AKA Archives: Crown Jewel of Howard's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center
$1 million gift and historic digitizing make collection unrivaled
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Archives at Howard University's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center have emerged as one of the Center's "crown jewels" because of its size, scope and stature. Hailed as one of the largest, fastest growing and most visited of all the collections, the Sorority's recent $1 million award to the Center and historic decision to digitize its Collection, mean that it will be a lasting legacy of Alpha Kappa Alpha's greatness.
According to Barbara A. McKinzie, international president, "The Collection represents a treasure trove that chronicles AKA's 102-year history, preserves its legacy and dramatically tells its story of sisterhood and service that began right at Howard University in 1908."
Howard University President Sidney A. Ribeau has praise for the Collection. "As one of our most significant treasures, the AKA Archives continues to provide unique, scholarly resources for its membership and other researchers." He added that the Sorority's recent "generous donation" will broaden the scope and accessibility of the AKA Archives."
According to Joellen ElBashir, curator of manuscripts at the Center, AKA's Collection represents one of the most extensive, exhaustive, dynamic, most visited and most researched of all those safeguarded at the Center.
Noting the diversity and historic dimensions of the Collection, ElBashir added, "The contents combine hard copy manuscripts and original letters, with digitized versions of many of its documents, including some that date back to 1908, the year AKA was founded. This foray into the digital era makes it the first Collection to do so. Because of this, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Collection is the most cutting edge, globally-relevant and dynamic of all the Collections we house."
A veritable treasure trove of information, the AKA archives trace the Sorority's journey from its humble beginnings on the campus of Howard University in 1908, with 16 members in one chapter, to its rise as one of the world's most powerful organizations. Today, it boasts 225,000 members in 975 chapters worldwide, including in Japan, Canada, Germany, the Bahamas and on the continent of Africa.
Dr. Earnestine Green McNealey, international chairman of AKA's Archives Committee, says the Collection was first launched in 1978 with a $50,000 contribution. Hailed as a "significant event" at the time, it began with eight boxes of materials from two past international presidents. Today, it takes up over 500 linear feet of space.
Its highly-heralded possessions include papers from three founders, documents from the organization's incorporator and first national president, records of the Cleveland Job Corps, which was founded during President Lyndon Johnson's administration and is credited with training thousands who landed viable employment and launched meaningful careers, and materials documenting the growth of the Mississippi Health Project, founded in the 1930s as a vehicle for providing health services to the underserved in rural Mississippi.
The Collection also provides a repository for the Sorority's publications including the Ivy Leaf, its official publication.
The $1 million gift, which was made as a lead-up to the Sorority's Centennial, also included the awarding of several scholarships. Former international president Faye Bryant and Wenda Weeks Moore, a member of the Alpha Chapter Celebration Committee, spearheaded the effort.
In reflecting on the significance of the Archives and their importance to America's history, McKinzie said: "This Collection is a monument to Alpha Kappa Alpha's history and emergence as a world power. Within its volumes, documents and its digital images are a testament to a proud legacy that is rooted in sisterhood and service."
Click here to read the press release.