Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. History
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Founders(First Row, Left to Right) Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, Anna Easter Brown, Beulah Burke, Lillie Burke
(Second Row, Left to Right) Marjorie Hill, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Lavinia Norman, Lucy Slowe (Third Row, Left to Right) Marie Woolfolk Taylor, Norma Boyd, Ethel Mowbray, Alice Murray (Fourth Row, Left to Right) Sarah Nutter, Joanna Berry Shields, Carrie Snowden, Harriett Terry (Last Row, Left to Right) Julia Brooks, Nellie Quander, Nellie Pratt Russell, Minnie Smith |
On January 15, 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became the first Greek-lettered organization established by and for black women. Its creation began with Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, a junior at Howard University located in Washington, D.C. During the academic year 1907-1908, Ethel Hedgeman, returned from her summer vacation with the inspiration and desire to organize a sorority, an association of women students through which the talents and strengths of these students could be organized for the mutual benefit of all. She discussed this idea with a number of her classmates and associates during the fall and early winter. After a period of exchanging ideas and pooling suggestions, the group of nine started to work to crystallize the preliminary organization.
In this group were the Burke sisters (Beulah and Lillie), Margaret Flagg Holmes, Marjorie Hill, Lucy Slowe, Marie Woolfolk Taylor, Anna Easter Brown, and Lavinia Norman. Late in February 1908, seven students of the class of 1910 were admitted. These members were Joanna Berry, Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones, Sarah Meriweather, Alice Murray, Carrie Snowden, and Harriet Terry. In the later years it became the Alpha Kappa Alpha tradition to honor all these women as "founders." Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was incorporated in 1913 to ensure its perpetuity for all time. Our membership consists of ladies of distinction and exemplary character who excel in scholarship, leadership and service. An international sisterhood with more than 185,000 members, Alpha Kappa Alpha seeks to be supreme in service to all mankind. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. continues to be a channel through which selected college-trained women improve the social and economic conditions in their city, state, nation and the world. Want to Learn More? |
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Last Updated: November 21, 2016
2016 Copyright Tau Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. All rights reserved. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is not responsible for the design or content of this website. This website is the sole property of Tau Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, who host and maintains this site. Report website issues to [email protected]
This webiste was designed to be visible on all browsers. We recognize that our visitors may have various operating systems and Internet browsers. Although we want every visitor to have the best possible experience on our website, we understand it is impossible to provide web pages that work identically, efficiently, and effectively with all browsers and settings.
If you require assistance accessing content on this site, please contact us at [email protected]
Last Updated: November 21, 2016