. After the dissolution of the AES, and Longwood's change in status from a teacher's college to a liberal arts college in 1949, Tri Sigma joined NPC in 1951. In 1954, Tri Sigma established the Robbie Page Memorial as its official philanthropy, the organization now supports play therapy for hospitalized children, libraries, and programs for children undergoing long-term hospitalization. Sigma Sigma Sigma's Alpha chapter was the second sorority to be founded at Longwood and is the only one to be continuously active on campus since its founding.

Custodial history:

The materials in this collection were donated by the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma to Greenwood Library in November 2022.

Processing information:

Due to the condition of some of the scrapbooks when donated several from the 50s, 60s and 70s were dis-bound and pages removed and placed in polyester sleeves. Scrapbooks with loose pages were numbered, and while every effort was made to keep pages in original order, several books already had pages out of place and while some effort was made to return pages to their original locations some may be out of order or missing. Fragile or dis-bound scrapbooks have been placed in phase boxes made of folder stock.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard