Alpha Kappa Psi (sorority)

Alpha Kappa Psi (ΑΚΨ) sorority operated in the United States from 1900 to approximately 1920. At dissolution, several chapters joined Delta Delta Delta.

Early history

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 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. With 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. AKP now had five active chapters and five inactive chapters, with a total membership of 377. Two chapters reaffiliated 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:

  • 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. Over its short history at least three chapters joined Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Conventions

The following conventions were held[2][5]

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

Chapters

Chapters of Alpha Kappa Psi:[2][5][6]

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha (Α) 1904 Saint Mary's School Raleigh, North Carolina Inactive Went inactive in 1910
Beta (Β) 1905 Stuart Hall Staunton, Virginia Inactive Went inactive in 1909
Tau (Τ) 1906 Fairmont Seminary Monteagle, Tennessee Inactive Still active in 1915
Delta (Δ) 1907 Wesleyan Female College Macon, Georgia Inactive Went Inactive in 1913, joined Delta Delta Delta
Eta (Η) 1908 Florida State College for Women Tallahassee, Florida Inactive Still active in 1915 (Also listed as founded in 1907), Went inactive in 1915, joined Delta Delta Delta[3][6][7]
Sigma Nu (ΣΝ) 1909 Stetson University Deland, Florida Inactive Went Inactive in 1913, joined Delta Delta Delta
Kappa (Κ) 1910 Carnegie Technical Institute Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Inactive Still active in 1915
Zeta (Ζ) 1911 Shorter College Rome, Georgia Inactive Went inactive in 1912
Gamma (Γ) 1911 Gunston Hall Washington, DC Inactive Still active in 1915 (also listed as Zeta)[6]
Psi (Ψ) 1913 Synodical College Fulton, Missouri Inactive Still active in 1915 (also listed as Epsilon)[6]
Beta (Β) (reissued?) 1912 or prior Fitzhugh School Fort Worth, Texas Active 1915
Theta (Θ) Knight's School Havana, Cuba Active 1915
Lambda (Λ) Ward-Belmont College Nashville, Tennessee Active 1915

Alumnae Associations

Alumnae Associations of Alpha Kappa Psi:[6][7][8]

  • 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"[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
  1. Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company, Incorporated. 1914. pp. 290–.
  2. Wm. Raimond Baird (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (7 ed.). p. 464.
  3. Delta Delta Delta (1955). The Trident of Delta Delta Delta. G. Banta Publishing Company. pp. 160–161.
  4. 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.
  5. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1915. p. 464.
  6. Flastacowo yearbook. 1915. p. 144. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  7. Flastacowo yearbook. 1912. p. 122.
  8. Flastacowo yearbook. 1914.
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