Lavinia Norman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lavinia Norman
Born	December 14, 1882 Montgomery, West Virginia, United States
Died	January 22, 1983 (aged 100) Washington, D.C., United States
Occupation	founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; English, French, and Latin teacher
Parent(s)	Thomas Norman and Virginia Thomas

Lavinia Norman (December 14, 1882 – January 22, 1983) was an important American educator. She was one of the sixteen young women who started Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This was the very first sorority created by African-American women. They founded it at Howard University.

Lavinia Norman was special because few women, especially African-American women, went to college back then. She taught at Douglas High School in Huntington, West Virginia, for over 40 years. Teaching was a very respected job at that time. She also helped her community by being a leader in her sorority's local chapter.

Lavinia Norman's Early Life

Lavinia Norman was born in Montgomery, West Virginia. She was the eighth of sixteen children. Her parents were Thomas Norman and Virginia Thomas. She spent her early school years in West Virginia.

Her family moved to Washington, D.C., when her father got a job with the United States Postal Service. In 1901, she began studying at Howard University's Preparatory School. She earned her diploma from there in 1905.

Starting Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Lavinia Norman then went to Howard University. This was a top college for Black students in the United States. Very few people attended college at that time. Only a tiny number of African Americans and a small percentage of white people went to college.

Lavinia helped write the rules for Alpha Kappa Alpha. She worked with Margaret Flagg and Ethel Hedgeman. The sorority officially started on January 15, 1908. Lavinia helped grow the sorority's activities at Howard University.

In 1909, she became the head of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She helped plan special events for the university's second Ivy Day celebration. Lavinia graduated in 1909 with high honors. She earned degrees in French and English.

Her Career as a Teacher

After graduating from Howard, Lavinia Norman went back to West Virginia. She taught many subjects at Douglass High School in Huntington. She taught Latin, French, drama, and English. In 1934, she earned another college degree from West Virginia State University.

Lavinia Norman retired in 1950. She had taught for forty years. She helped many generations of students learn and grow. While teaching, she also coached the high school's drama team. She was an advisor for the school's newspaper too. She stayed active in Alpha Kappa Alpha in Huntington.

Later Years and Legacy

After retiring, Lavinia Norman moved back to Washington, D.C. She joined another chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha there. In 1978, she was honored at the sorority's 70th anniversary. A special window was placed in Rankin Chapel at Howard University. It honored her and 19 other founders.

The sorority also helped celebrate her 100th birthday. Lavinia Norman had been a part of Alpha Kappa Alpha for over 75 years. She passed away on January 22, 1983.

See also

In Spanish: Lavinia Norman para niños