|
Its Beginning
Brief
History
On
January 15, 1908, a group of young women at Howard University caught the
inspiration of a fellow student, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, and initiated the
movement of Greek- lettered sororities among Black women in America. Ethel Hedgeman Lyle was joined in this
unique venture by Lillie Burke, Beula Burke, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Marie
Woolfolk Taylor, Lavinia Norman, Anna Brown, Lucy Diggs Slowe, and Marjorie
Hill.
Soon,
a group of sophomore girls who consisted of Joanna Berry Shields, Norma Boyd,
Ethel Jones, Sara Meriweather Nutter, Alice Murray, Carrie Snowden and Harriet
Terry, were impressed by the new sorority. They were chosen to complete the first group of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Women.
Due to these young
women great endeavors, there are now more than 130,000 college women affiliated
with undergraduate and alumnae chapters located in the leading colleges,
universities and cities throughout the nation and outside continental United
States of America.
Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority maintains International Headquarters in Chicago,
Illinois. Alpha Kappa Alpha’s
chief aim is to be of “Service to all Mankind”. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s purpose is to cultivate and
encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and
friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning
girls and women, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be
supreme in service to all mankind.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Targets are:
Education
Economics
Black Family
The Arts
Health
|
