Category Archives: Howard University

Happy Birthday, Alpha Phi Alpha!

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, was founded at Cornell University on December 4, 1906. It is the oldest of the Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs) which form the National PanHellenic Council (NPHC). The seven founders, the “Jewels” of Alpha Phi Alpha, … Continue reading

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Zora Neale Hurston and Zeta Phi Beta

Arizona Cleaver, along with her four friends, Pearl Neal, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, and Fannie Pettie, are the five pearls of Zeta Phi Beta. They are the organization’s founders. The idea for the organization happened several months earlier when Cleaver … Continue reading

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Althea Gibson on Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Founding Day

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated, the first Greek-letter organization for African-American women, was founded on January 15, 1908 by nine young female Howard University students. They were led by the vision of Ethel Hedgeman (Lyle); she had spent several months sharing … Continue reading

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Delta Sigma Theta and Mary McLeod Bethune

On January 13, 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded at Howard University. All 22 founders – Winona Cargile (Alexander), Madree Penn (White), Wertie Blackwell (Weaver), Vashti Turley (Murphy), Ethel Cuff (Black), Frederica Chase (Dodd), Osceola Macarthy (Adams), Pauline Oberdorfer (Minor), Edna … Continue reading

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Zeta Phi Beta’s 95th Birthday, Its 1923 Expansion to Texas, and Violette Anderson

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. turns 95 years old today. Arizona Cleaver, along with her four friends, Pearl Neal, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, and Fannie Pettie, are the five pearls (founders) of Zeta Phi Beta. The idea for the organization … Continue reading

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Alpha Kappa Alpha’s New Dimensions of Service and Eleanor Roosevelt on Founders’ Day

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated, the first Greek-letter organization for African-American women, was founded on January 15, 1908 by nine young female Howard University students.  At its convention in June 2014, the sorority announced “Launching New Dimensions of Service” with five … Continue reading

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Delta Sigma Theta, Miss Golden Globe, DGs on TV, and Condolences to Sig Ep

Today marks 102 years for Delta Sigma Theta. Happy Founders’ Day! To find out more about the sorority’s fascinating history see http://wp.me/p20I1i-1n8 and http://wp.me/p20I1i-vY.  *** In yesterday’s column about the Golden Globe Awards, I failed to mention that Miss Golden Globe 2015 was Greer Grammer, a … Continue reading

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The Importance of January 9, 1859 and January 9, 1914

What do Carrie Chapman Catt and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity have in common? Catt was born on January 9, 1859. On January 9, 1914, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., three African American students, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and … Continue reading

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President Coolidge Passes Ad Astra, Kappa Alpha Psi’s 104th Birthday, and R.I.P. Stuart Scott and Senator Brooke

January 5, 1911 is the founding date of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Founded by ten students at Indiana University, it was originally called Kappa Alpha Nu. At the Grand Chapter meeting of December 1914, a resolution was adopted and the … Continue reading

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Happy 94th Birthday, Zeta Phi Beta and an Honor for Julia Carson, a Loyal Member

Arizona Cleaver, along with her four friends, Pearl Neal, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, and Fannie Pettie, are the five pearls of Zeta Phi Beta. They are the organization’s founders. The idea for the organization happened several months earlier when Cleaver … Continue reading

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