On Thursday, 5 October 1922, the Indiana Secretary of State approved the application from six nursing students at the Indiana University Training School for Nurses to form Sigma Theta Tau, a nursing honor society. Sigma Theta Tau’s six founders were Elizabeth Russell Belford, Edith Moore Copeland, Marie Hippensteel Lingeman, Dorothy Garrigus Adams, Elizabeth McWilliams Miller, and Mary Tolle Wright, all aided by their teacher and director, Ethel Palmer Clarke.

On Wednesday, 5 October 2022, we officially celebrate Sigma's 100th anniversary. While a lot has changed over the past 100 years in nursing, healthcare, and the world, Sigma's values remain: love, courage, and honor. Follow along as we celebrate 100 years of Sigma!

Architects of audacity

Featuring Sigma President Ken Dion
As we forge ahead into Sigma’s next 100 years, the organization remains values driven, dedicated to excellence, and intentionally global. Our members are leading anywhere and everywhere. And together, we are embracing a world of constant change. What does the future hold? I can’t say. But I know this: you have an important role to play. Read more »

A look back | Sigma's time capsule

In 1997 at Sigma’s 75th anniversary convention, Sigma leaders sealed a time capsule to be opened in 2022 for Sigma's 100thanniversary. Just days ago, Sigma leaders opened the time capsule. View a glimpse of Sigma's history »

Celebrating 100 years | Love, courage, and honor

These values that Sigma was founded on 100 years ago are the values we see our members uphold every day. We look forward to continuing this legacy with you for centuries to come. Watch now »

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Chapter leaders—view additional resources to help engage your membership in celebration of #Sigma100!

Happy Anniversary from Sigma leadership

Sigma's 2021-2023 Board of Directors would like to wish all Sigma members a Happy 100th Anniversary! Watch now »

100balloons

Episode 7 | A founding friend

A chance encounter at a biennial convention leads to an unexpectedly deep friendship between Nancy Thompson and one of the women who gave life to Sigma 100 years ago. Listen now »

Since 1922 | Thank you for being a Sigma nurse!

Since 1922, Sigma nurses like you have made nursing excellence possible. Thank you for being a Sigma nurse! Watch now »

Did you know?

Sigma awarded its first research grant at convention in 1936 to Alice Crist Malone in the amount of US $600. This was also the first nursing research grant given to an individual in the United States.

Sigma continues to support nursing research by awarding more than 20 research grants each year. These grants are made possible through donations to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Donate today! »

Chapter leaders, help us reach our 100th anniversary goal!

To celebrate Sigma's 100th year, we invite chapters to help us achieve our goal of inducting 2,022 nurse leaders between 1 January and 31 December 2022.

In addition to the overall goal, we ask chapters to create a goal of increasing their inducted nurse leaders by 22% over last year during the same time frame. Learn more »