Alpha Kappa Psi (sorority)

Alpha Kappa Psi (ΑΚΨ) sorority operated in the United States from 1900 to approximately 1920. At dissolution, several chapters joined Delta Delta Delta.

History
On March 1, 1900, Alpha Kappa Psi was founded as the first Greek letter sorority on the campus of Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Rev. Theodore DuBose Bratton, eventual bishop of Mississippi, assisted his students with the creation of the sorority. Its purpose was to "foster the highest ideals of Christian womanhood". The first initiation was held in 1901.

In 1904, Alpha Kappa Psi was incorporated as a national sorority. Beta chapter was chartered at Virginia Female Institute in Staunton, Virginia, later called Stuart Hall. The next eight years were the heyday of the sorority. Chapters were chartered at schools in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. The Alpha chapter disbanded in 1911, when rector Dr. George W. Lay abolished all sororities at Saint Mary's. The Beta chapter existed for only five years, from 1904 to 1909.

Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1912) categorized ΑΚΨ with "other women's general fraternities", such as Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi. Seven active chapters were listed at this stage, with total active sisters at 304.

The 1915 publication of Baird's categorized the sorority in the "second division" of women's fraternities. Within a few years, a distinction would be made between the senior status sororities and junior status sororities that had been emerging, as a way of distinguishing nationals that were smaller or which served non-accredited colleges. At the time of publication of this issue, ΑΚΨ had five active chapters and five inactive chapters, with a total membership of 377. Two chapters left to affiliate with Delta Delta Delta.

Alpha Kappa Psi, a junior college sorority as of 1916, granted releases to chapters at four-year colleges that chose to affiliate with a larger national. These included Wesleyan Female College, Florida State College for Women, and Stetson University. By 1920, the sorority was recategorized as one of the "miscellaneous fraternities" in Baird's Manual. Four remaining active chapters were listed:


 * Fairmount College (Tennessee)
 * Carnegie Institute of Technology
 * Gunston Hall School (Washington, DC)
 * Synodical College (Fulton, MO)

The sorority had an approximate total of 487 members. Although the date of national dissolution is unknown, Alpha Kappa Psi dispersed sometime after 1920. Out of its legacy, three chapters joined Delta Delta Delta sorority and one chapter joined Chi Omega.

Symbols and traditions
The open motto of Alpha Kappa Psi was "Ever Upward." Its official symbol was the skull and bones. Its colors were blue and gold, specifically sky blue and gold. The sorority's flower was the forget-me-not.

There are two different descriptions of the Alpha Kappa Psi badge. One describes the badge as "an equilateral triangle bearing in the angles of the Greek letters". The other describes it as "a triangle divided into three panels, one displaying a scroll carrying a skull and bones, one a key and the third a torch".

The sororities official publication was the Trigonon  It was published from December 1909 through 1911.

Conventions
Alpha Kappa Psi held an annual national convention from 1909 through 1914. Conventions were held as follows:


 * Asheville, North Carolina, 1909
 * Atlanta, Georgia, 1910
 * Charleston, Souther Carolina 1911
 * Jacksonville, Florida, 1912
 * Washington, D.C., 1914

Chapters
Following is a list of the chapters of Alpha Kappa Psi: Inactive chapters and institutions are indicated in italics.

Alumnae Associations
Alpha Kappa Psi had the following alumni chapters:


 * Tampa Alumnae
 * Atlanta Alumnae
 * Camden Alumnae
 * Savannah Alumnae
 * Portsmouth Alumnae
 * Macon Alumnae