History of SPJ
SPJ was founded in 1909 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, as a journalistic fraternity known as Sigma Delta Chi. In 1988 the organization officially changed its name to the Society of Professional Journalists.
Historic Moments:
| 1909 | SPJ is founded as Sigma Delta Chi |
| 1910 | Campus chapters created at Univ. of Kansas, Univ. of Michigan, and Denver Univ. |
| 1912 | First National Convention in Greencastle, Ind. and First Quill published |
| 1921 | First pro chapters in Milwaukee, Seattle, Detroit, Des Moines and Chicago |
| 1926 | First Code of Ethics adopted |
| 1970 | Student representatives added to board structure |
| 1971 | Caroline Ross Pokrzywinski, first woman elected to the board |
| 1972 | Mark of Excellence awards established |
| 1973 | Organization name changed to Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi and a new Code of Ethics adopted |
| 1979 | Jean Otto, first female president elected |
| 1982 | Project Watchdog initiated as a public service advertising campaign aimed at educating the public about the free press in America |
| 1988 | Name changed to Society of Professional Journalists |
| 1990 | National headquarters moved to Greencastle, Ind. |
| 1991 | Project Sunshine started, which is a grassroots effort aimed at maintaining open records and open meetings laws in accord with the 1976 Govt. in the Sunshine Act |
| 1996 | New Code of Ethics adopted |
| 2000 | National Headquarters moved to Indianapolis |