Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Alpha Kappa Psi (sorority)

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Alpha Kappa Psi (ΑΚΨ) sorority operated in the United States from 1900 to approximately 1920.

Contents

Early history

In 1900, Alpha Kappa Psi was founded as the first Greek letter sorority on the campus of Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Rev. Theodore DuBose Bratton, eventual bishop of Mississippi (1903), assisted his students with the creation. The purpose was to "foster the highest ideals of Christian womanhood" (Saint Mary's Archives). The first initiation was held in 1901.

Two Greek lettered literary societies were also founded on campus in 1900: Epsilon Alpha Pi, Sigma Lambda.

Going National

In 1904, AKP was incorporated as a national sorority. Soon, other chapters were chartered. Beta chapter was chartered at Virginia Female Institute (Stuart Hall) in Staunton, Virginia. The next eight years were the "heyday" of the sorority. Chapters were chartered at schools in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. The Alpha chapter disbanded in 1911, when rector Dr. George W. Lay abolished all sororities at Saint Mary's. The Beta chapter existed for only five years, 1904- 1909.

Moderate Success

Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1912) categorized AKP with other "women's general fraternities", such as Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi. Seven active chapters are listed, with total active sisters at 304. Three conventions took place previous to this entry.

The 1915 publication of Baird's categorized the sorority in the "second division" of women's fraternities. This meant that Baird did not see AKP to be of the same status as Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi. AKP now had five active chapters and five inactives, with a total membership of 377. Two chapters reaffiliated with Delta Delta Delta (Baird's 1915, p. 464).

Demise

Somewhere between 1914 and 1916, Alpha Kappa Psi became a Junior College Sorority, granting releases to chapters at Four Year Colleges that desired including Wesleyan Female College, Florida State College for Women, and Stetson University. In 1920, the sorority was recategorized as one of the "Miscellaneous Fraternities" in Baird's Manual. Four active chapters are listed:

  • Fairmont Seminary (Monteagle, Tennessee)
  • Carnegie Institute of Technology
  • Gunston Hall (Washington, DC)
  • Synodical College (Fulton, MO)

    • The sorority had an approximate total of 487 members (Baird's 1920, p. 675)

    Although the date of national dissolution is unknown, Alpha Kappa Psi probably declined sometime after 1920.

    Conventions

    The following conventions were held

  • Asheville 1909
  • Atlanta 1910
  • Charleston 1911
  • Jacksonville 1912
  • Washington, DC 1914

    • Chapters

    Chapters of Alpha Kappa Psi:

    Alumnae Associations

    Alumnae Associations of Alpha Kappa Psi:

  • Tampa Alumnae
  • Atlanta Alumnae
  • Camden Alumnae
  • Savannah Alumnae
  • Portsmouth Alumnae
  • Macon Alumnae

    • Insignia

  • There are two different descriptions of the badge. The first, from Saint Mary's Archive, which describes the badge (1909)as "an equilateral triangle bearing in the angles of the Greek letters". The 1912 and 1915 publications of Baird's described the badge as "a triangle divided into three panels, one displaying a scroll carrying a skull and bones, one a key and the third a torch"
  • The official publication was the Trigonon
  • The colors were blue and gold, specifically sky blue and gold
  • The flower was the forget-me-not
  • The official symbol, circa 1909, was the skull and bones (Saint Mary's Archives).
  • The open motto was "Ever Upward"

    • References

    Alpha Kappa Psi (sorority) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA