archives
By National Archivist Liz Johns, Delta Omicron
Historical Health Care Heroes: Tri Sigma Women as Healthcare Workers and Advocates
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on healthcare
workers around the world. Doctors, nurses, and health advocates have been lauded as heroes as they put their lives on the line
to help others every day. Tri Sigmas, healthcare workers or not, have a history of helping others, although as a pedagogical sorority, many early Tri Sigma women were educators. But
many early alumnae did venture beyond the schoolhouse and
pursued careers in healthcare, taking the spirit of helping others
in a different direction. Two alumnae, in particular, Harriet Parker Hankins, Alpha, and Clara Barton Higgon, Lambda, made a
notable impact on both the sorority and society through their healthcare work.
Harriet Hankins was a Red Cross
nurse who served both at home and
joined Tri Sigma in 1900, graduating in
Alpha Chapter, 1900. Front: Louise Davis, Nannie Wright, Lucy Stubbs. Row 2: Harriet Hankins, Sadie Armstrong, Natalie Lancaster, Mamie Richardson, Lucy Eglin. Back: Jennie Jackson, Rhea Scott. Harriet participated in other activities in school, such as tennis and golf, cotillion, and drama.
trained as a nurse at Garfield Memorial
measures against tuberculosis. As Lambda’s delegate to the Tri
the Red Cross. The Red Cross Nursing
sorority to support an anti-tuberculosis program. Her advocacy
abroad during war and peacetime. She 1903. After leaving Longwood, Harriet
Hospital in Washington D.C. and joined
Sigma Convention in 1917 in Chicago, Clara advocated for the
Service was a newly chartered federal
was successful, eventually leading to an official initiative, the
program dedicated to supporting the military during wartime.
Clara Barton Higgon Project, adopted at the 19th Convention in
in New Mexico and Arizona during the Mexican Border War.
educational and screening initiative for college students. Tri
World War One, Harriet served at Walter Reed Hospital as a
Christmas seals1 and mobile tuberculosis X-ray screening units
Station Hospital Fort Monroe, a decommissioned military station
rights advocate until she died in 1960.
stationed in the Philippines during World War Two. Harriet retired
demonstrate our varied history of Sigma’s commitment to service.
Harriet served in the Red Cross in Germany and was posted
1936 in Washington, D.C. The project was an anti-tuberculosis
She was later sent to France during World War One. After
Sigma collegiate chapters sponsored the sale of tuberculosis
community nurse in Hot Springs, VA, and the chief nurse at the
through the program. Clara remained a health care and human
in Virginia. Harriet served again in the Army Medical Corps,
at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The Archives is always looking to capture our history in different
These two examples of Tri Sigma women in healthcare
Tri Sigma women supported
ways and highlight stories from women such as Harriet and Clara.
care providers. Many women, such as
photos, or memorabilia to share, contact Liz Johns, National
healthcare beyond working as medical
If you have a Tri Sigma healthcare worker or advocacy story,
Clara Barton Higgon, Lambda, served as
Archivist, at archives@trisigma.org.
survivor, Clara made it her life’s work to
1
health care advocates. As a tuberculosis
educate college students on appropriate
health care and advocate for preventative
38 the TRIANGLE | fall 2021
Christmas seals are labels placed on mail during the Christmas season. Seals most
often raised awareness and funds for charitable causes, and are typically popular during various holiday seasons such as Christmas and Easter.
