Nellie Quander
Encyclopedia
Nellie Mae Quander was an incorporator and the first international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
. As president for several years, she helped expand the sorority and further its support of African American women at colleges and in communities. The sorority established a scholarship endowment in her name. The legacy of the sorority has continued to generate social capital for nearly 100 years.
Quander served as an educator in Washington, DC public schools for 30 years. Early in her career, she earned an M.A.
at Columbia University
. Later she earned a degree in social work at New York University
, plus a diploma at the University of Uppsala, Sweden
.
She was a leader in civic and community affairs, where she served on the board of directors at the YWCA
and YMCA
, as executive secretary at the Miner Community Center, as well as in leadership positions with the Women's Trade Union League
and other groups.
to John Pierson Quander and Hannah Bruce Ford Quander. Her family could trace its lineage and sense of purpose for three hundred years in Maryland
and Virginia
. They are considered to be one of oldest free African American families whose ancestors had once been enslaved in America
. Nellie Quander's relatives included maternal grand-uncle Blanche K. Bruce, a Senator
from Mississippi
during Reconstruction. Her father was a descendant of Nancy Quander, one of the slaves freed by President of the United States
, George Washington
in his last will and testament. In addition, Nellie's mother was a relative of West Ford, the freed mulatto
son of Bushrod Washington
, George Washington's nephew. From his personal knowledge, West Ford informed the Mount Vernon Ladies Association about the interior of Mount Vernon Plantation
's interior for later restoration. The association bought Mount Vernon during the 1850s for preservation.
During her early years, Nellie Quander attended Washington, D.C.'s public schools. She graduated from Miner Normal School with honors. It was established in 1851 as the Normal School for Colored Girls
to train teachers.
, the top historically black college in the nation, only 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and 5% of whites attended any college. While enrolled at Howard University, Quander also taught students at the Garrison School in Washington D.C.'s public school system. In June 1912, Nellie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree, magna cum laude, in history
, economics
, and political science
.
To expand the sorority at Howard, new members were initiated. On October 11, 1912, twenty-two members were initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha. The twenty-two began to be dismayed at the progress of the sorority and wanted to reorganize. According to Giddings, the group wanted to "establish a national organization, enlarge the scope of activities of the sorority, change its name and symbols, and be more politically oriented." When the word was spread to Quander, the graduate member, about changing the sorority name, she was said to be "horrified" at the proposal and gave the women who disagreed with her a deadline to terminate the efforts of reorganizing the sorority. When hearing plans of twenty-two members desiring to cede from Alpha Kappa Alpha in order to form a new sorority, Quander began contacting graduate members order to stop the proposals.
Smith, Quander, Norma Boyd, Julia Evangeline Brooks
, Nellie Pratt Russell
and Ethel Jones Mowbray
moved to incorporate Alpha Kappa Alpha on January 29, 1913. The former members continued their efforts to chart another course and founded Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority. on January 13, 1913.
With Quander's help, Alpha Kappa Alpha was nationally incorporated in Washington, D.C., as a non-profit under the name Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on January 29, 1913.
Nellie Quander established the first Alpha Kappa Alpha scholarship for a senior with the highest grade point average in the School of Liberal Arts. The recipient received a ten dollar gold prize.
She also expanded the sorority's undergraduate chapters. Quander assisted fellow founder Beulah Burke
to establish Beta chapter in Chicago, Illinois; Gamma Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
; and Delta chapter at the University of Kansas
. Quander was the sole founder of Zeta chapter at Wilberforce University
. She continued to act as graduate advisor to Alpha chapter, and was a member of the Xi Omega chapter in Washington, D.C.
to earn her Masters of Arts
degree. Later she pursued additional post-graduate degrees. (see below).
From 1916 to 1917, Quander was a special field agent for the Children's Bureau for the Department of Labor
. In this position, she observed the social and economic structure of mentally handicapped people in New Castle County, Delaware
. The study was sponsored by the local Women's Club to prepare to establish an institution for the mentally handicapped.
Quander furthered her education by attaining a degree in social work
at New York University
, and studied economics
for two summers at the University of Washington
.
In 1936, Quander earned a diploma at Uppsala University
in Uppsala, Sweden
. She attended the International Conference on Social Work in London, England
during the same year. In the public schools, Quander established and supported the School Safety Patrol Unit for twenty-five years.
