Alpha Kappa Psi (ΑΚΨ) sorority operated in the United States from 1900 to approximately 1920. At dissolution, several chapters joined Delta Delta Delta.
On March 1, 1900, Alpha Kappa Psi was founded as the first Greek letter sorority on the campus of Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, North Carolina.[1] 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 other Greek lettered literary societies were also founded on campus in 1900: Epsilon Alpha Pi, and Sigma Lambda.
Going National
In 1904,[2] 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 ΑΚΨ with "other women's general fraternities", such as Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi. Seven active chapters were listed at this stage, with total active sisters at 304. Three conventions took place previous to this Baird's edition.
The 1915 publication of Baird's categorized the sorority in the "second division" of women's fraternities. Within a few years, a distinction would be made between the senior status sororities and junior status sororities that had been emerging, as a way of distinguishing nationals that were smaller or which served non-accredited colleges. At the time of publication of this issue, ΑΚΨ now had five active chapters and five inactive chapters, with a total membership of 377. Two chapters left to affiliate with Delta Delta Delta (Baird's 1915, p. 464).
Demise
Alpha Kappa Psi, a Junior College Sorority as of 1916, granted releases to chapters at Four Year Colleges that chose to affiliate with a larger national. These included Wesleyan Female College, Florida State College for Women, and Stetson University.[3] By 1920, the sorority was recategorized as one of the "Miscellaneous Fraternities" in Baird's Manual. Four remaining active chapters were listed:
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 dispersed sometime after 1920. Out of its legacy three chapters joined Delta Delta Delta sorority and one chapter joined Chi Omega.
^Saint Mary's College operated for some decades on both a collegiate and preparatory basis, offering classes for collegiate Freshmen and Sophomores. It changed to a 4-year preparatory (high school) model in 1998.
^Stuart Hall appears to have only operated as a preparatory school, not on the collegiate level.
^Baird's Archive notes that Chi Omega's Omicron Delta chapter was created in 1944, so the period as a local chapter appears to have extended beyond 1928.
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"[2][5]
The official publication was the Trigonon[2][5][6]
The colors were blue and gold,[2][5] specifically sky blue and gold[6]
^Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company, Incorporated. 1914. pp. 290–.
^ abcdefgWm. Raimond Baird (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (7 ed.). p. 464.
^ abDelta Delta Delta (1955). The Trident of Delta Delta Delta. G. Banta Publishing Company. pp. 160–161.
^Later a college according to Baird's 20th ed., this Fairmont Seminary should not be confused with another dormant institution of the same name in Washington DC.
^ abcdefgBaird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1915. p. 464.
^ abcdefghi. 1915. p. 144. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
^Colton, Elizabeth Avery (September 1912). "Standards of Southern Colleges for Women". The School Review. 20 (7): 472. doi:10.1086/435972. hdl:2027/hvd.rslphd. JSTOR 1076707. S2CID 143469498. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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Alpha Kappa Psi AKPS sorority operated in the United States from 1900 to approximately 1920 At dissolution several chapters joined Delta Delta Delta Alpha Kappa PsiAKPSFoundedMarch 1 1900 123 years ago 1900 03 01 Saint Mary s School in Raleigh North CarolinaTypeSocialScopeNationalMotto Ever upward Member badgeColors Sky blue and GoldSymbolskull and bonesFlowerForget me notPublicationTrigononChapters13 chartered 0 activeMembers487 lifetime Contents 1 Early history 2 Going National 3 Moderate Success 4 Demise 5 Conventions 6 Chapters 6 1 Alumnae Associations 7 Insignia 8 ReferencesEarly history EditOn March 1 1900 Alpha Kappa Psi was founded as the first Greek letter sorority on the campus of Saint Mary s School in Raleigh North Carolina 1 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 other Greek lettered literary societies were also founded on campus in 1900 Epsilon Alpha Pi and Sigma Lambda Going National EditIn 1904 2 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 EditBaird s Manual of American College Fraternities 1912 categorized AKPS with other women s general fraternities such as Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi Seven active chapters were listed at this stage with total active sisters at 304 Three conventions took place previous to this Baird s edition The 1915 publication of Baird s categorized the sorority in the second division of women s fraternities Within a few years a distinction would be made between the senior status sororities and junior status sororities that had been emerging as a way of distinguishing nationals that were smaller or which served non accredited colleges