ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA HISTORY

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® (AKA), an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. Nine juniors and seniors who constituted the initial founding members and seven sophomores who were extended an invitation encompassed what are acknowledged as Alpha Kappa Alpha's original 16 founders. 

Led by Ethel Hedgeman (Lyle), the nine Howard University students who came together to form Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority were the scholastic leaders of their classes.

The Original Nine: Anna Easter Brown, Beulah Burke, Lillie Burke, Marjorie Hill, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Ethel Hedgeman (Lyle), Lavinia Norman, Lucy Diggs Slowe and Marie Woolfolk (Taylor)

Anne Easter Brown 1879-1957 Educator	Beulah Elizabeth Burke 1885-1975 Educator Beulah	Lillie E. Burke 1884-1949 Educator
Marjorie Hill Unknown-1909 Educator	Margaret Flagg (Holmes) 1886 - 1976 Educator	Ethel Hedgeman (Lyle) 1887-1950 Educator
Lavinia Norman 1882-1983 Educator	Lucy Diggs Slowe 1885-1937 College Dean	Marie Woolfolk (Taylor) 1893-1960 Social Worker

With the exception of Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, the original group of nine women was comprised of college seniors. To ensure the continuity of the organization, seven Class of 1910 honor students who had expressed interest were invited to join without initiation.

The Sophomores: Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones (Mowbray), Alice Murray, Sarah Meriweather (Nutter), Joanna Berry (Shields), Carrie Snowden and Harriet Terry

Joanna Berry (Shields) 1884-1965 Educator	Norma Elizabeth Boyd 1888-1985 Educator	Ethel Jones (Mowbray) Unknown-1948 Culinary Artist
Sarah Meriwether (Nutter) Unknown-1950 Educator	Alice Porter Murray Unknown Educator	Carrie E. Snowden Unknown-1948 Educator
Harriet Josephine Terry 1885-1967 Educator

The Incorporators: Norma Boyd, Julia Brooks, Ethel Jones Mowbray, Nellie Quander, Nellie Pratt Russell and Minnie Smith

Nellie Quander was elected president in 1911. Under her visionary leadership, Alpha Kappa Alpha initiated a dynamic plan of expansion. The first step of establishing a national body in perpetuity was taken in 1913 when Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was legally incorporated.

Today Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is comprised of more than 355,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 countries including the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Currently led by International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed of Dallas, Texas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, often is hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.”

MISSON

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® was founded on a mission of five basic tenets that have remained unchanged since the sorority’s inception. Our mission is: