Harriet Josephine Terry
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Harriet Josephine Terry (February 4, 1885 - August 15, 1967) was one of the sophomores founders of 1908 of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African-American women. The organization has continued to generate
social capital Social capital is "the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively". It involves the effective functioning of social groups through interpersonal relationships ...
for 105 years. Terry was foremost an educator, for more than 30 years at the college level. She inspired new generations of teachers while teaching English at
Alabama A&M University Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Alabama A&M) is a public historically black land-grant university in Normal, Huntsville, Alabama. Founded in 1875, it took its present name in 1969. AAMU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marsha ...
for 37 years. The university named a women's residence hall in Terry's honor. The profession of teaching at all levels was one of the most prestigious in the African-American community. Education was considered essential for continued progress, and the best students were encouraged to go into teaching. Terry also was active with
professional associations A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and the ...
, the local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the National Women's Club.


Early life

Harriet Terry graduated from Cornwall-on-Hudson High School, in
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
in spring 1906. She entered
Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a private, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and accredited by the Middle States Commissi ...
later that year. It was the top historically black college in the nation, established after the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
. At the time only 1/3 of 1% of African Americans and only 5% of whites of eligible age attended any college.


Founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Nine women founded Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority on January 15, 1908. Terry was a sophomore who also expressed interest. Because of excellent grades, she and several others were accepted as "honor sophomores", without initiation. On October 30, 1908, Terry was elected treasurer of the sorority. The first initiation ceremony took place on February 11, 1909. In fall 1909, Terry started as elected president of the chapter. She wrote the Alpha Kappa Alpha initiation hymn, "Hail Alpha Kappa Alpha Dear."McNealey 2006, op. cit., p. 328. Harriet Terry was also elected Secretary for the Class of 1910 at Howard University. She graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
degree in
liberal arts Liberal arts education (from Latin "free" and "art or principled practice") is the traditional academic course in Western higher education. ''Liberal arts'' takes the term ''art'' in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the ...
in May 1910, with concentrations in
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
,
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
,
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
,
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
,
political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
,
pedagogy Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken as ...
,
history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
, and
chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
.


Career and civic life

After graduation, Terry became chairman of English and History at Gloucester High School in
Capahosic, Virginia Capahosic is an unincorporated community in Gloucester County, in the U. S. state of Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the A ...
. During
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, she returned to Washington to work at the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is Federal Rese ...
.McNealey 2006, op. cit., p. 57. After the war, Terry started teaching English at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical College, devoted to creating new educators. (It is now
Alabama A&M University Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Alabama A&M) is a public historically black land-grant university in Normal, Huntsville, Alabama. Founded in 1875, it took its present name in 1969. AAMU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marsha ...
). She stayed with the university for more than 35 years, inspiring generations. In addition to teaching at the main campus, she trained public school teachers through Alabama A&M extension courses in
Athens, Alabama Athens is a city in and the county seat of Limestone County, Alabama, Limestone County, in the U.S. state of Alabama; it is included in the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 c ...
and other parts of
Limestone County, Alabama Limestone County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 103,570. Its county seat is Athens. The county is named after Limestone Creek. Limestone County is included in the Huntsville, AL Metro ...
. Creating new teachers was critical. A study in 1900 noted that twice as many African-American teachers were needed to reach prospective students and achieve parity with white teachers.James D. Anderson, ''Black Education in the South, 1860-1935''. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1988, pp. 244-245 Terry became a member of the National Women's Clubs, and also served with professional groups. She was a charter member of Chapel of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in
Normal, Alabama Normal, Alabama is the home of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU), the largest HBCU in Alabama. The university is situated in Huntsville, Alabama's northern city limits in Madison County. Normal was established in 1890, when A ...
. During these years, Terry continued to be involved with Alpha Kappa Alpha. In 1949, she established the Epsilon Gamma Omega alumnae chapter in
Normal, Alabama Normal, Alabama is the home of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU), the largest HBCU in Alabama. The university is situated in Huntsville, Alabama's northern city limits in Madison County. Normal was established in 1890, when A ...
, and led it as president. In 1959, Terry retired from teaching after having worked at Alabama A&M University for nearly 40 years. She returned to
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, and joined the Xi Omega chapter of ΑΚΑ. Terry enjoyed discussions about literature, other good conversation, books, and movies with students and friends. She died on August 15, 1967.


Honors

Alabama A&M University named Terry Hall, a women's residence hall, in honor of Harriet Terry, in recognition of her many contributions to the college.


References


External links


VCU BiographyHonoring the Past: Alpha Kappa Alpha FoundersCentennial Celebration: Founders
{{DEFAULTSORT:Terry, Harriet Josephine 1885 births 1967 deaths People from Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York Alpha Kappa Alpha founders 20th-century American educators Educators from New York (state) 20th-century American women educators 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American educators