Julia Evangeline Brooks
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Julia Evangeline Brooks | |
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 | |
| Born | June 1882[1] |
| Died | November 24, 1948[2] |
| Occupations | incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority; Assistant principal and dean of girls at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C.[2] |
| Parent(s) | Walter Henderson Brooks and Eva Holmes Brooks[2] |
Julia Evangeline Brooks (June, 1882 – November 24, 1948) was an incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first sorority founded by African-American women.
Having earned a B.A. degree at Howard University and M.A. at Columbia University, Brooks was a devoted educator for the rest of her life. She worked most of her working life at Dunbar High School in Washington, DC. She was an assistant principal there for 26 years, and also served as Dean of Girls.
Brooks was one of ten children born to Walter Henderson Brooks and Eva (Holmes) Brooks in New Orleans, Louisiana.[2] Her father, enslaved as a child, grabbed the chance for education, earning B.A. and theology degrees from Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania in 1873. He became the pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, DC.[2]
During her youth, Brooks attended public schools in Washington, D.C. Brooks was enrolled at Sumner Magruder Elementary School and M Street High School (also known as Dunbar High School).[2]
After graduating high school, Brooks enrolled in Miner Normal School, a training school for teachers. She taught primary school for a few years, then Brooks went on to Howard University for more education.[2]
College life and incorporation of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Brooks was one of several members who were early supporters of the idea of incorporating Alpha Kappa Alpha to provide for its future expansion.[2] As a result, Brooks, Nellie Quander, Norma Boyd, Nellie Pratt Russell, Minnie B. Smith and Ethel Jones Mowbray incorporated Alpha Kappa Alpha on January 29, 1913.[3] Brooks and the other incorporators, were listed by name in Article Four of the sorority's Certificate of Incorporation. After incorporation, Brooks served as treasurer of the directorate until 1923.[2]