Epsilon Omega Graduate Chapter
The Ivy Family Support Center  
3515 Dolfield Ave 
P.O. Box 67006 (Use only for Mailing)
Baltimore, Maryland  21215
(410) 367-6750
In 1925, Mrs. Nash, successfully proposed the creation of Alpha Delta Chapter during the 1925 Boulế held in Washington, D.C.  The charter members of Alpha Delta Chapter were nine students selected by Mrs. Nash.  Two students were “Campus Students” (Nellie Colleen Henry and Mable Marie Spaulding), four were “Day Students” (Frances Priscilla Male, Mary Anita Short Wheatley, Guinevere Sara Thomas, and Charlotte Elizabeth Watson) and the remaining three were “Extension Student” (Louise Brown, Olga Nicholson, and Mildred Jones).  The “Extension Students” were teachers graduated from Coppin State College who earned the A.B. degree from Morgan.  These “Extension Students” attended “Extension” evening classes held at Douglass High School by Morgan College.  Mrs. Helen Cantrell Nash taught English to these “Extension Students” and thus asked them to become charter members.  Mrs. Nash also recruited personally the Campus and Day students from her classes.


The Chartering

One spring Saturday in March, the “Day Students” and the “Extension Students” traveled to Howard University in Washington, D.C. where they spent the day in the Alpha Chapter AKA House on campus learning the history and rituals of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  Later that night, these “Day and Extension Students” were initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority by the Alpha Chapter.

Morgan College Dean, John Haywood did not approve of Morgan “Campus Students” being initiated at Howard University.  He felt that if Alpha Kappa Alpha was going to be a sorority on the Morgan’s campus, then the students must be initiated on Morgan’s campus.  Mrs. T.I. Brown, Dean of Women at Morgan College in 1926 shared Dean Haywood’s sentiments.  Thus, the two “Campus Student’s” (Mable Spaulding and Nellie Henry) selected by Mrs. Helen Cantrell Nash, were not permitted to join the other women at Howard for initiation.  They were initiated at Morgan College a few weeks later by Alpha Chapter (Howard University Undergraduate Chapter) and Epsilon Omega Chapter (Graduate Chapter in Baltimore, MD). 

Alpha Delta was issued its charter on March 15, 1926.  Epsilon Omega chapter was named the supervising graduate chapter in Baltimore for the newly chartered Alpha Delta.  The charter was signed by the 4th International President, Mrs. Pauline Puryear Sims and International Secretary
Mrs. Ruth Weatherless.  The District Organizer (Regional Director) was Mrs. Erma Bruce Davis.  Of note is the fact that the names of the “Campus and Day Students” appear on the Charter, but not
the names of the “Extension Students.”  Mrs. Beatrice Hurt was the keeper of the charter for decades. 

Alpha Delta Graduate Advisors

The newly chartered Alpha Delta Chapter had three graduate advisors; Vivian Cook Johnson, Erma Bruce Davis, and Gladys Washington Pinderhughes.  Helen Cantrell Nash of Epsilon Omega also served to oversee Alpha Delta Chapter.


Making the Connection: Alpha Delta & Epsilon Omega

Two charter members, Mrs. Mildred Seaborne and Mary Anita Short, were among the seven (9) Alpha Delta Alumna who have become chapter president for Epsilon Omega Chapter, Baltimore, Maryland.  The others were:
•Mabel Frisby - 9th
•Mary Anita Short Wheatley - 10th
•Emma Gaskins Bright - 11th
•Mildred Seaborne (1947-1951)
•Elsie  Bevans Sessoms – 16th
•Bernice Hunley – 17th (1969-1973)
•Gilda Garrett – 20th
•Gloria B. Jones (1989-1992)
•Dr. Nancy H. Bennett a (1997-2000)


Chapter Leadership in the Beginning

Alpha Delta’s first chapter president was Mary Anita Short Wheatley followed by Nellie Colleen Henry, Charlotte Elizabeth Watson, and then Elaine Coulbourne.  The vice president was Mildred.  The first initiates of Alpha Delta were Viola Wilson Wright, Pauline Wharton Bond, Constantia Wharton Jackson, Elaine Coulbourne Fields, and Bernice Carter.


Chapter Activities in the Early Years

Early chapter activities included service oriented fundraising for “Morgan Crusade” in the 1920’s,    a “Day Room Lounge” for “Day Students” and vocational guidance.  Socials included “teas”, taffy-pulls, wiener roasts and talent shows.  Alpha Delta members would entertain Epsilon Omega Chapter at a luncheon where they served crab claw meat salad and cakes made by Mary Anita Short Wheatley.  In spring 1929, Alpha Delta held a joint formal dance with Alpha Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on the campus of Morgan College.

Other activities included a song-writing contest, won by Nellie Henry, whose poem is set to “My Task”.  This song became Alpha Delta’s first chapter song.  It was sung at the joint formal dance accompanied by Dr. Jean Fisher Turpin (AKA).  Alpha Delta members responsible for “Dramatics & Elocution” were Nellie Henry, Mary Anita Short Wheatley and Frances Priscilla Male.  All members worked diligently to acquire culture, to achieve merit, and serve mankind, thus reflecting and saluting Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The Very Beginning

In the spring of 1926 something very exciting and important occurred on the campus of Morgan College, now Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland.  Alpha Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded under the guidance of Mrs. Helen Cantrell Nash. Mrs. Nash was a graduate of the University of Illinois.  She came to Morgan to teach English and Spanish. 
ALPHA DELTA CHAPTER HISTORY
Morgan State University

Alpha Delta Chapter Today

To date, Alpha Delta chapter has initiated over 1000 members into this most sacred sisterhood where it continues to strive for SERVICE TO ALL MANKIND.  In 2011, Alpha Delta Chapter celebrated 85 years of service and sisterhood on the campus of Morgan State University. Over those 85 years, Alpha Delta has been recognized by Morgan State University, the state of Maryland and the North Atlantic Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for its community and campus efforts.
As it brings on new members, Alpha Delta Chapter will continue to reinforce the need for seeking new members that uplift its membership standards of high scholarship, leadership, service, and exemplary character.

Alpha Delta has participated in some of the following activities:  campus wide clean ups, AIDS awareness seminars, feeding the homeless, partnerships with local elementary schools, fundraising for the poor, and food/clothing collection for the needy and mentoring projects.  As Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrates 103 years, Alpha Delta chapter will continue to have a major role in serving the campus of Morgan State University and the local community.