Alpha Sigma Alpha was founded on November 15, 1901 by five women at the Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia, which was also the first institution of higher learning in Virginia to admit women. Within this group of students existed five intelligent and highly motivated women: Virginia Boyd Noell, Juliette Hundley Gilliam, Calva Watson Wootton, Louise Cox Carper, and Mary Williamson Hundley. These women had become the best of friends. They all rushed and had been offered bids from other sororities; however, accepting these bids would mean they would not all be sorority sisters.

In November of 1901, the founders organized a new sorority, which was named Alpha Sigma Alpha. The charter, complete with all five of their signatures, stated: "The purpose of the association shall be to cultivate friendship among its members, and in every way to create pure and elevating sentiments, to perform such deeds and to mould such opinions as will tend to elevate and ennoble womanhood in the world.”

In the earliest years, Alpha Sigma Alpha had instated thirteen chapters. In 1913, however, they turned to Ida Shaw Martin, who was the founder and a former president of the Delta Delta Delta chapter, for assistance in reorganization. The sorority took Ms. Martin’s advice and contacted Phi Alpha Tau, from Miami University of Ohio. In May of 1913, Phi Alpha Tau was installed as a chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha and Ida Shaw Martin was given national membership.

Over Thanksgiving weekend in 1914, with the interest of two more local educational institutions, Alpha Sigma Alpha held its first Convention. The convention was attended by delegates of the four remaining chapters after reorganization. In this weekend, a constitution was developed, a more elaborate ritual formed, and minor changes to customs and symbols made. A publication, The Phoenix, was also developed. For many years, The Phoenix served as a medium to connect all of the chapters. Ida Shaw Martin, who had also been elected as national president, was the editor. It read like a letter to family members, and Martin gave excellent advice to the chapters. In fact, although modified to keep up with the changing times, The Phoenix is still in publication today.

The years from 1914 to 1930 were some of the most developmental ones for Alpha Sigma Alpha. Under the leadership and dedication of Mrs. Martin and of other Alpha Sigma Alphas serving as national officers, the sorority grew very successfully. In 1930 the sorority was firmly re-established and Wilma Wilson Sharp, one of Ida Shaw Martin’s own initiates, was elected to national president at the 1930 National Convention in Boston, Mass. Ms. Sharp earned the title of “President Emerita” by serving as national president for 17 years and a total of 35 years as a national officer. Wilma Wilson Sharp led the sorority even further by writing our creed, binding our ritual to book form, and developing a newer, more improved constitution. She also dedicated a memorial to the founders at Longwood College and declared November 15 as Founders’ Day.

Until 1947 Alpha Sigma Alpha was a member of the Association of Educational Sororities (AES), which only established chapters on campuses of teaching schools. Once these schools evolved and began issuing Liberal Arts degrees, sororities of NPC (National PanHellenic Conference) could establish on any campus; however, AES members were still limited. After thorough examination, it was resolved that the “social” and “educational” sororities had identical purposes and activities; therefore, in 1947 Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma Sigma Sigma initiated the vote to dissolve the AES and become members of NPC. Alpha Sigma Alpha petitioned for admittance to the NPC in September 1947 and was accepted on November 12, 1947.

Since 1947, Alpha Sigma Alpha has made several developments and has conquered many milestones. In 1958 it was decided that aid to the mentally retarded would be the sorority’s philanthropic focus. In 1976, the Special Olympics were chosen as the national philanthropy. A second philanthropy, the S. June Smith Center, was added in 1990. The center, based in Lancaster, PA and named after Kappa Kappa chapter member Dr. S. June Smith, provides aid to infants and children with developmental disabilities. The Philanthropic Fund, which was a originally used to give grants, was transformed into the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation in 1990s and is now used to fund all Alpha Sigma Alpha scholarships. Leadership development and training were a huge focus during the 1960s. The traveling secretary, or what is known as the Leadership Consultant program today, was established. For one year, recent graduates were sent to from chapter to chapter to observe and assist in chapter operations. In 1989, the first Emma Coleman Frost Leadership Development Institute was held at Penn State. Currently, four institutes are held regionally every other year (with national convention occurring on the years in between). In 1999, Alpha Sigma Alpha instated our newest leadership training opportunity, Officer Academy. Each year, a specific officer position from each chapter will be invited to attend a rigorous training in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first year started with the Vice President of Programming and Ritual.