OUR HISTORY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



                                                   Our History and Our Founders

The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc was founded by eight educators desiring to establish a sisterhood among teachers and promote the highest ideals of the teaching profession.  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.  May 23, 1923, the date of incorporation, is recognized as the official Founders Day. 

NSPDK is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating the highest quality of academic learning and promoting the teaching career as an honorable profession.  The National Program constitutes the activity center of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.  Throughout previous decades the program has evolved into the current Youth, Education and Service (YES) initiative.  Mentoring programs for high school girls and boys, scholarships for high school graduates majoring in Teacher Education, doctoral scholarships for teacher advancement, financial contributions for Sickle Cell Research at Meharry Medical College and the Maternal Waiting Home in Zambia, Africa are but a few of the major programs supported each year.

Affiliate groups include the Anthropos Group consisting of the husbands, relatives and significant male others who constitute the Men in Our Lives. Hub Parents, the mothers, fathers and other relatives and associates of the Xinos and Kudos who assist sorority members with the supervision and implementation of youth activities.

Iota Chapter, chartered in 1927, in Atlantic City, NJ is the eighth chapter formed in our sisterhood.  We are in our 97th year of service.  We have a rich history in the area and provide many programs that have enriched the lives of our community and the community at large.  Our sustained programs have included awarding annual scholarships, Debutante Cotillion, presented annually over the past 59 years, Golden Cotillion for seniors, Teach-A-Rama, and a very important outreach, sponsoring the Xinos and Kudos, our high school  youth groups.