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.
Early 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 (1903), assisted his students with the creation. The purpose was to "foster the highest ideals of Christian womanhood" (Saint Mary's Archives). The first initiation was held in 1901.
Two other Greek lettered literary societies were also founded on campus in 1900: Epsilon Alpha Pi, and Sigma Lambda.
Going National.
In 1904, AKP was incorporated as a national sorority. Soon, other chapters were chartered. "Beta chapter" was chartered at Virginia Female Institute (Stuart Hall) in Staunton, Virginia. 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, 1904- 1909.
Moderate Success.
Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1912) categorized AKP with "other women's general fraternities", such as Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi. Seven active chapters are listed, with total active sisters at 304. Three conventions took place previous to this entry.
The 1915 publication of Baird's categorized the sorority in the "second division" of women's fraternities. With 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. AKP now had five active chapters and five inactive chapters, with a total membership of 377. Two chapters reaffiliated with Delta Delta Delta (Baird's 1915, p. 464).
Demise.
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:
The sorority had an approximate total of 487 members (Baird's 1920, p. 675)
Although the date of national dissolution is unknown, Alpha Kappa Psi dispersed sometime after 1920. Over its short history at least three chapters joined Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Conventions.
The following conventions were held
Chapters.
Chapters of Alpha Kappa Psi:
Alumnae Associations.
Alumnae Associations of Alpha Kappa Psi: