Thank you, I love these forums because I can learn so much from them

SoloRHO (and other women of Sigma Gamma Rho):

I'm confused. I have always heard and read that SGRho was the first African-American sorority at Butler, founded in 1922, yet I know that Kappa chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha was chartered on Butler's campus in February 1920. I know Kappa chapter's charter also included other schools, in addition to Butler. I'm not sure about Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta's beginnings at the school, but I'd be interested in knowing more about the history of African-American sororities at Butler and I hope you can shed some light. Thanks.

I think that SGRho was the FIRST sorority FOUNDED at Butler rather than the first sorority chapter at Butler. Also, and correct me if I am wrong most of the founders if not all of them had a background in education.

Maybe?-Check SoloRho's post at the beginning of this thread. That information is in there.

ZetaAce

Finer Woman 10-A-91:

Thanks for the response and yes, I understand that my sorority (and all others) were founded only once, but I was looking for clarification on the distinction of being the first African-American sorority on Butler's campus. To my knowledge Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was/is the ONLY Af-Am sorority FOUNDED there, but from my own history, I don't believe they were the first sorority ACTIVE there. My question was directed to the ladies of SGRho to enlighten me about this. Perhaps the "first at Butler" distinction goes to SGRho because the AKA Kappa chapter was a citywide one; I don't know, but would be interested in this little history tidbit ("see Ma, that history degree IS going to good use!").

I will admit...that was new news to me. (AKA at Butler in 1920)

So was AKA the first ACTIVE on a non-HBCU campus. Quite natually, that question is directed to AKA and DST.



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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

Actually, AKA chartered several chapters on non-HBCU campuses before chartering Kappa in Indianapolis, including Beta (citywide in Chicago), Gamma (University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana), Delta (University of Kansas) and so forth. I don't know DST, ZPhiB or SGRho history well enough to say with confidence, but I would hazard to guess that many of their single-letter chapters were chartered on non-HBCU campuses as well.

I was told by a few older sorors that many HBCUs were initially resistant to the establishment of GLOs, and it took a few years to persuade administration officials to allow chapters to establish themselves at HBCUs. My guess is that white schools, which excluded black students from housing, dining halls, and other school facilities, didn't really give a d*%$ what those students were doing, and didn't form such a resistance. That's my theory as to why there are many single-letter chapters founded at white schools. I know this is kind of off topic, but I just thought it was interesting to share.

[This message has been edited by Discogoddess (edited July 18, 2000).]

Actually, I can tell you that the reason that many single letter named chapters of Delta are on white campuses is because in the original bylaws of the Sorority, the University had to have a triple A rating before a chapter could be established their. HBCUs didn't get those ratings, and therefore didn't get chapters. I'd be willing to guess that something similar is true of AKA.

This is interesting history...and since the AKA chapter was not actually "on campus" perhaps you have answered your own question.



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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

Pink Passion08 thanks for stating that the BEGINNING of the BGLO's started at Cornell by Alphi Phi Alphi Fraternity Inc. a predominately white campus whose infrastructure although perhaps more progressive then other universities of its day, like most universities did not/or did not know how to sucessfully provide black students with the same opportunities particularlly social when these black students were not accepted by the majority of their administration, teachers, peers, and community (this can not be overlooked as it is a historical fact (history is one of my favorite subjects by the way http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif ) of life and did effect the choices these students did and would make in their lives, it is not an excuse for, it is the truth and can't/shouldn't be overlooked. I can not speak further on what the founders of A Phi A had specifically in mind when creating a fraternity at Cornell, although, i like others can speculate, and the bglo's that followed were a direct result of this founding, although some are still in denial http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif, but only,the Jewels,and those Alphas who have joined their ranks can/or should speak on this. As with my sorority AKA founded at Howard Alpha Chapter, i can say with confidence that my founders did not start AKA because we couldn't join white sororities (although many sororities had written and unwritten rules prohibiting black membership), however because AKA was founded on a predominately black campus did not mean that these women were free of the basic problems facing blacks at that time in the communities in which they lived. AKA obviously chartered several chapters at schools where black women if they "wanted" not that they "did" would not have been accepted into the social circle of the established white sororities on those campuses (so whether or not they decided to charter a chapter of AKA based on this i can't be sure, since i wasn't there http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif ), but in this my founders had a vision to provide a sisterhood for these women that would spread across campuses around the country. These young ladies felt the need to start an organization that would not only help them complete a sucessful and enjoyable college term, but also continue to bond, celebrate culture, foster friendships, and uplift their communities in a time when all they had was one another. So to say that not being socially accepted on campus by one's peers if they can be called that at the time http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif and the community at large had no bearing on the foundings of bglo's (not excluding the other reasons which are none the less important) in that day and age regardless of what campus they were founded on seems alittle naive in my opinion, but that is my opinion and i'll stick to what i know and that is why my sorority was founded. peace http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by PositivelyAKA (edited July 18, 2000).]

