Nellie Pratt Russell
Encyclopedia
Nellie Pratt Russell was an incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African-American college women. The sorority has continued to generate social capital for nearly 100 years.
Earning undergraduate and graduate degrees at Howard University
and Columbia University
, Nellie Russell worked as an educator for more than 50 years, mostly teaching English
at St. Paul's College
, an historically black college in Lawrenceville, Virginia
. There she inspired generations of students and teachers. Russell was featured in the 1927 volume of Who's Who in Colored America. St. Paul's College named a building after Nellie Russell and her husband Dr. J. Alvin Russell, in honor of their contributions, and endowed a scholarship in their name.
on May 4, 1890.
In 1907, Pratt entered Howard University
's College of Arts and Sciences. It was the top historically black college in the nation, and she attended at a time when only .33% of African Americans and 5% of whites of eligible age attended any college.
degree in English
.
Pratt was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha during her sophomore year. During college, Pratt started a lifetime of service by volunteering to distribute clothes and food to the poor.
, Nellie Pratt, Julia Evangeline Brooks
, Norma Boyd, Minnie B. Smith
and Ethel Jones Mowbray
worked together to incorporate Alpha Kappa Alpha on January 29, 1913, in order to provide for its future expansion to other colleges.
)
After graduation, Russell taught history
and English for two years at Topeka Normal and Industrial School in Topeka, Kansas
.
To be closer to her mother after her father's death, Nellie Pratt moved to Lawrenceville, Virginia to teach at St. Paul Normal and Industrial School (now St. Paul's College
). It was a historically black college.
There in 1913 Nellie Pratt married Dr. J. Alvin Russell. The elder son of the school's founder, Russell served as principal of St. Paul Normal and Industrial School starting in 1926, and as President for several years starting in 1936. During their marriage, Nellie Russell had four sons and one daughter.
Nellie Russell also did graduate work during the summers, earning a Master of Arts
degree from Columbia University
in New York. She devoted great energy to her career as an educator, teaching English at St. Paul's College for nearly 50 years. She influenced generations of students, and helped create teachers as excellent as she was.
Russell served as a faculty advisor to the Alpha Upsilon chapter of AKA at St. Paul's College.
In 1949, Nellie Russell expanded Alpha Kappa Alpha by helping found the Gamma Lambda Omega graduate chapter. Russell created a chapter educational loan to provide for undergraduate students. Through the years, she served as the chapter's president, secretary, historian, and correspondence secretary.
Nellie Russell's daughter and three daughters-in-law all became members of Alpha Kappa Alpha in their turn. Her son James Russell served for 10 years with distinction as President of St. Paul's College.
Nellie Pratt Russell died on December 13, 1979.
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African-American college women. The sorority has continued to generate social capital for nearly 100 years.
Earning undergraduate and graduate degrees at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Nellie Russell worked as an educator for more than 50 years, mostly teaching English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at St. Paul's College
Saint Paul's College, Virginia
Saint Paul's College is a private, historically black college located in Lawrenceville, Virginia. The college is a four-year, private, co-ed, liberal arts institute affiliated with the Episcopal Church.-Campus:...
, an historically black college in Lawrenceville, Virginia
Lawrenceville, Virginia
Lawrenceville is a town in Brunswick County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,275 at the 2000 census. Located by the Meherrin River, it is the county seat of Brunswick County and home to historically black Saint Paul's College, founded in 1888 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church...
. There she inspired generations of students and teachers. Russell was featured in the 1927 volume of Who's Who in Colored America. St. Paul's College named a building after Nellie Russell and her husband Dr. J. Alvin Russell, in honor of their contributions, and endowed a scholarship in their name.
Early life
Nellie Pratt was born in Macon, GeorgiaMacon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
on May 4, 1890.
In 1907, Pratt entered Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
's College of Arts and Sciences. It was the top historically black college in the nation, and she attended at a time when only .33% of African Americans and 5% of whites of eligible age attended any college.
Howard University and Alpha Kappa Alpha
Nellie Pratt graduated in 1911 from Howard with a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
.
Pratt was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha during her sophomore year. During college, Pratt started a lifetime of service by volunteering to distribute clothes and food to the poor.
Incorporation of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Nellie QuanderNellie Quander
Nellie Mae Quander was an incorporator and the first international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. As president for several years, she helped expand the sorority and further its support of African American women at colleges and in communities. The sorority established a...
, Nellie Pratt, Julia Evangeline Brooks
Julia Evangeline Brooks
Julia Evangeline Brooks was an incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African American women. The sorority has continued to generate social capital for nearly 100 years....
, Norma Boyd, Minnie B. Smith
Minnie B. Smith
Minnie B. Smith was an incorporator of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first sorority founded by African American women. Although Smith died young in the influenza epidemic in 1919, the legacy she created with Alpha Kappa Alpha has continued to generate social capital for nearly 100 years.Minnie...
and Ethel Jones Mowbray
Ethel Jones Mowbray
Ethel Jones-Mowbray was one of the twenty founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first sorority founded by African American women. Her legacy was an organization that has helped African American women succeed in college, prepare for leadership and organize in communities, and...
worked together to incorporate Alpha Kappa Alpha on January 29, 1913, in order to provide for its future expansion to other colleges.
Career and later life
{See Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesHistorically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
)
After graduation, Russell taught history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and English for two years at Topeka Normal and Industrial School in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
.
To be closer to her mother after her father's death, Nellie Pratt moved to Lawrenceville, Virginia to teach at St. Paul Normal and Industrial School (now St. Paul's College
Saint Paul's College, Virginia
Saint Paul's College is a private, historically black college located in Lawrenceville, Virginia. The college is a four-year, private, co-ed, liberal arts institute affiliated with the Episcopal Church.-Campus:...
). It was a historically black college.
There in 1913 Nellie Pratt married Dr. J. Alvin Russell. The elder son of the school's founder, Russell served as principal of St. Paul Normal and Industrial School starting in 1926, and as President for several years starting in 1936. During their marriage, Nellie Russell had four sons and one daughter.
Nellie Russell also did graduate work during the summers, earning a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York. She devoted great energy to her career as an educator, teaching English at St. Paul's College for nearly 50 years. She influenced generations of students, and helped create teachers as excellent as she was.
Russell served as a faculty advisor to the Alpha Upsilon chapter of AKA at St. Paul's College.
In 1949, Nellie Russell expanded Alpha Kappa Alpha by helping found the Gamma Lambda Omega graduate chapter. Russell created a chapter educational loan to provide for undergraduate students. Through the years, she served as the chapter's president, secretary, historian, and correspondence secretary.
Nellie Russell's daughter and three daughters-in-law all became members of Alpha Kappa Alpha in their turn. Her son James Russell served for 10 years with distinction as President of St. Paul's College.
Honors
- The 1927 Who's Who in Colored America included the biography of Nellie Pratt Russell in its collection of people who contributed to the science, culture and overall development of U.S. society.
- St. Paul's College named a building after Dr. J. Alvin and Nellie Russell, in honor of their long, joint contributions to the college. The college also established a scholarship in their name.
- Nellie Russell was named "Mother of the Year" and outstanding chapter member by a local chapter of the fraternity Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
.
Nellie Pratt Russell died on December 13, 1979.