User:HistoricDST/Sandbox- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Founder Winona Cargile Alexander

Winona Cargile Alexander

Founder Winona Cargile Alexander (1890 - 1984) was a Founder of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Contents

1 Background 2 Education 3 The Founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 4 Participation in the 1913 Women Suffrage March 5 Participation in the Expansion of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 6 Career 7 References 8 Footnotes 9 External Links Background

Founder Winona Cargile Alexander was born on June 21, 1893 in Columbus, GA. Winona Cargile Alexander was the second oldest of four daughters born to the Rev. Charles Cargile and Fannie E. Cargile. Rev. Charles was an African Methodist Episcopal pastor and divinity school graduate.

In 1917 Winona Cargile married Jacksonville, attorney Edward L. Alexander whom she had six children with. Winona Cargile Alexander was active with the Laura Street Presbyterian Church and was later ordained an Elder.

Winona Cargile Alexander was very involved in community organizations including the Methodist Hospital Board of Directors, United Presbyterian Women’s Organization, YWCA Board, Jacksonville Inter-Racial Council, Elder, Sunday school teacher, auxiliary chairperson, and Pianist (Laura Street/Woodlawn Presbyterian Church).

Education

Founder Alexander graduated from Ballard Normal High School in Macon, GA in 1910, and entered Howard University in the fall of same year. While at attending Howard University Founder Alexander was involved in many public service program, activities and clubs. Founder Alexander was elected Class Vice-president in 1911; Secretary of Classical Club from 1912 - 1913; Secretary and Treasurer of the Social Science Club; Secretary of Deutsche Verein (German Club). She was a member of the member of YWCA Cabinet from 1912-1913; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Alpha Phi Literary Society; and she was a member of the NIKH Board (Yearbook Staff).

The Founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Winona Cargile Alexander was one of the Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Soror Alexander was present at the reorganization meeting of Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in the Fall of 1912. Founder Alexander was the first Custodian of Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Winona Cargile Alexander said that she and her Alpha chapter sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “… continued to focus on our purpose of scholarship, service and sisterhood with many campus activities and projects…”  Foot note number ____ Once such project was Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. participation in the Women Suffrage March on March 3, 1913 in Washington, DC.

Participation in the 1913 Women Suffrage March

Winona Cargile Alexander participated in the Women Suffrage March on March 3, 1913 in Washington, DC. Winona Cargile Alexander along with twenty-one other founding sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority marched with honorary member Mary Church Terrell under the banner of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1913 for the enfrancement of women less than two months after the founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Winona Cargile Alexander her other twenty-one founding sisters and other Black women marchers were subject to racism not only by people who were opposed to the enfrancement of women, but by the March Organizers who were reluctant to advocate suffrage for Black women because of White supremacists within their ranks. “For example, Mary Church Terrell who marched in the parade with African American Delta Sigma Theta Sorority women from Howard University assembled in the area reserved for Black women. Several years later, Terrell confided her feelings about the NAWSA and about Alice Paul to Walter White of the NAACP. Terrell questioned, in particular, Paul’s loyalty to Black women, concluding that, if she and other white suffragist leaders could get the Anthony Amendment through without enfranchising African American women, they would do so.” Foot note 9

Participation in the Expansion of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Founder Alexander was extremely active in community and civic affairs, and was a Charter member of the Queens (NY) Alumnae Chapter.

Career

After graduating “cum laude” from Howard University in 1914, she accepted a position as a high school English teacher in Sedalia, Missouri school system for one year before receiving a fellowship to pursue graduate training at the New York School of Philanthropy, now known as Columbia University School of Social Work. In 1915, Winona Cargile Alexander was the first person of color to enroll in Columbia University School of Social Work.

Winona Cargile Alexander was the first Black Social Worker with the New York City and New York County Charities. In 1916 upon completion of her coursework, she moved to Jacksonville, FL, where she became a social worker for “Colored Indigents” with the Board of Public Welfare (later known as Duval County Welfare Board).

From 1948 to 1950 Winona Cargile Alexander was an administrator with the Traveler’s Aid Society in Jacksonville, FL. For the next ten years from 1950 to 1960 Winona Cargile Alexander was an Admissions Officer with Brewster Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.

References

Brown, Tamara L. (2005). African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. Boyd, Alice, (1995). A Life of Quiet Dignity: Naomi Sewell Richardson, First Edition, New York: Red Elephant Publishers. Greene, Robert (July 1981). Delta Memories: A Historical Summary. Washington, DC: Robert Ewell Greene. Morris, Edna B., (August 1944). Delta Sigma Theta: Its History and Development. Gary, Indiana: The Gary American Publishing Company. Giddings, Paula (1988). In Search of Sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the Challenge of the Black Sorority Movement. New York, New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. Vroman, Mary (1965). Shaped to Its Purpose: Delta Sigma Theta - The First Fifty Years by Mary Elizabeth Vroman. New York, New York: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with second release from Random House Inc. in 1993.

Footnotes

1. ISOS, page 189.

2. ISOS page 34.

3. Ibid, page 34.

4. Ibid, page 31.

5. Ibid, page 65.

6. Giddings, Paula (1988). In Search of Sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the Challenge of the Black Sorority Movement. New York, New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., page 36.

7. Ibid, page 39.

8. Ibid, page 48.

9. Terborg-Penn, Rosalyn. (1998) African American Women in the Struggle for the Vote, 1850-1920 (Blacks in the Diaspora). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, page 123.

External Links

Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. http://www.dstnyac.org/noteworthy_members.shtml http://www.dstquac.org/index.html