Lillie Burke
Encyclopedia
Lillie Burke She and her sister Beulah Burke
were two of the nine original founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority in 1908, the first sorority founded by African American
women. Her legacy of creating Alpha Kappa Alpha has continued to contribute to society for nearly 100 years.
In her leadership as an educator and organizer, Burke created important social capital. The chapter Burke helped establish in Washington, DC helped support African American women in the community in their leadership of the next generations in society.
Lillie Burke demonstrated in her work as an educator and active sorority member how African American sororities supported women "to create spheres of influence, authority and power within institutions that traditionally have allowed African Americans and women little formal authority and real power."
, Burke moved with her family to Washington, DC. There she and her sister Beulah attended the Howard Preparatory School. They graduated in 1904, ready to enter Howard University later that year.
Sorority, Incorporated. She and her sister Beulah
were instrumental in organizing the sorority. They also created its motto, as they were both accomplished Greek scholars.
Lillie Burke graduated from Howard University
with a Bachelor's of Arts in English. When she graduated from the top historically black college in the nation, it was a time when only 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and 5% of whites of eligible age attended any college. Burke then went on to earn a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania
.
in academic programs in public high schools in Pennsylvania
, and especially Washington, DC, where she spent most of her career. She was head of the academic department at Downing Institute in Pennsylvania. She then went to North Carolina
where she taught at the State Normal School at Fayetteville
to prepare new generations of teachers, considered one of the most important careers in the South.
Burke encouraged and taught generations of students through 30 years as an educator in the Washington, DC public school system. Although the schools were segregated, because the District of Columbia was then run directly by the Federal government, African American teachers were paid at the same scale as white teachers. The system attracted highly qualified teachers, especially for Dunbar High School, the academic high school for African Americans.
After Burke returned to Washington in 1912, she helped charter the Xi Omega alumnae chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She continued to contribute to the community through her activities with the sorority and her church. She died in Washington, D.C.
in 1949.
Beulah Burke
Beulah Elizabeth Burke , She and her sister Lillie were two of the nine original founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1908, the first sorority founded by African American women. In her leadership as an educator and civic activist, Burke created important social capital...
were two of the nine original founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
Sorority in 1908, the first sorority founded by African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
women. Her legacy of creating Alpha Kappa Alpha has continued to contribute to society for nearly 100 years.
In her leadership as an educator and organizer, Burke created important social capital. The chapter Burke helped establish in Washington, DC helped support African American women in the community in their leadership of the next generations in society.
Lillie Burke demonstrated in her work as an educator and active sorority member how African American sororities supported women "to create spheres of influence, authority and power within institutions that traditionally have allowed African Americans and women little formal authority and real power."
Early life
Born in Hertford, North CarolinaHertford, North Carolina
Hertford is a town in Perquimans County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,185 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Perquimans County. Hertford is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region and is part of the Elizabeth City Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Burke moved with her family to Washington, DC. There she and her sister Beulah attended the Howard Preparatory School. They graduated in 1904, ready to enter Howard University later that year.
Howard University
Lillie Burke was one of the sixteen founders (specifically one of the original group of nine founders) of Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
Sorority, Incorporated. She and her sister Beulah
Beulah Burke
Beulah Elizabeth Burke , She and her sister Lillie were two of the nine original founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1908, the first sorority founded by African American women. In her leadership as an educator and civic activist, Burke created important social capital...
were instrumental in organizing the sorority. They also created its motto, as they were both accomplished Greek scholars.
Lillie Burke graduated from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
with a Bachelor's of Arts in English. When she graduated from the top historically black college in the nation, it was a time when only 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and 5% of whites of eligible age attended any college. Burke then went on to earn a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Career and community life
Burke had a long career as an educator in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in academic programs in public high schools in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and especially Washington, DC, where she spent most of her career. She was head of the academic department at Downing Institute in Pennsylvania. She then went to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
where she taught at the State Normal School at Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
to prepare new generations of teachers, considered one of the most important careers in the South.
Burke encouraged and taught generations of students through 30 years as an educator in the Washington, DC public school system. Although the schools were segregated, because the District of Columbia was then run directly by the Federal government, African American teachers were paid at the same scale as white teachers. The system attracted highly qualified teachers, especially for Dunbar High School, the academic high school for African Americans.
After Burke returned to Washington in 1912, she helped charter the Xi Omega alumnae chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She continued to contribute to the community through her activities with the sorority and her church. She died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1949.