Lavinia Norman

Infobox Person
color=light black
name=Lavinia Norman


image_size=90px
caption=
occupation= founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; English, French, and Latin teacher
dead= dead
birth_date=December 14, 1882
birth_place=Montgomery, West Virginia, U.S.
death_date=January 22, 1983 (aged 100)cite book | last=McNealey|first=Earnestine G. | title=Pearls of Service: The Legacy of America’s First Black Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha | year=2006 |publisher=Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated |location=Chicago p. 41.]
death_place=Washington, D.C., U.S.
spouse=
children=
parents=Thomas Norman and Virginia Thomas

Lavinia Norman (December 14, 1882 - January 22, 1983) was one of the sixteen original founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African American women, at Howard University. She was one of a small minority of women who attended college at all. In addition Norman did graduate work and taught for more than 40 years at the high school level, when teaching was considered one of the most critical and prestigious careers for a developing nation.

A devoted educator, Norman also was active in Alpha Kappa Alpha in the local chapter and helped build social capital in her community.

Early life

Born as the eighth of sixteen children to Thomas Norman and Virginia Thomas, Lavinia Norman grew up in Montgomery, West Virginia.cite web |url=http://www.studentorg.vcu.edu/thetarho/holmes.html |title=Lavinia Norman|publisher=Theta Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated|accessdate=2007-11-26] Her elementary years were spent in West Virginia. When her father got a job with the Postal Service, Norman's family moved to Washington, D.C. In 1901, she started secondary work at Howard University's Preparatory School. She graduated in 1905 with a diploma.

Howard University and founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Lavinia Norman entered Howard University, the top historically black college in the nation, at a time when only 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and 5% of whites attended any college. [James D. Anderson, "The Education of Blacks in the South, 1860-1935". Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 1988, p.245]

Norman drafted the constitution for Alpha Kappa Alpha with Margaret Flagg and Ethel Hedgeman. After the sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, Norman expanded the activities of Alpha chapter at Howard University. As a senior in 1909, she succeeded Ethel Hedgeman as head of AKA. Norman helped to plan ceremonies for the second Ivy Day celebration at the university. Norman graduated cum laude with degrees in French and English in 1909.

Teaching

After graduating from Howard, Norman returned to West Virginia. There she taught Latin, French, dramatic arts, and English at Douglass High School in Huntington. In 1934 she earned a second Bachelor of Arts degree at West Virginia State College.

In 1950, Norman retired after forty years in education, having taught generations of students. During her tenure as teacher, she acted as coach for the high school's drama team and was the adviser to the school's newspaper.McNealey 2006, op. cit., p. 42.]

She was also active in Alpha Kappa Alpha, in the Beta Tau Omega chapter in Huntington.

Later life

After retiring from teaching, Norman returned to Washington, D.C., where she affiliated with Alpha Kappa Alpha's Xi Omega chapter. In 1978, Norman was honored at the 70th celebration of the sorority's founding. The sorority unveiled a window honoring her and 19 other founders was unveiled in Rankin Chapel at Howard University. The sorority also helped to celebrate her 100th birthday. cite web |url=http://aka1908.com/centennial/pdf/founders_pdf.pdf |date=April 2007|title=Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial: Founders |publisher=Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.|accessdate=2007-11-27|format=PDF]

Having served Alpha Kappa Alpha for more than 75 years, Lavinia Norman died on January 22, 1983.

External links

* [http://www.studentorg.vcu.edu/thetarho/norman.html Biography at Virginia Commonwealth University]
* [http://www.aka1908.com/past/ Honoring the Past: Alpha Kappa Alpha Founders]
* [http://aka1908.com/centennial/pdf/founders_pdf.pdf Centennial Celebration: Founders]

References