Marguerite Young Alexander

Marguerite Young Alexander (March 1, 1889 – December 3, 1954) an American eductor and was one of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.[1][2]

Marguerite Young Alexander
Born
Marguerite A. Young

March 1, 1889
DiedDecember 3, 1954(1954-12-03) (aged 65)
Burial placeSunset Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois
Alma materHoward University
OccupationTeacher
Known forCo-founder of Delta Sigma Theta

Early life edit

Marguerite Young was born in Springfield, Illinois, the fourth child and only daughter of Minnier and James William Young, a hotel waiter.[3]

 
Delta Sigma Theta, 1913. Alexander is in the middle row, second from the right

She studied romance and classical languages at Howard University, graduating in 1913.[4][5] On January 13, 1913, she and 21 other sorority sisters voted to withdraw and from Alpha Kappa Alpha and establish a new sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, that was devoted to community service and social activism.[6][7][8] She marched in the Woman Suffrage Procession on March 3, 1913, with Delta Sigma Theta; it was the only black organisation in the Washington, D.C. march.[9][8]

Career edit

Young was an English teacher at DuSable High School in Chicago, Illinois.[10] Later, she was a French and Spanish corresponding secretary for a business firm in Chicago.[4][1]

Personal life edit

She married Waldo Emerson Alexander, a dentist, on April 30, 1918.[2][11] They had a son, George Young Alexander.[2] The family lived in Chicago.[2][7]

She continued to be active in Delta Sigma Theta, often serving as an honored guest.[12] She was a charter member of the Lambda chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, based in Chicago.[13] She was a member of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church.[2]

She died in Chicago in December 3, 1954.[2] She was buried in Sunset Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Harris, Jessica (2008). "Women of Vision, Catalysts for Change: The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority". In Parks, Gregory S. (ed.). Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-8131-2491-9 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Obituary for Alexander, Marguerite Young". Chicago Tribune. 1954-12-04. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  3. ^ "Twelfth Census of the United States". Supervisor's District 11, Enumeration District 90, Capital Township, Third Ward, Sangamon County, Illinois: National Archives and Records Administration. June 1, 1900: 6B. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. ^ a b "ΔΣΘ Convention Supplement". Baltimore Afro American Newspaper. July 4, 1992. p. 14 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Parks, Gregory S. (2008-06-13). Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. University Press of Kentucky. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-8131-7295-8 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Giddings, Paula (1988). In Search of Sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the Challenge of the Black Sorority Movement. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 38 and 48. ISBN 0688135099
  7. ^ a b White, Madree Penn (January 30, 1988). "Deltas Celebrating Their Beginnings". The Baltimore Afro-American. p. 9. Retrieved July 30, 2023 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ a b Brown, Tamara L.; Parks, Gregory S.; Phillips, Clarenda M. (2012-01-01). African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. University Press of Kentucky. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-8131-3662-2 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Strickland, Shadra. "Hidden Figures of the Suffrage Movement | Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art". Brandywine Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  10. ^ McCall, Victoria (1942-01-30). "Delts Everywhere Hail their Founders--Celebrate 29 Years of Service and Growth". The Dayton Forum. Dayton, Ohio. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Obituary for Alexander Waldo Emerson". Chicago Tribune. 1968-08-25. p. 70. Retrieved 2023-07-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Founder's Day is Observed by Deltas of Gary". The Phoenix Index. Phoenix, Arizona. 1941-03-22. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Fourteenth Census of the United States:1920–Population". Supervisor's District 1, Enumeration District 104, Chicago, Second Ward, Cook County, Illinois: National Archives and Records Administration. January 2, 1920: 1A. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)