In 1908, at Howard University in Washington
D.C., Ethel Hedgeman Lyle along with 15 other young ladies founded Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority making it America's premiere Greek-lettered organization
established by Black women. From this conception, Alpha Kappa Alpha - following
her incorporation as a perpetual body in 1913 - began to influence certain
college trained women. The sorority became a primary vehicle through which
this targeted group was able to improve her social and economic conditions
at city, state, national and international levels.
The purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is to cultivate and
encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship
among college women, to study and help alleviate problem concerning girls
and women, to promote a progressive interest in college life and to be
of service to all mankind.
The Iota Gamma Chapter was chartered at Northeastern
University in June of 1974 intensifying the Alpha Kappa Alpha effort
"to be of service to all mankind". The Iota Gamma Chapter programs include
an Annual Book Award Scholarship where the chapter assumes the cost of
books for a deserving freshman student and a Black History Quiz Bowl where
students test their knowledge of Black History and compete for cash prizes.
