Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau

Sigma Theta Tau Founders' Day - October 5, 1922
by Becky Edwards, Epsilon Omega Chapter

October 5 is the day that all Sigma Theta Tau chapters pay tribute to our six founders: Mary Tolle Wright, Edith Moore Copeland, Marie Hippensteel Lingeman, Dorothy Garrigus Adams, Elizabeth Russell Belford, and Elizabeth McWilliams Miller. During the early 1920s, these young women attended the Indiana University Training School for Nursing, and with the assistance of Ethel Palmer Clarke, Director of the training school, they founded Sigma Theta Tau. After graduation our founders went their separate ways, but each continued to practice nursing and demonstrate the qualities inherent in the nursing honor society they formed.

As I reflect on our founders and the events that led up to the founding of Sigma Theta Tau several questions surface repeatedly.
Why did these young nursing students from the Indiana University Training School for Nurses in Indianapolis decide to embark in organizing a group of nurses? Perhaps they asked themselves questions like:

"How can we make nursing more visible?"
"How can nursing have more influence on the care of patients?"
"How can nursing make a difference in providing better care?"

What events or situations sparked their interest or desire to ban together as they did? Did they see their patients suffer needlessly and believe that nursing should have made a difference? Perhaps they asked the question, "What can be done to advance the practice of nursing?"
How did these students initially get together to discuss the formation of a nursing organization, and what was their vision for the organization they were forming? What were their first meetings like? Was it late at night in their dorms using only candlelight to carve out the goals of the organization, or were these meetings more formally organized? Did they assemble around a table with meticulous notes to chart the path of Sigma Theta Tau?

We may never know the answers to these questions, but one thing is obvious. Our young founders firmly believed that leadership, scholarship, and excellent nursing practice are essential elements to be woven throughout the organization's roots. I also am certain that these young nursing students had no idea of the impact the organization would have on the nursing profession. In our founders' wildest dreams they could not have envisioned that the organization they were molding would grow to the level and prestige that it is today.

Epsilon Omega Chapter - April 4, 1982

The Capstone College of Nursing identified the need for a Sigma Theta Tau chapter soon after receiving initial accreditation by the National League for Nursing in 1979. The desire and commitment for an honor society at the College parallels in many ways to the formative years of Sigma Theta Tau.

Excerpts below from the History of the Capstone College of Nursing Honor Society, compiled by Pat Boothe, Elizabeth Ann Cleino, Anita Lord, Maxine Walker, and Judith Wilson, highlight the early years that lead to the establishment of Epsilon Omega Chapter.

"Following the accreditation by the National League for Nursing of the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama the faculty frequently discussed the need for a nursing honor society and the possibility of becoming a new chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society of Nursing. Also, students of nursing identified a desire to have a mechanism to recognize superior scholastic achievement. But it wasn't until early spring 1979, when Dr. Kathryn Crossland, new dean of the nursing division, encouraged the students and faculty to begin directing their actions toward their goal, that movement began. At this time, Dr. Crossland met with Mrs. Joyce Mason, one of the nursing faculty who had previously participated in the formation of a nursing honor society at another school of nursing...."

"Mrs. Mason agreed to provide leadership during the early development phase of the project.... Four faculty, all members of Sigma Theta Tau, immediately indicated their desire to help...." Faculty volunteers included Ms. Susan Hall, Ms. Anita Lord, Ms. Barbara Lowery, and Dr. Margaret Singleton. "Then Mrs. Mason discussed the project with the nursing contingent of the Student Government Association. The students were delighted to hear of the plans and five students were selected for membership on the Steering Committee, 3 seniors and 2 juniors...." Students included Mrs. Selinda Byrd, Ms. Pamela Currie, Ms. Cathy Dunkin, Ms. Mary Harper and Ms. Zoe Ingalls. "Finally certain nursing leaders in the community were invited to be members of the Steering Committee...." Community leaders providing support and guidance were Dr. Elizabeth Ann Cleino, Ms. Harriet Dohrman, Dr. Florence Hixson, Mrs. Lillian Laggan, and Mrs. Maxine Walker.

"The Steering Committee met April 25, 1979. The purpose of the meeting was to review the guidelines for establishing a local honor society. Mrs. Joyce Mason and Mrs. Selinda Byrd were elected co-chairman and Ms. Pam Currie was elected secretary of the committee. Goals were identified which included 1) writing of bylaws, 2) developing a process for selection of members, 3) obtaining recognition within the academic framework, 4) electing officers, 5) planning induction ceremony and 6) completing application for charter in national nursing honor society...."

Meetings over the next several months led to the official approval of the bylaws, membership criteria and selection process. "The fifth meeting of the Steering Committee was held on October 30, for the purpose of voting on candidates for honor society membership. A letter of invitation was sent to 64, and 60 accepted...."

"The first induction of charter members of the Capstone College of Nursing Honor Society was held November 18, 1979.... The guest speaker for the afternoon was Dr. Kathryn Crossland, Dean, Capstone College of Nursing.... Dr. Crossland spoke about the responsibilities of members of honor societies to maintain, transmit, and expand man's knowledge and values to the betterment of humanity."

