History of Beta Nu Omega
Beta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was chartered on June 13, 1936, with seven charter members of which four were transferees, namely: Soror Jewette Langford Anderson, Chi Chapter; Soror Albertine Moore Campbell, Pi Chapter; Soror Portia Trenholm, Chi Chapter; and Soror Elizabeth McLemore White, Phi Chapter. The other three members, Soror Helen Sawyer Braxton, Soror Ollie L. Brown, and Soror Mary Hatchett Goldsmith were taken across the burning sands as the first three initiates of Beta Nu Omega.
The initiation activities supervised by the South Eastern Regional Director C. Russell Harris were performed in Soror Portia Trenholm’s home. Soror Trenholm was chosen as the first Basileus with Soror Elizabeth McLemore White as the first Grammateus. In the fall of 1936 Soror Jule Clayton Lewis was initiated and Soror Winifred Hall Smith transferred from Omicron Omega during this same year.
The initial important goal of Beta Nu Omega was to establish an annual scholarship for a freshman girl of Alabama State University. During the Honors Day Activities in the spring of 1937 Beta Nu Omega was the only Greek letter organization to present a sum of $25 to a deserving student to encourage high scholastic achievement. The second endeavor, during the year of 1937 through the fall of 1938, was to secure an undergraduate chapter on the campus of Alabama State University.
Upon the election of Supreme Basileus Margaret Davis Bowen at the Boule in Louisville, Kentucky, Beta Nu Omega was granted permission to establish an Ivyette Club on the campus. Members of the Ivyette Club were Emma Bynum, Mildred Harper Nilon, Walta Abbott, Doris Reynolds Parker, Blanche Brooks Hill, Lillian Taylor, Ruth Hawkins, Hazel Todd James, Bessie Ball, Gertrude Grayson, Gladys Alexander Seymour, Winona Nicholson, Lucile Finley, Natalie Davis, and Etta Mae Smiley.
Sorors Faustine Dunn and Mary Wells Shelby were initiated in 1937. Also in 1937, Sorors Evelyn Easterly, Wilhelmina Simpson Robinson, Alpha Psi, and Lillie Lee, Beta Eta, were transferred to Beta Nu Omega. Two things of importance happened for Beta Nu Omega at the 1937 Boule in New Orleans. The Undergraduate Chapter, Beta Pi, was granted and Soror Portia Trenholm was elected as South Eastern Regional Director. Soror Mary Wells Shelby, a member of Beta Nu Omega, sang at the Public Meeting of the Boule, which was held at Xavier University.
The Chapter has grown from that humble seven (7) chapter members to two hundred seventy-three (273) lofty, strong members. Through our outstanding leadership, we have had many honors and awards, hoping this will continue in the future. Giving “service to all mankind” is our highest objective.
[Excerpts taken from the History of Beta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, February 15, 1986.]
Beta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was chartered on June 13, 1936, with seven charter members of which four were transferees, namely: Soror Jewette Langford Anderson, Chi Chapter; Soror Albertine Moore Campbell, Pi Chapter; Soror Portia Trenholm, Chi Chapter; and Soror Elizabeth McLemore White, Phi Chapter. The other three members, Soror Helen Sawyer Braxton, Soror Ollie L. Brown, and Soror Mary Hatchett Goldsmith were taken across the burning sands as the first three initiates of Beta Nu Omega.
The initiation activities supervised by the South Eastern Regional Director C. Russell Harris were performed in Soror Portia Trenholm’s home. Soror Trenholm was chosen as the first Basileus with Soror Elizabeth McLemore White as the first Grammateus. In the fall of 1936 Soror Jule Clayton Lewis was initiated and Soror Winifred Hall Smith transferred from Omicron Omega during this same year.
The initial important goal of Beta Nu Omega was to establish an annual scholarship for a freshman girl of Alabama State University. During the Honors Day Activities in the spring of 1937 Beta Nu Omega was the only Greek letter organization to present a sum of $25 to a deserving student to encourage high scholastic achievement. The second endeavor, during the year of 1937 through the fall of 1938, was to secure an undergraduate chapter on the campus of Alabama State University.
Upon the election of Supreme Basileus Margaret Davis Bowen at the Boule in Louisville, Kentucky, Beta Nu Omega was granted permission to establish an Ivyette Club on the campus. Members of the Ivyette Club were Emma Bynum, Mildred Harper Nilon, Walta Abbott, Doris Reynolds Parker, Blanche Brooks Hill, Lillian Taylor, Ruth Hawkins, Hazel Todd James, Bessie Ball, Gertrude Grayson, Gladys Alexander Seymour, Winona Nicholson, Lucile Finley, Natalie Davis, and Etta Mae Smiley.
Sorors Faustine Dunn and Mary Wells Shelby were initiated in 1937. Also in 1937, Sorors Evelyn Easterly, Wilhelmina Simpson Robinson, Alpha Psi, and Lillie Lee, Beta Eta, were transferred to Beta Nu Omega. Two things of importance happened for Beta Nu Omega at the 1937 Boule in New Orleans. The Undergraduate Chapter, Beta Pi, was granted and Soror Portia Trenholm was elected as South Eastern Regional Director. Soror Mary Wells Shelby, a member of Beta Nu Omega, sang at the Public Meeting of the Boule, which was held at Xavier University.
The Chapter has grown from that humble seven (7) chapter members to two hundred seventy-three (273) lofty, strong members. Through our outstanding leadership, we have had many honors and awards, hoping this will continue in the future. Giving “service to all mankind” is our highest objective.
[Excerpts taken from the History of Beta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, February 15, 1986.]
