Harriet Josephine Terry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harriet Josephine Terry
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| Born | February 4, 1885 |
| Died | August 15, 1967 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Incorporated; English and History teacher |
Harriet Josephine Terry (born February 4, 1885 – died August 15, 1967) was an important American educator. She was one of the founding members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This was the very first sorority started by African-American women. The organization has helped communities for over 100 years.
Harriet Terry spent more than 30 years as a college teacher. She taught English at Alabama A&M University for 37 years. She inspired many students to become teachers themselves. The university even named a building after her to honor her work. Teaching was a highly respected job in the African-American community during her time. People believed that education was key to making progress.
Terry also joined professional groups and local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She was also active in the National Women's Club.
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Harriet Terry's Early Life
Harriet Terry finished high school in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, in 1906. Later that year, she started college at Howard University. Howard University was a top historically black college. It was founded after the American Civil War. At that time, very few African Americans went to college.
Founding Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
On January 15, 1908, nine women created the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Harriet Terry was a sophomore student who was also interested in joining. Because she had excellent grades, she and a few other students were accepted as "honor sophomores." This meant they could join without a special ceremony at first.
On October 30, 1908, Harriet Terry was chosen to be the treasurer of the sorority. The first official initiation ceremony for new members happened on February 11, 1909. In the fall of 1909, Terry became the elected president of the chapter. She also wrote the Alpha Kappa Alpha initiation song, called "Hail Alpha Kappa Alpha Dear."
Harriet Terry was also chosen as the Secretary for her college class of 1910 at Howard University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in May 1910. She studied many subjects, including Latin, English, French, German, political science, pedagogy (the art of teaching), history, and chemistry.
Career and Community Work
After college, Harriet Terry became the head of the English and History departments at Gloucester High School in Capahosie, Virginia. During World War I, she moved back to Washington, D.C. There, she worked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. This is where money and stamps are made.
After the war, Terry began teaching English at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical College. This college focused on training new teachers. Today, it is known as Alabama A&M University. She worked there for almost 40 years, inspiring many generations of students. Besides teaching on campus, Terry also trained public school teachers. She did this through special courses in places like Athens, Alabama and Limestone, Alabama. Training more teachers was very important back then. A study in 1900 showed that twice as many African-American teachers were needed to help all students.
Terry was a member of the National Women's Clubs. She also worked with other professional groups. She helped start the Chapel of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Normal, Alabama.
Throughout these years, Terry stayed involved with Alpha Kappa Alpha. In 1949, she helped create a new chapter for college graduates, called the Epsilon Gamma Omega alumnae chapter, in Normal, Alabama. She was also its first president.
In 1959, Harriet Terry retired from teaching after nearly 40 years at Alabama A&M University. She moved back to Washington, D.C.. There, she joined another Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter called Xi Omega.
Harriet Terry loved talking about books, having good conversations, and watching movies with her students and friends. She passed away on August 15, 1967.
Honors and Recognition
Alabama A&M University honored Harriet Terry by naming a women's residence hall after her. This building is called Terry Hall. It recognizes her many important contributions to the college and to education.