Gina_lynn:

Thanks for sharing that bit of Delta history! I love it when we can freely exchange information and ideas! I am going to be digging in my AKA archives and asking older sorors for additional information about single-letter chapters.

Any guess why HBCUs didn't get the "triple A" distinction, especially at a time when much of the black academic talent was centered at these schools? Btw, I do find it interesting that a handful of white schools: Harvard, U. of Chicago, etc. where churning out black graduates at the beginning of the 1900s, even while the schools had policies barring blacks from using university housing, dining services and the like.

DANG!!! See how much I miss when I don't log in in the afternoon? Very interesting everyone. It seems as if the question concerning SGRho was answered already, so I'll leave it alone. But I think everyone's right about how interesting it would be to know more about out first chapters in depth. Geez, if only I could be as enthusiastic about learning World history as I am about Greek history. Could you imagine?.... Nah, me either. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
PEACE: Proper Education Always Corrects Error
SoloRHO

Now Positively, No no no no....the Alpha's didn't start BGLO's. Their founders started APhiA. Respectfully each BGLO founders for whatever reason founded their perspective organization. If the Alpha's started BGLO's then that is saying that WGLO's started APhiA. Notwithstanding, unless APhiA's founders are still living, no Alpha or AKA can soley reserve the right to speak on the issue because no living member existed or coexisted during that time. Most of the ones in school today are between the ages of 18 and 26. But, there is some information that some members(not all) of BGLO's are familiar with that expresses the nature of the original founding of BGLO's, and that is in the "East".....Above all speculation it is a fact that the Honorable Founders of all BGLO's were motivated by the "Light". Period. It might be confusing to many and that is to be expected, but it exists to this very day and unless you are on that level you can only state unsurities. This statement is my fact and no fraternity member or sorority member who has seen what I have seen can or will dispute my words. Even your own soror if she either sits or looks to the "East".

Now a bit information: Study the founding of APhiA and the reason thereof not APhiA.

Now Positively, No no no no....the Alpha's didn't start BGLO's. Their founders started APhiA. Respectfully each BGLO founders for whatever reason founded their perspective organization. If the Alpha's started BGLO's then that is saying that WGLO's started APhiA. Notwithstanding, unless APhiA's founders are still living, no Alpha or AKA can soley reserve the right to speak on the issue because no living member existed or coexisted during that time. Most of the ones in school today are between the ages of 18 and 26. But, there is some information that some members(not all) of BGLO's are familiar with that expresses the nature of the original founding of BGLO's, and that is in the "East".....Above all speculation it is a fact that the Honorable Founders of all BGLO's were motivated by the "Light". Period. It might be confusing to many and that is to be expected, but it exists to this very day and unless you are on that level you can only state unsurities. This statement is my fact and no fraternity member or sorority member who has seen what I have seen can or will dispute my words. Even your own soror if she either sits or looks to the "East".

Now a bit information: Study the founding of APhiA and the reason thereof not APhiA.

Sir i did not mean to say that they founded every frat and sorority in the bglo movement http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif i didn't say that, my bad if it came off that way, of course they didn't, they just started the MOVEMENT http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif In terms of speaking on a subject, unless you are familiar with the intricate history of Alpha (a member, i don't mean where they were founded, colors etc. its deeper then that) or were there when the Jewels founded Alpha then it is best not to speak on it, otherwise it is pure speculation, that's my point, and again i will leave that along because i am not an Alpha Man. I know every bglo's has its own reason for its founding, that is why i did not try to address them i spoke on AKA. So what bglo are you representin?