May 23, 1923
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May 23, 1923 〰️
Our History and Our Founders
The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. (NSPDK) is a nonprofit, educational sorority founded by eight educators desiring to establish a sisterhood among teachers and promote the highest ideals of the teaching profession. NSPDK was the idea of Gladys Merritt Ross, who, on Good Friday, March 30, 1923, convened a group of young teachers from Jersey City Normal School in Jersey City, New Jersey to discuss the idea of forming a sorority. Eight members of those present concurred, and Newark attorney, J. Mercer Burrell, incorporated the new organization on May 23, 1923 - which is now recognized as the official Founders Day. Because the original members were all minors, their parents or guardians, Dr. G.E. Cannon, Mr. J.L. Merritt, Mrs. Lottie Cooper and Mrs. Estelle Morris became trustees. The eight founders are Gladys Merritt Ross (Mother Founder), Julia Asbury Barnes, Ella Wells Butler, Marguerite Gross, Florence Steele Hunt, Edna McConnell, Gladys Cannon Nunery and Mildred Morris Williams.In Recognition of NSPDK Founders' Day
Below is an Excerpt from "We Speak Your Names". Please use the poem that Supreme Basileus Dr. Etta F. Carter adapted from Pearl Cleage at your Founders' Day programs and events.
Excerpt: WE SPEAK YOUR NAMES*
By Pearl Cleage
Written for Oprah Winfrey's Living Legend's Banquet
Adapted for NSPDK Founders' Day by Dr. Etta F. Carter
Because we are free women,
born of free women,
who are born of free women,
back as far as time begins,
we celebrate your freedom.
We Speak Your Name
Dr. Gladys Merrit Ross
Because we are wise women,
born of wise women,
who are born of wise women,
we celebrate your wisdom.
We speak your name
Julia Asbury Barnes
Because we are strong women,
born of strong women,
who are born of strong women,
we celebrate your strength.
We speak your name
Dr. Florence Steele Hunt
We are here to speak your names
Dr. Gladys Cannon Nunery,
Ella Wells Butler,
Mildred Morris Williams,
Edna McConnell, and
Marguerite Gross
We are here because you taught us that sisterspeak can continue to be our native tongue, no matter how many languages we learn as we move about as citizens of the world and of the ever-evolving universe.
We are the ones you hoped would make you proud because all of our hard work makes all of yours part of something better, truer, deeper.
Something that lights the way ahead like a lamp unto our feet, as steady as the unforgettable beat of our collective heart.
My sisters, on this NSPDK Founders' Day,
we ask you to speak our Founders' names and your chapter's charter members' names.
We speak your names.
We speak your names.