The second induction of members took place April 8, 1980. Anita Lord, president, presided over the event with Ms. Barbara Lowery, Ms. Benita Witherspoon and Ms. Judy Franklin assisting in the induction of 33 new candidates. Ms. Dorothy Scarbrough, MSN, Director of Reality Orientation Program at Tuscaloosa Veterans' Administration Medical Center, was the keynote speaker and Ms. Zoe Ingalls received the honor society's first award for outstanding academic achievement.

Year three of the Capstone College of Nursing Honor Society saw the induction of 26 new members and plans for application for membership in the national nursing honor society. During the formative years of the honor society support from both within and outside the organization had been high. One hundred and twenty candidates had accepted membership into the honor society, compliance with Sigma Theta Tau guidelines were finalized, and an official evaluation visit by Ms. Virginia George, Sigma Theta Tau national representative, was scheduled for April, 1981. At this meeting the first historical document entitled History of the Capstone College of Nursing Honor Society, from which these excerpts were taken, was presented to Ms. George as part of the application process. The document concludes with the following statement:

"As we await the official visit by Ms. Virginia George, national representative of Sigma Theta Tau on April 6, 1981, our breaths are held, our fingers crossed and our hopes high that we will move one step closer to meeting our long sought goal."

I wonder if our six founders shared these same feelings as they awaited the news of their efforts to establish the first honor society for nursing. Perhaps they waited each day for the mail to bring them the good news, or maybe they spoke often with Ms. Ethel Palmer Clarke, their mentor and current Director of the Indiana University Training School for Nursing, concerning the status of this first nursing honor society.

The dreams of our early founders did turn into reality, and so did the dreams of the founders of Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. In November 1981 the Capstone College of Nursing received notification that the Nursing Honor Society was approved for chapter membership into Sigma Theta Tau.

As reflected in the Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Archives Pat Boothe wrote, "On April 4, 1982, the final moment for which we had all been anxiously awaiting over the past two years finally arrived.... One hundred thirty four transfer and new charter members entered the [Ferguson Center] Ballroom at precisely 2:00 p.m. and the Epsilon Omega Chapter Installation Ceremony began. Anita Lord, President of the Capstone College of Nursing Honor Society gave the welcome. Dr. Roger Sayers, Office of Academic Affairs, gave the welcome for the University. Mrs. George presented the charter to Maxine Walker and the Coat of Arms to Joy Morris. Responses for the College of Nursing were made by Joyce Mason, Acting Dean, responses for the chapter by Linda Olivet, and for the Steering Committee, by Maxine Walker...."

"Mrs. Gwen Mitchell and Dr. Elizabeth Cleino presided at the official signature book while Mrs. George recognized the 27 transfer charter members and Mrs. Mason introduced 107 new charter members...." Epsilon Omega Chapter was now official and became the 142nd chapter of Sigma Theta Tau.

Mrs. George, national representative, then installed the first officers for Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau at the Capstone College of Nursing. Officers included: President, Linda Olivet; President Elect, Mildred McLendon; Vice President, Joy Morris; Secretary, Bernadine Roberts; Treasurer, Camille Butler; Faculty Counselors; Rebecca Edwards and Joyce Mason.

"Upon completion of the installation ceremony, 325 members and their families, guests, students, and faculty attended a lovely reception at the President's Mansion on University Boulevard. Dr. Joab Thomas, University President, Mrs. Thomas, and the newly installed officers greeted everyone."

Many years have past since Epsilon Omega Chapter was initiated, and a new century has begun. Over this time period Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International has inducted approximately 500 members.

The effects resulting from the initial efforts of Sigma Theta Tau's six founders in 1922 are phenomenal to say the least. Who would have ever thought that in less than a hundred years Sigma Theta Tau would grow to international stature, and the ripple effect created by our founders' foresight and leadership would see the induction of more than a quarter million nurses into the organization.

While this growth is amazing, the ripple effect of Sigma Theta Tau extends way beyond these numbers. Sigma Theta Tau International has played a major role in advancing the nursing profession. Sigma Theta Tau members touch the lives of countless people each day - students, future nurses, colleagues, coworkers, patients and family members. As Sigma Theta Tau members we have a responsibility to carry forth the values of leadership, scholarship, and excellent nursing practice envisioned by our founders and to be mentors to new Sigma Theta Tau members just as our founders were mentors to countless new inductees. By accepting these challenges we, too, can be a part of the ripple effect initiated by the six founders of Sigma Theta Tau International. We, too, can be a part in advancing the practice of nursing to even greater heights in the next century.

References
Boothe, P., Cleino, E. A., Lord, A., Walker, M., & Wilson, J. (1981, March). History of the Capstone College of Nursing Honor Society. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing, Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.

Boothe, P. (1982). Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing, Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.

Sigma Thta Tau International. (n.d.). Accessed: October 1, 2000, http://www.nursingsociety.org/about/founders1.html