Carrie Snowden

American sororiety founder

Carrie Snowden

Born|

Carrie Estelle Snowden

1884

Pennsylvania, U.S.

Died| 1948(1948-00-00) (aged 59–60)

Washington, D.C., U.S.

Occupation| Switchboard operator
Known for| Founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority;

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

## Early life

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

In 1917, Snowden was appointed a substitute librarian for high schools and normal schools 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

1. ^ a b c District of Columbia, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1830-1921. Vol 103 P326 31826. via Ancestry.com
2. ^ a b "Notable Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC. | WHUR 96.3 FM". whur.com. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
3. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ross, Lawrence C. (2019-08-27). The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities. Kensington Books. pp. 289–290\. ISBN 978-1-4967-2888-3.289-290&rft.pub=Kensington+Books&rft.date=2019-08-27&rft.isbn=978-1-4967-2888-3&rft.aulast=Ross&rft.aufirst=Lawrence+C.&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=JtuJDwAAQBAJ&dq;=%22Carrie+Snowden%22+-wikipedia&pg;=PT300&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Carrie+Snowden" class="Z3988">
10. ^ a b c 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.

* v
* t
* e

Founders and Incorporators of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

* Ethel Hedgeman Lyle
* Margaret Flagg Holmes
* Beulah Burke
* Lillie Burke
* Lucy Diggs Slowe
* Marie Woolfolk Taylor
* Anna Easter Brown
* Lavinia Norman
* Marjorie Hill
* Joanna Mary Berry Shields
* Ethel Jones Mowbray
* Sarah Meriwether Nutter
* Harriet Josephine Terry
* Norma Elizabeth Boyd
* Alice P. Murray
* Carrie Snowden
* Nellie M. Quander
* Minnie B. Smith
* Julia Evangeline Brooks
* Nellie Pratt Russell

*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template