, where she was a board member and chairman of the young women's department. She was a member of the board of directors of the Business Professional and Industrial Committee in the Phillis Wheatley
YMCA.
Quander was the national industrial field secretary in work related to unions
. She was a delegate for unions related to education and the Women's Trade Union League
.
She served as executive secretary of Miner Community Center, which served women and children. She also was secretary of the trustee board of Lincoln Temple Congregational Church, thus among the group that led the operations and financial affairs of the church.
Boulé, Esther Garland Polard, a trustee of Howard University, established a scholarship endowment in Quander's honor. The total amount of the scholarship was $125,000. It is awarded to Howard University junior and senior students.
Nellie Quander devoted her life to education and civic activities. She was close to her surviving sister Susie, nephews and friends. She died on September 24, 1961.
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...
. As president for several years, she helped expand the sorority and further its support of African American women at colleges and in communities. The sorority established a scholarship endowment in her name. The legacy of the sorority has continued to generate social capital for nearly 100 years.
Quander served as an educator in Washington, DC public schools for 30 years. Early in her career, she earned an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Later she earned a degree in social work at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, plus a diploma at the University of Uppsala, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
She was a leader in civic and community affairs, where she served on the board of directors at the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
and YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, as executive secretary at the Miner Community Center, as well as in leadership positions with the Women's Trade Union League
Women's Trade Union League
The Women's Trade Union League was a U.S. organization of both working class and more well-off women formed in 1903 to support the efforts of women to organize labor unions and to eliminate sweatshop conditions...
and other groups.
Family and early life
Nellie Quander was born 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....
to John Pierson Quander and Hannah Bruce Ford Quander. Her family could trace its lineage and sense of purpose for three hundred years in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. They are considered to be one of oldest free African American families whose ancestors had once been enslaved in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Nellie Quander's relatives included maternal grand-uncle Blanche K. Bruce, a Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
during Reconstruction. Her father was a descendant of Nancy Quander, one of the slaves freed by President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
in his last will and testament. In addition, Nellie's mother was a relative of West Ford, the freed mulatto
Mulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
son of Bushrod Washington
Bushrod Washington
Bushrod Washington was a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice and the nephew of George Washington.Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and was the son of John Augustine Washington, brother of the first president. Bushrod attended Delamere, an academy administered by the Rev....
, George Washington's nephew. From his personal knowledge, West Ford informed the Mount Vernon Ladies Association about the interior of Mount Vernon Plantation
Mount Vernon (plantation)
Mount Vernon, located near Alexandria, Virginia, was the plantation home of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The mansion is built of wood in neoclassical Georgian architectural style, and the estate is located on the banks of the Potomac River.Mount Vernon was designated...
's interior for later restoration. The association bought Mount Vernon during the 1850s for preservation.
During her early years, Nellie Quander attended Washington, D.C.'s public schools. She graduated from Miner Normal School with honors. It was established in 1851 as the Normal School for Colored Girls
Normal School for Colored Girls
The Normal School for Colored Girls established in Washington, D.C. in 1851, was an institution of learning and training for young African-American women, especially so that they might become teachers...
to train teachers.
Howard University
When Nellie Quander entered Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, the top historically black college in the nation, only 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and 5% of whites attended any college. While enrolled at Howard University, Quander also taught students at the Garrison School in Washington D.C.'s public school system. In June 1912, Nellie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree, magna cum laude, in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
Incorporation of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
In spring 1910, Quander became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Howard. Two years later, she served the chapter's president. After graduation, Quander was the graduate advisor to Alpha chapter. At the time, Alpha Kappa Alpha existed as one chapter at Howard University with only a ritual and sponsored social events. No plan of nationalizing or incorprorating the organization existed.To expand the sorority at Howard, new members were initiated. On October 11, 1912, twenty-two members were initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha. The twenty-two began to be dismayed at the progress of the sorority and wanted to reorganize. According to Giddings, the group wanted to "establish a national organization, enlarge the scope of activities of the sorority, change its name and symbols, and be more politically oriented." When the word was spread to Quander, the graduate member, about changing the sorority name, she was said to be "horrified" at the proposal and gave the women who disagreed with her a deadline to terminate the efforts of reorganizing the sorority. When hearing plans of twenty-two members desiring to cede from Alpha Kappa Alpha in order to form a new sorority, Quander began contacting graduate members order to stop the proposals.
