Nellie Quander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nellie Quander
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Nellie Quander, Incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha; teacher; civic activist
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| Born | February 11, 1880 |
| Died | September 24, 1961 |
Nellie May Quander (born February 11, 1880 – died September 24, 1961) was an important leader. She helped create and became the first international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This sorority is a group for college women.
As president, Nellie Quander helped the sorority grow. She also made sure it supported African-American women. This support was for women in colleges and in their communities. The sorority later created a scholarship in her name. This scholarship helps students pay for college.
Nellie Quander worked as a teacher in Washington, D.C. for 30 years. She also earned advanced degrees. She studied at Columbia University and New York University. She also earned a diploma from the University of Uppsala in Sweden.
She was a strong leader in her community. She served on the board of directors for the YWCA and YMCA. She also held leadership roles in other groups. These included the Women's Trade Union League.
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Nellie Quander's Early Life and Family
Nellie Quander was born in Washington, D.C.. Her parents were John Pierson Quander and Hannah Bruce Ford Quander. The Quander family has a long history. Their family can be traced back over 300 years in Maryland and Virginia.
They are known as one of the oldest free African-American families. Their ancestors were once enslaved in America. Nellie's father was a descendant of Nancy Quander. Nancy was one of the enslaved people freed by President of the United States George Washington. He freed her in his last will.
Nellie's mother was also related to West Ford. He was a freed man who was believed to be George Washington's son. West Ford shared important details about Mount Vernon Plantation. This information helped restore the plantation later.
Nellie Quander went to public schools in Washington, D.C. She graduated with honors from Miner Normal School. This school was started in 1851. It trained teachers, especially for African-American students. Nellie was also very active in her church and community.
Nellie Quander's College Years at Howard University
Nellie Quander attended Howard University. At that time, very few African Americans went to college. Only a tiny percentage of all Americans attended college. While studying at Howard, Nellie also taught students. She worked at the Garrison School in Washington, D.C.
In June 1912, Nellie graduated from Howard University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduated with high honors, called magna cum laude. Her studies focused on history, economics, and political science.
Forming Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Nellie Quander joined Alpha Kappa Alpha at Howard University in 1910. She was elected as the president of her chapter. On October 11, 1912, some members wanted to change the sorority's name and symbols. They also wanted to change its rules.
Nellie Quander asked them to remember their original promises. But the other members did not agree. She was very upset by their ideas. She gave them a deadline to stop trying to change the sorority. After these young women left, Nellie started working to officially establish the sorority.
Nellie Quander worked with other members. These included Minnie Smith, Norma Boyd, Julia Evangeline Brooks, Nellie Pratt Russell, and Ethel Jones Mowbray. Together, they officially registered Alpha Kappa Alpha. This happened on January 29, 1913.
With Nellie's help, Alpha Kappa Alpha became a national organization. It was officially registered in Washington, D.C. It was set up as a non-profit group. Its full name became Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Nellie Quander's Presidency (1913-1919)
After helping to officially establish the sorority, Nellie Quander became its president. In 1913, she was officially elected president at the first Boulé. A Boulé is a large meeting of the sorority.
She served as president for six years. In 1919, she stepped down from her role. This was at the next Boulé in Chicago, Illinois. During her time as president, she wrote the introduction to the sorority's rules. She also chose members to help the sorority grow. Later, Nellie Quander became the first director of the North Atlantic Region of AKA.
Nellie Quander also started the first Alpha Kappa Alpha scholarship. This scholarship was for a senior student. It went to the student with the highest grades in the School of Liberal Arts. The student received a ten-dollar gold prize.
She also helped expand the sorority. She helped other founders create new chapters. These included Beta chapter in Chicago, Illinois. She also helped start Gamma Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. And Delta chapter at the University of Kansas. Nellie Quander herself founded Zeta chapter at Wilberforce University. She also continued to advise the Alpha chapter. She was also a member of the Xi Omega chapter in Washington, D.C.
Nellie Quander's Career and Public Service
After graduating from college, Nellie Quander became a teacher. She worked in the public school system in Washington, D.C. She taught many generations of students for 30 years. At that time, African-American teachers in D.C. were paid the same as white teachers. This attracted many excellent educators.
From 1914 to 1915, Nellie studied at Columbia University. She earned her Master of Arts degree there. She later earned more advanced degrees.
From 1916 to 1917, Nellie Quander worked for the United States Department of Labor. She was a special field agent for the Children's Bureau. In this role, she studied the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. This study happened in New Castle County, Delaware. A local women's club supported the study. They wanted to create a place to help people with intellectual disabilities.
Nellie Quander continued her education. She earned a degree in social work from New York University. She also studied economics for two summers at the University of Washington.
In 1936, Nellie Quander earned a diploma from Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden. In the same year, she went to an international conference. This was about social work in London, England. In the public schools, Nellie also started and supported the School Safety Patrol Unit. She did this for twenty-five years.
Nellie Quander's Community Activities
Nellie Quander showed strong leadership at the YWCA. She was a board member there. She also led the young women's department. She was on the board of directors for the Business Professional and Industrial Committee. This committee was part of the Phillis Wheatley YMCA.
Nellie Quander was a national secretary for work related to unions. She was a delegate for unions focused on education. She also worked with the Women's Trade Union League.
She served as the executive secretary of the Miner Community Center. This center helped women and children. She was also the secretary of the trustee board of Lincoln Temple Congregational Church. This meant she helped manage the church's operations and money.
Nellie Quander's Legacy and Honors
In 1984, Alpha Kappa Alpha held its Diamond Jubilee Boulé. At this event, a scholarship was created in Nellie Quander's honor. Esther Garland Polard, a trustee of Howard University, started it. The scholarship was for $125,000. It is given to junior and senior students at Howard University.
Nellie Quander dedicated her life to education and helping her community. She was close to her sister, Susie Russell Quander. Susie was also a member of a sorority, Zeta Phi Beta. Nellie also had many nephews and friends. She passed away on September 24, 1961.
