Joanna Mary Berry Shields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joanna Mary Berry Shields
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Joanna Shields graduating from Howard University
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| Born | July 7, 1884 |
| Died | February 2, 1965 (aged 80) |
| Occupation | founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Teacher |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Samuel J. Shields |
| Children | Vivian, Samuel, Jr.; Martha, Thomas, Hanna and Landrum |
| Parent(s) | Carrie Lucas and Charles Berry |
Joanna Mary Berry Shields (July 7, 1884 – February 2, 1965) was an important American woman. She was one of the seven students who helped create the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This was the very first sorority started by African-American women.
Joanna Shields worked as a teacher for over 20 years. She taught in the Southern United States, where good schools were greatly needed. She also taught in New York City, where many African Americans were moving to build new lives.
She was also a strong leader in her community. Her hard work led her to be chosen for important groups. These included the New York Mayor's Committee on Human Rights. She also served on the Consumers Protective Committee. Joanna Shields showed how sororities helped African-American women gain influence and power.
Early Life and School
Joanna was born in Catharpin, Virginia. Her parents were Charles and Carrie Lucas Berry. As she grew up, Joanna went to private schools in Prince William County, Virginia. She graduated with high honors from Manassas Industrial School.
In 1901, she went to Howard University's special high school program. After that, she continued her studies at Howard University. Back then, very few African Americans went to college. Howard University was a top school for Black students.
At Howard, Joanna earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied social science and mathematics. She graduated with honors, which means she did very well.
Founding Alpha Kappa Alpha
Joanna Berry was one of nine women who started Alpha Kappa Alpha. This happened on January 15, 1908. She was in charge of keeping the group's records in 1909. After she finished college, Joanna Shields was not very involved with the sorority for some years.
In 1922, Berry moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There, she reconnected with Alpha Kappa Alpha. She joined a local group called Phi Omega. She also helped with activities for young people through the sorority.
She was a delegate for her chapter at a big meeting in 1935. She received a special diamond pin for being a founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha. After moving to New York in 1937, Shields was a member of the Tau Omega chapter. She stayed active until she passed away. She also kept in touch with another founder, Lavinia Norman.
Teaching and Community Work
After getting her degree, Joanna Berry went back to Virginia. She taught at her old school, Manassas Institute.
In 1911, Berry moved to North Carolina. She taught at Slater Normal School. She helped train many new teachers there. Teaching was a very important job in the South at that time. Later, this school grew and became Winston-Salem State University.
Joanna met her husband, Samuel J. Shields, in New York City in 1913. They had six children together. The Shields family later moved to South Carolina.
In South Carolina, Joanna Shields taught at Central School in Darlington, South Carolina. In 1920, she helped make the school year longer for African-American children. It went from three months to six months, thanks to money from the Rosenwald Fund.
Two years later, Shields and her family moved back to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Shields became more involved in community and church activities. She was a secretary at the Wentz Memorial Church. She also worked with the church's nursery school.
In 1937, Shields and her family returned to New York City. There, Shields taught English at Christopher Columbus High School. This school was in the Bronx. She taught there until 1943.
Shields was also active in many community groups. These included the Harlem YMCA and the NAACP. She was also part of the Negro History Club and the National Council of Negro Women. She worked hard to help consumers and senior citizens. She served on the Mayor's Committee on Human Rights. She also helped with the Consumers Protective Committee. She worked to help people register to vote.
She also volunteered to care for people who were sick. She visited hospitals and helped by sewing. Joanna Mary Berry Shields passed away on February 2, 1965, in New York City.