Smith, Quander, Norma Boyd, Julia Evangeline Brooks
Julia Evangeline Brooks
Julia Evangeline Brooks was an incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African American women. The sorority has continued to generate social capital for nearly 100 years....
, Nellie Pratt Russell
Nellie Pratt Russell
Nellie Pratt Russell was an incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African-American college women...
and Ethel Jones Mowbray
Ethel Jones Mowbray
Ethel Jones-Mowbray was one of the twenty founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African American women. Her legacy was an organization that has helped African American women succeed in college, prepare for leadership and organize in communities, and...
moved to incorporate Alpha Kappa Alpha on January 29, 1913. The former members continued their efforts to chart another course and founded Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
Sorority. on January 13, 1913.
With Quander's help, Alpha Kappa Alpha was nationally incorporated in Washington, D.C., as a non-profit under the name Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on January 29, 1913.
Presidency 1913-1919
After leading the initiative to incorporate the sorority, Quander served as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha. In 1918, at the first Boulé at Howard, she was officially elected president. After having served six years, at the next Boulé in 1919 at Chicago, Illinois, she resigned. During her tenure, she wrote the constitution's preamble and appointed fellow members to implement the sorority's expansion. Later, Quander was the first director of the North Atlantic Region of AKA.Nellie Quander established the first Alpha Kappa Alpha scholarship for a senior with the highest grade point average in the School of Liberal Arts. The recipient received a ten dollar gold prize.
She also expanded the sorority's undergraduate chapters. Quander assisted fellow founder Beulah Burke
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...
to establish Beta chapter in Chicago, Illinois; Gamma Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
; and Delta chapter at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. Quander was the sole founder of Zeta chapter at Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
. She continued to act as graduate advisor to Alpha chapter, and was a member of the Xi Omega chapter in Washington, D.C.
Career
After graduation, Quander became an educator for the public school system in Washington, D.C., where she served generations of students for 30 years. Because the District was run as part of the Federal government, African American teachers in the public schools were paid on the same scale as whites. The system attracted many outstanding teachers. From 1914-1915, Quander studied at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
to earn her Masters of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree. Later she pursued additional post-graduate degrees. (see below).
From 1916 to 1917, Quander was a special field agent for the Children's Bureau for the Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
. In this position, she observed the social and economic structure of mentally handicapped people in New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
. The study was sponsored by the local Women's Club to prepare to establish an institution for the mentally handicapped.
Quander furthered her education by attaining a degree in social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and studied economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
for two summers at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
In 1936, Quander earned a diploma at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in Uppsala, Sweden
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
. She attended the International Conference on Social Work in London, England
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the same year. In the public schools, Quander established and supported the School Safety Patrol Unit for twenty-five years.
Civic Activities
Quander demonstrated leadership at the YWCAYWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
, where she was a board member and chairman of the young women's department. She was a member of the board of directors of the Business Professional and Industrial Committee in the Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley was the first African American poet and first African-American woman whose writings were published. Born in Gambia, Senegal, she was sold into slavery at age seven...
YMCA.
Quander was the national industrial field secretary in work related to unions
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. She was a delegate for unions related to education and the Women's Trade Union League
Women's Trade Union League
The Women's Trade Union League was a U.S. organization of both working class and more well-off women formed in 1903 to support the efforts of women to organize labor unions and to eliminate sweatshop conditions...
.
She served as executive secretary of Miner Community Center, which served women and children. She also was secretary of the trustee board of Lincoln Temple Congregational Church, thus among the group that led the operations and financial affairs of the church.
Legacy and Honors
In 1984 at Alpha Kappa Alpha's Diamond JubileeDiamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
Boulé, Esther Garland Polard, a trustee of Howard University, established a scholarship endowment in Quander's honor. The total amount of the scholarship was $125,000. It is awarded to Howard University junior and senior students.
Nellie Quander devoted her life to education and civic activities. She was close to her surviving sister Susie, nephews and friends. She died on September 24, 1961.