Alpha Kappa Alpha; Inc: 20 Pearls

Ethel Hedgeman Lyle Founder

• Originator of AKA Sorority

• Born in St. Louis, graduated with Honors from Charles Sumner High School in 1904

• Earned scholarship to Howard University

• Became English teacher

• Presented vision for sorority with her friends in Fall 1907 as junior at Howard

• Got approval from President of Howard University, Rev. Wilbur Patterson Thirkield and the deans to be recognized group

Lillie Burke Founder

-Born: Hertford, NC

• Co-created organization motto

• Graduated from Howard's College of Liberal Arts in 1908 with A.B. in English

• Completed graduate course at the University of Pennsylvania

• Taught in Downingtown, PA, Fayetteville, NC & Washington, DC

• Participated in organizing Xi Omega Chapter (Washington, DC)

• Died: 1949

Beulah Burke Founder

- Created the organization's name, motto, and colors

- Educator

Anna Easter Brown Founder

First treasurer of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Assigned with coming up with a song as an accomplished musician

Marjorie Hill Founder

first Ivy Beyond the Wall

Margaret Flagg Holmes

first constitution and bylaws committee; wrote "our founders in retrospect- by one of them"

Lavinia Norman Founder

member of AKA's first Constitution and Bylaws committee; presiding officer at the first Ivy Day ceremony

Lucy Diggs Slowe Founder

first president

constitution and bylaws committee chair;

first black female dean (at HOWARD)

Marie Woolfolk Taylor Founder

Brought the sophomores into the sorority; First secretary

Norma Boyd sophomore

sophomore founder

she also ended up being an incorporator

Ethel Jones Mowbray sophomore

president of alpha chapter 1910

sophomore founder

member of first Directorate

Alice Murray sophomore

sophomore founder

Sarah Meriweather Nutter sophomore

delivered oration at May 1909 Ivy Day celebration- 1/7 sophomore founders

planted Ivy at Howard

Joanna Berry Shields sophomore

sophomore founder

Carrie Snowden sophomore

sophomore founder

Harriet Terry sophomore

sophomore founder

Nellie May Quander

President 1911-1912 and main incorporator

Minnie Beatrice "Beadie" Smith

Incorporator

Julia Evangeline Brooks

Incorporator

WROTE EARLY HISTORY OF THE SORORITY: presented at the 1923 Boule in Baltimore

Nellie Pratt Russell

Incorporator

Alpha Kappa Alpha Founding

January 15th, 1908

Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporation Date

January 29th, 1913