Carrie Snowden
Born
Carrie Estelle Snowden

1884
Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died1948(1948-00-00) (aged 59–60)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
OccupationSwitchboard operator
Known forFounder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated;

Carrie Estelle Snowden (c. 1884 – 1948)[1] was one of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African-American women.[2][3][4]

Early life

Snowden was born in Pennsylvania c. 1884.[5][1] She grew up in Washington, D.C., where she attended public schools.[6] In June 1902, she graduated eighth grade at the Lincoln School and was promoted to high school.[7] In June 1906, she graduated from M Street High School where she served as her class vice president.[8][4]

She enrolled in Howard University in the School of Arts and Science in 1906.[9][10] There were only a few women enrolled in Howard at the time.[3] She graduated from Howard with a B.A. in May 1910, having studied English, French, German, and history.[9][11][12]

Alpha Kappa Alpha

While at Howard, she and fifteen other women formed Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[3][2] Snowden was admitted to the sorority without initiation in February 1908.[13] She served as the epistoleus (corresponding secretary) of what became the Alpha chapter of the sorority in the fall of 1909.[9][10]

In 1923, Snowden was a charter member of Xi Omega alumnae chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in Washington, D.C.[9] She was active in its membership and amenities committees.[9]

Career

In 1917, Snowden was appointed a substitute librarian for high schools and normal schohols in Washington, D.C.[14] Later in life, Snowden worked in administration at Howard University as a switchboard operator until she retired.[9]

Personal life

Snowden and Silas Hinton married on January 4, 1906, in Washington, D.C.[15][1]

Snowden's job at the university allowed her to take classes there.[6] She pursued lifelong learning, taking courses in a wide range of subjects such as commerce, economics, mathematics, and social work.[9] In 1943, she took a course in typing at Howard.[9]

Snowden died in 1948 in Washington, D.C.[9] She was buried in Washington, D.C.[9] Her sorority friends remembered her as "small, slim, and gracious".[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 District of Columbia, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1830-1921. Vol 103 P326 31826. via Ancestry.com
  2. 1 2 "Notable Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC. | WHUR 96.3 FM". whur.com. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  3. 1 2 3 Brooks, Jeffrey S.; Witherspoon-Arnold, Noelle (2013-03-01). Confronting Racism in Higher Education: Problems and Possibilities for Fighting Ignorance, Bigotry and Isolation. IAP. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-62396-158-9 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 "In Colored Schools". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1906-06-12. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-07-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ U.S. Census Records 1920.
  6. 1 2 "Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial: Founders" (PDF). Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  7. ↑ "Eleventh Division. Pupils Promoted From Eighth Grade to High School". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1902-06-20. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-07-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Armstron Manual Training School". The Washington Post. 1906-06-12. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ross, Lawrence C. (2019-08-27). The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities. Kensington Books. pp. 289–290. ISBN 978-1-4967-2888-3.
  10. 1 2 3 Parks, Gregory S. (2008-06-13). Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-3872-5 – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ "Degrees Are Conferred". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1910-05-25. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-07-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "110 Receive Degrees: Howard University Graduates Addressed by Dr. Vernon". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. 1910-05-26. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-07-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Brown, Tamara L.; Parks, Gregory S.; Phillips, Clarenda M. (2012-02-29). African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-4073-5 – via Google.
  14. ↑ "Community Organizations". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1917-10-04. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-07-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Marriage Lincenses". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1906-01-05. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-25 – via Newspapers.com.
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