Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 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 her idea with her friends. During this time, she was dating her future husband, George Lyle, a charter member of the Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.
After choosing a name for their sorority, the nine women wrote a constitution and a motto. Additionally, they chose salmon pink and apple green as the sorority’s colors and ivy as its symbol. A group of seven sophomore women were invited to become members. They did not partake in an initiation ceremony and all 16 women are considered founders. The first “Ivy Week” took place in May 1909 and ivy was planted at Howard University’s Miner Hall. On January 29, 1913, Alpha Kappa Alpha was incorporated.
Alpha Iota Chapter
The Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, was organized on February 13, 1930. There were seven charter members. One of the early chapter efforts was awarding a scholarship to the young woman who graduated from Lincoln University High School with the highest honors.
Trandailer Jones Brewer
Trandailer “Tran” Jones Brewer was born in Percy, Mississippi. She went to high school and finished two years of college at Alcorn College in Lorman, Mississippi. Two years after transferring to Lincoln University, she earned Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She also became a member of the Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
After graduation, she attended Iowa State in Ames to fulfil the requirements for American Dietetic Association certification. She was one of the first Blacks to earn this achievement. According to her obituary, she once said, “they were shocked when I arrived and they discovered I was black.”
She completed her dietetic internship at Freedman’s Hospital at Howard University in Washington, D.C. From there she went back to Missouri and began her first real job in the field. She was as a cafeteria manager and nutrition instructor at Lincoln High School in Kansas City.
In the early 1940s, she returned to Iowa State and completed a Master of Science in Nutrition. After completing the degree she became Head Dietitian at Hubbard Hospital as well as an instructor at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. She also earned additional distinction after completing additional studies at Columbia University. Her title was now Public Health Nutritionist,
The next four years were spent working in the U.S. Virgin Islands as Director of Nutritional Services for the Department of Health. Fellow of the American Public Health Association status was conferred in 1952.
She moved to Los Angeles to become a staff dietitian for the Los Angeles County General Hospital (now Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center). Marriage to James Leon Brewer took place in 1953. They had a son, James, Jr. Sadly, James, Sr. died a few years after their son was born.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services appointed her Public Health Nutritionist. Brewer spent three decades working for the City of Los Angles and retired in 1983. She was an active member of many professional and civic organizations.
In 1988, Lincoln University honored her with a Distinguished Alumni award. In 2000, a scholarship named for her was established through the Lincoln University Foundation. Brewer died on July 25, 2018 at the age of 103.
Her obituary presented this wonderful portrait:
Tran pursued and achieved her dreams! She traveled the world and lived a wonderful, full and prosperous life with style, spirit and most of all — dignified grace! Tran was generous with her time, talent and money. More importantly, she was kind, patient, thankful and appreciative to everyone. Tran loved people, and people LOVED Tran! With a quiet touch and strong heart, she taught us ALL how to live life COMPLETELY!
