Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is an international service oriented organization. Led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 15, 1908.  It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-trained women.

The Original Group consisted of nine women who were all seniors except of Ethel who was a junior. They are: Marjorie Hill, Lucy D. Slowe, Lillie Burke, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, Anna E. Brown, Marie Woolfolk Taylor, Beulah E. Burke, Margaret Flagg Holmes, and Lavinia Norman.

To ensure continuity of the organization they invited seven Sophomores of 1908 to join in the founding. They are: Norma Boyd, Ethel J. Mowbray, Alice P. Murray, Sarah M. Nutter, Joanna B. Shields, Carrie E. Snowden, and Harriett J. Terry.
 

 From this small group of women, Alpha Kappa Alpha has grown to an International organization with more than 250,000 women in over 950 chapters.

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The mission of the organization is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, and to be of service to all mankind by helping to improve social and economic conditions through community service programs.