Marie Woolfolk Taylor
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Marie Woolfolk Taylor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 18, 1893[1] |
| Died | November 9, 1960 (aged 67)[1] |
| Occupations | founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority; Social Service Worker |
| Spouse | Dr. Alfred Taylor[1] |
| Children | Alfred Marie Taylor[1] |
Marie Woolfolk Taylor (December 18, 1893 - November 9, 1960) was one of the sixteen founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the first sorority founded by African-American women.
Woolfolk did post-graduate study in the new field of social work and returned to Atlanta for her career. She worked as a social worker and probation officer, and chaired numerous civic groups, readily handling financial responsibilities. She was on the board of directors of a range of charities. Woolfolk considered herself mostly a social worker, but she also worked as an educator at night school.
With her commitment to community service and strong leadership in activities in a segregated city, Woolfolk demonstrated how sororities could help women prepare "to create spheres of influence, authority and power within institutions that traditionally have allowed African Americans and women little formal authority and real power."[2]
Marie Woolfolk was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Storrs School until graduation.[3] This was one of the classical academic schools established in Atlanta for freedmen by missionaries from New England after the Civil War.[4] For one semester, Woolfolk attended Atlanta University to concentrate on higher level work. She entered Howard University's Preparatory School in 1901, from which she graduated in 1904.[1][3] Woolfolk then felt prepared to tackle Howard University, the top historically black college in the nation. It was a time when only 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and 5% of whites of eligible age attended any college.[5]
Howard University and founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha
In her later years as a college student at Howard, Woolfolk was heavily involved in planning Alpha Kappa Alpha. She helped design elements of the sorority in 1907. Together with Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, Woolfolk made official presentations in 1907 about the sorority to gain approval of Howard University officials — university president Wilbur P. Thirkield and deans Lewis Moore and Kelly Miller.[1][6] She attended the inaugural meeting on January 15, 1908 and helped draft the sorority's first constitution and bylaws. Woolfolk invited seven sophomores to participate in the sorority so they could begin expansion.[1][6] On February 21, Woolfolk was elected the first secretary of Alpha Kappa Alpha.[6]
In addition, Woolfolk maintained an excellent academic record. She was a lyric soprano with the Howard University Chorus and participated in drama as well.[1] Woolfolk graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, with honors in Latin and history.[6]