Western Region History
The Western Region was established in December 1952 at the Boule in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to this, the Western Region was part of the Southwest Region. From 1952 – 1961, the Western Region was called the Far West Region. It wasn’t until the 27th Boule in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that the name was changed to what it is today.
Soror Leslie B. Crossland, the founding pioneer behind the Western Region, served as the first Western Region Syntaktes from 1952-1959. In July 1953, the first Western Region Conference was held in Phoenix, Arizona. Beta Mu Sigma was the host chapter.
The Western Region is currently comprised of the following areas: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Western Region First
The first Founders’ Day Program held in the Western Region was in 1940.
The Western Region hosted the Boule for the first time in 1951 from August 16-18. Sigma Sigma and Alpha Nu were the host chapters
Soror Leslie B. Crossland was the first Western Region Syntaktes from 1952-1959
The first Regional Conference held in the Western Region was in July 1953 in Phoenix, Arizona. Beta Mu Sigma was the host chapter
Soror Rubye Peake (Hall) charted the first chapter in the Western Region
Kappa Chapter was the first undergraduate chapter chartered in the Western Region
Soror Emily Johnson of Sigma Sigma Chapter hosted the first series of Area Meetings in the Western Region
Soror Evelyn Draper served as Campus Coordinator from 1956-1957. This position is now known as the Undergraduate Chapter Coordinator (UCC)
Beta Pi Chapter was founded in December of 1952 at what was then called Arizona Teachers College, now Arizona State University. This made Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority Inc. the first African American Sorority to ever be chartered in the State of Arizona
Western Region Founding
The Western Region was originally part of the Southwest Region
The Western Region gained regional recognition in 1946
The Western Region was established in December 1952 at the Boule in Cleveland, Ohio
Soror Leslie Crossland was the founding pioneer behind the Western Region
Soror Sallie Parham Edwards was Grand Basileus when the Western Region was established
Naming of the Western Region
The Western Region was originally called the Far West Region
The name of the Western Region was changed from the Far West n 1961 at the 27th Boule in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dr. Lorraine A. Williams was Grand Basileus when the Western Region’s name was changed to what it is today