At the time of publication of this issue AKPS now had five active chapters and five inactive chapters with a total membership of 377 Two chapters left to affiliate with Delta Delta Delta Baird s 1915 p 464 Demise EditAlpha Kappa Psi a Junior College Sorority as of 1916 granted releases to chapters at Four Year Colleges that chose to affiliate with a larger national These included Wesleyan Female College Florida State College for Women and Stetson University 3 By 1920 the sorority was recategorized as one of the Miscellaneous Fraternities in Baird s Manual Four remaining active chapters were listed Fairmont Seminary Monteagle Tennessee 4 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 dispersed sometime after 1920 Out of its legacy three chapters joined Delta Delta Delta sorority and one chapter joined Chi Omega Conventions EditThe following conventions were held 2 5 Asheville 1909 Atlanta 1910 Charleston 1911 Jacksonville 1912 Washington DC 1914Chapters EditChapters of Alpha Kappa Psi 2 5 6 Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes ReferenceAlpha A 1904 1911 Saint Mary s School Raleigh North Carolina Inactive a Beta B 1905 1909 Stuart Hall Staunton Virginia Inactive b Tau T 1906 19xx Fairmont Seminary c Monteagle Tennessee Inactive d 7 Delta D 1907 1913 Wesleyan Female College e Macon Georgia Withdrew DDD e f Eta H 1908 1916 Florida State College for Women now FSU Tallahassee Florida Withdrew DDD g 3 6 8 Sigma Nu SN 1909 1913 Stetson University Deland Florida Withdrew DDD h Kappa I K 1909 1910 Beaver College Arcadia Glenside Pennsylvania Inactive 5 Zeta G 1911 1912 Gunston Hall Washington DC Inactive i 6 Gamma Z 1911 1912 Shorter College Rome Georgia InactiveBeta II B 1911 19xx Fitzhugh School Fort Worth Texas Inactive j Kappa II K 1911 1928 Carnegie Technical Institute Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Withdrew local then XW k Epsilon PS 1913 1916 Synodical College Fulton Missouri Inactive 6 l Theta 8 1912 1915 Knight s School The Cathedral School for Girls Havana Cuba InactiveLambda L 1914 1915 Ward Belmont College Nashville Tennessee Inactive m Saint Mary s College operated for some decades on both a collegiate and preparatory basis offering classes for collegiate Freshmen and Sophomores It changed to a 4 year preparatory high school model in 1998 Stuart Hall appears to have only operated as a preparatory school not on the collegiate level This school is no longer in operation Monteagle s Fairmont Seminary closed sometime after 1915 It had provided 3 or 4 years of preparatory work toward a degree a b Wesleyan Female College shortened its name to Wesleyan College in 1917 Became the Alpha Gamma chapter of Delta Delta Delta which survived until 1916 Became the Alpha Eta chapter of Delta Delta Delta Became the Alpha Delta chapter of Delta Delta Delta The school closed in 19xx The school closed in 19xx Baird s Archive notes that Chi Omega s Omicron Delta chapter was created in 1944 so the period as a local chapter appears to have extended beyond 1928 Synodical College ceased operations in 1928 Ward Belmont College ceased operations in 1951 Alumnae Associations Edit Alumnae Associations of Alpha Kappa Psi 6 8 9 Tampa Alumnae Atlanta Alumnae Camden Alumnae Savannah Alumnae Portsmouth Alumnae Macon AlumnaeInsignia EditThere 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 2 5 The official publication was the Trigonon 2 5 6 The colors were blue and gold 2 5 specifically sky blue and gold 6 The flower was the forget me not 2 5 6 The official symbol circa 1909 was the skull and bones Saint Mary s Archives The open motto was Ever Upward 6 References Edit Banta s Greek Exchange Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World George Banta Company Incorporated 1914 pp 290 a b c d e f g Wm Raimond Baird 1912 Baird s Manual of American College Fraternities 7 ed p 464 a b Delta Delta Delta 1955 The Trident of Delta Delta Delta G Banta Publishing Company pp 160 161 Later a college according to Baird s 20th ed this Fairmont Seminary should not be confused with another dormant institution of the same name in Washington DC a b c d e f g Baird s Manual of American College Fraternities G Banta Company 1915 p 464 a b c d e f g h i Flastacowo yearbook 1915 p 144 Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 11 02 Colton Elizabeth Avery September 1912 Standards of Southern Colleges for Women The School Review 20 7 472 doi 10 1086 435972 hdl 2027 hvd rslphd JSTOR 1076707 S2CID 143469498 Retrieved 28 June 2023 a b Flastacowo yearbook 1912 p 122 Flastacowo yearbook 1914 Baird s Manual of American College Fraternities Editions 1912 1915 1920 and 1991 Saint Mary s School Kenan Library Collection Part 1 Series 3 Organizations Box 47 Alpha Kappa Psi Box 48 Epsilon Alpha Pi Box 49 Sigma Lambda https web archive org web 20090129133142 http saint marys edu pages sitepage cfm page 54688 https web archive org web 20150519002634 https sororityhistories wordpress com 2015 05 13 alpha kappa psi history through alpha chapter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alpha Kappa Psi sorority amp oldid 1170221651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
