International History

​

 

On January 15, 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became the first Greek-lettered organization established for and by black college women. Her creation began with Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, a junior at Howard University. During the academic year 1907-1908, Ethel Hedgeman desired 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 and their community. In this group were the Burke sisters (Beulah and Lillie), Margaret Flagg Holmes, Marjorie Hill, Lucy Diggs 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-Shields, Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones Mowbray, Sarah Meriweather-Nutter, Alice P. Murray, Carrie Snowden, and Harriet Terry. In the later years it became the Alpha Kappa Alpha tradition to honor all these women as "founders."

​

The perpetuity of this organization was secured by Nellie Quander, as well as Nellie Pratt-Russell, Norma Boyd, and Minnie Beatrice Smith. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was incorporated in 1913. Alpha Kappa Alpha serves all mankind through a nucleus of more than 140,000 women in over 860 chapters located in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.

​

The purposes of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated are:

To encourage high scholastic and ethical standards

To promote unity and friendship among college based women

To study and alleviate problems facing girls and women

To maintain a progressive interest in college life

TO BE SUPREME IN SERVICE TO ALL OF MANKIND

​

International Web Address: www.aka1908.com

 

Copyright Notice: All graphics, photographs, and text of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority displayed on the Nu Rho Chapter website are copyrighted and/or trademarked by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.