Alpha Sorority Case Study

This paper will discuss Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and how it started. The sorority was founded by nine educated black college women. By the names of Ethel Hedgeman-Lyle, Anna Easter Brown, Beulah Elizabeth Burke, Lillie, Burke, Marjorie Hill, Margaret Flagg (Holmes), Lavinia Norman, Lucy Diggs Slowe and Marie Woolfolk (Taylor). Shortly thereafter they invited seven sophomores to join them in becoming founders and they are Norma Boyd, Ethel J. Mawbray, Alice P. Murray, Sarah M. Nutter, Joanna Berry (Shields), Carrie E. Snowden, and Harriet J. Terry. Together they decided that with Ethel’s vision and their combined educational backgrounds, they would create an organization of like minded women to go out in the world and be of
Five years later on January 29th, 1913 the Sorority was Incorporated by Norma Boyd, Julia E. Brooks, Ethel J. Mowbray, Nellie Pratt Russell, Minnie B. Smith and Nellie M. Quander. They took it upon themselves to Incorporate the sorority so that they may be able to expand. The women also helped support many different organizations while expanding the brand that they had just created. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has evolved, expanded and helped so many on their journey from 1908 to 2008.
Beginning in 1908 when Ethel and her fellow founders were starting Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority they were cautious that they were only one generation away from slavery. Even though the sixteen founders were very fortunate to be in school at the best African-American college, they were all still sensitive to what was going on around them. Such as the struggles back in their hometowns, segregation, and environs beyond their travel. The young college women committed to scholarship, civil engagement, and public service. They went out into the communities and helped out and through helping others they created an everlasting bond of sisterhood that would last
The Fraternity is called Alpha Phi Alpha. In the summer of 1907 a woman by the name of Ethel Hedgeman decided to recruit some of her classmates who were interested in helping her form the organization/Sorority. By January 15, 1908 Ethel and fifteen of her peers (classmates) had founded Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated at Howard University in Washington, DC. This was the first sorority founded by Negro college women in the United States of America. In Ethel’s efforts to put the sorority together, she received a bit of help from her friend George Lyle whom she had been dating since high school and who soon became her husband. George was a charter member of the beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated at Howard University in Washington, DC. Although, George Lyle had already went through the process of helping build a brand for educated Negro college men he helped Ethel Hedgeman-Lyle in her process. Ethel had a vision for the Sorority, she dreamed of a place that would allow like minded women to work together using their talents and strengths for the benefit of others. The Sorority’s symbol is the “Ivy Leaf” the ivy leaf represents strong and everlasting friendships; also has the ability to attach poorly to terrain and still thrive. The Sorority’s main purpose is to develop and promote high scholarly and principled