The Secret Society of The
S.S.S Club
In the 1890s, the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia (now known as Longwood University) was the state’s first institution to open its doors to teacher education, at a time when higher education for women was a highly debated topic. Eight students, Margaret Batten, Louise Davis, Martha Trent Featherston, Isabella Merrick, Sallie Michie, Lelia Scott, Elizabeth Watkins, and Lucy Wright formed a special bond while studying for their future teaching careers. Lelia Scott and Lucy Wright led the first meetings of their secret society, the S.S.S. Club, in 1897. On April 20, 1898, these women officially announced the founding of the Greek letter society known as Sigma Sigma Sigma.
In its first decade, Tri Sigma recognized the need for both legal recognition as a social body and a written record of organization. Therefore, they filed documents with the Commonwealth of Virginia and received their Charter of Incorporation on February 12, 1903. Tri Sigma's first constitution was adopted by its first chapter, the Alpha Chapter, in April 1903.
Psi Chapter here at Marshall University was founded on March 17th, 1922, and it was the first sorority on Marshall's campus. Psi chapter obtained it's house in 1924. It was damaged and rebuilt due to a fire in the 1960's and is now located at 1639 6th Ave.
SYMBOLS
The Crest of Sigma Sigma Sigma with our motto "Faithful unto Death" written in Latin
The triangle badge with its indented border set in pearls with a Sigma in each corner of the triangle and the skull and crossed bones in the center, is the symbol of the Triangle Degree.
Tri Sigma's sailboat symbolizes continual forward motion, never moving backward, but progressing towards its destination
This symbol has remained the official flower since the founding of Sigma Sigma Sigma.
Colors: Royal Purple and White
Jewel: Pearl
Magazine: The Triangle
Motto: "Faithful unto Death"
Symbol: Skull and Crossbones
