Sarah H. Meriwether (or "Meriwether") Nutter (January 1, 1888 – May 10, 1950) was one of the original sixteen founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African-American women. As an educator, she worked in the profession considered most critical to the advancement of African-American citizens.[1]
Nutter was active in creating new chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, to extend the support the sorority could give to African-American women at college and in community life. She was also active in the NAACP in Charleston, West Virginia.
Born in 1888 in Washington, D.C. as Sarah N. Meriwether, she was the daughter of James H. Meriwether (1847-1906) and Mary L. Robinson (1849-1942). Her siblings included: Robert H. Meriwether (1880-?); Agnes L. Meriwether (1883-?); Mary E. Meriwether (1885-1976); and Edith E. Meriwether (1891-1968).[2] She attended public schools and graduated in 1906 from M Street High School (later renamed Dunbar High School), the academic or college preparatory high school for black students in the capital.[3]
Founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sarah Meriwether was accepted into Howard University in 1906, the top historically black college in the nation. She was among 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and 5% of whites of eligible age who attended any college at that time.[4]
An honor student, Meriwether majored in English and history.[3] In 1909 Meriwether, together with six other sophomores, was invited to be one of the founders in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.[5] This was the first sorority to be founded by African-American women.[6]
Career and later life
After graduation, Sarah Meriwether did additional study at Miner Teacher's College. By 1915 she worked as an English teacher at Baltimore's Teacher Training School.
Later Meriwether taught at both Howard University and Washington, D.C.'s Dunbar High School, an academic high school that attracted outstanding teachers.[3] Because the District was run as part of the Federal government, African-American teachers in the public schools were part of the civil service and paid on the same scale as whites. The Dunbar High School had very high standards.[7]
In December 1920, Meriwether moved to Charleston, West Virginia, where she met and married T. Gillis Nutter, an attorney and state representative in the West Virginia Legislature.[8] In Charleston, Sarah became active in civic organizations: she was on the Education and Program Committees of the NAACP, organized the Kanawha County's College Alumni Club, and was a member of Charleston's Book Lovers Club.[3] She was the first African American to join the West Virginia Society for Crippled Children.[1]
Nutter along with her Soror Mother Mary L Robinson Meriwether arranged for donation to Howard University of the table where Gen. Oliver O. Howard signed the charter that created the college.[1] She established Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters, such as Nu Chapter at West Virginia State University in 1922. Nutter was one of the charter members of Beta Beta Omega in Charleston.[1] Nutter died on May 10, 1950, aged 62 years, in Charleston.[3]
References
^ abcdMcNealey, Earnestine G. (2006). Pearls of Service: The Legacy of America's First Black Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Chicago: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. p. 53.
^ abcde. Theta Rho Chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Archived from the original on 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
sarah, meriwether, nutter, sarah, meriwether, meriwether, nutter, january, 1888, 1950, original, sixteen, founders, alpha, kappa, alpha, sorority, incorporated, first, sorority, founded, african, american, women, educator, worked, profession, considered, most,. Sarah H Meriwether or Meriwether Nutter January 1 1888 May 10 1950 was one of the original sixteen founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated the first sorority founded by African American women As an educator she worked in the profession considered most critical to the advancement of African American citizens 1 Sarah H Meriwether NutterBornSarah Meriwether 1888 01 01 January 1 1888Washington D C DiedApril 10 1950 1950 04 10 aged 62 Charleston West VirginiaOccupationTeacherKnown forfounder of Alpha Kappa AlphaSpouseT Gillis NutterParent s James H MeriwetherMary L RobinsonNutter was active in creating new chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha to extend the support the sorority could give to African American women at college and in community life She was also active in the NAACP in Charleston West Virginia Contents 1 Early life 2 Founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha 3 Career and later life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditBorn in 1888 in Washington D C as Sarah N Meriwether she was the daughter of James H Meriwether 1847 1906 and Mary L Robinson 1849 1942 Her siblings included Robert H Meriwether 1880 Agnes L Meriwether 1883 Mary E Meriwether 1885 1976 and Edith E Meriwether 1891 1968 2 She attended public schools and graduated in 1906 from M Street High School later renamed Dunbar High School the academic or college preparatory high school for black students in the capital 3 Founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha EditSarah Meriwether was accepted into Howard University in 1906 the top historically black college in the nation She was among 1 3 of 1 of African Americans and 5 of whites of eligible age who attended any college at that time 4 An honor student Meriwether majored in English and history 3 In 1909 Meriwether together with six other sophomores was invited to be one of the founders in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated 5 This was the first sorority to be founded by African American women 6 Career and later life EditAfter graduation Sarah Meriwether did additional study at Miner Teacher s College By 1915 she worked as an English teacher at Baltimore s Teacher Training School Later Meriwether taught at both Howard University and Washington D C s Dunbar High School an academic high school that attracted outstanding teachers 3 Because the District was run as part of the Federal government African American teachers in the public schools were part of the civil service and paid on the same scale as whites The Dunbar High School had very high standards 7 In December 1920 Meriwether moved to Charleston West Virginia where she met and married T Gillis Nutter an attorney and state representative in the West Virginia Legislature 8 In Charleston Sarah became active in civic organizations she was on the Education and Program Committees of the NAACP organized the Kanawha County s College Alumni Club and was a member of Charleston s Book Lovers Club 3 She was the first African American to join the West Virginia Society for Crippled Children 1 Nutter along with her Soror Mother Mary L Robinson Meriwether arranged for donation to Howard University of the table where Gen Oliver O Howard signed the charter that created the college 1 She established Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters such as Nu Chapter at West Virginia State University in 1922 Nutter was one of the charter members of Beta Beta Omega in Charleston 1 Nutter died on May 10 1950 aged 62 years in Charleston 3 References Edit a b c d McNealey Earnestine G 2006 Pearls of Service The Legacy of America s First Black Sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Chicago Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated p 53 Meriwethers in the 1900 US Census for Washington D C a b c d e Sarah Meriwether Nutter Theta Rho Chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Archived from the original on 2008 01 01 Retrieved 2007 10 15 James D Anderson The Education of Blacks in the South 1860 1935 Chapel Hill University of North Carolina 1988 p 245 Parker Marjorie H 1999 Past is Prologue The History of Alpha Kappa Alpha 1908 1999 Chicago Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated p 12 Courtney Nadine Jolene May 18 2017 Which Sorority Was Actually the First Town amp Country Retrieved February 11 2022 Thomas Sowell The Education of Minority Children Retrieved December 12 2007 Thomas G Nutter West Virginia Archives and History West Virginia Division of Culture and History 2014 External links EditBiography on Virginia Commonwealth University Sarah Meriwether Nutter at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sarah Meriwether Nutter amp oldid 1071474877, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
