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

Anna Easter Brown *Founder*

First treasurer of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Assigned with coming up with a song as an accomplished musician

Beulah Burke *Founder*

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

- Educator

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

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