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HISTORICAL SUMMARY

Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc., was founded January 19, 1937 under the leadership of Florence K. Williamson Norman. The charter membership, twenty-five business and professional women, formed 3 (three) chapters; Alpha-New York, N.Y., Beta-Bronx, N.Y. and Gamma-Brooklyn, N.Y. Lambda Kappa Mu obtained its charter, under New York State law, on March 16, 1938 facilitated by the expertise of Judge Jane Bolin as Counsel.

Gamma Chapter's sponsorship of a testimonial dinner honoring Robert J. Elzy upon his completion of 20 years of service with the Brooklyn Urban league, marked the Sorority's first public exposure on February 23, 1938.

Founder, Florence K. Norman. chose not to be Grand Basileus, but instead, functioned as Syntaktes(organizer) for the group. Her efforts realized two additional chapters, Delta-Long Island, N.Y. and Epsilon-Newark, N.J. by June 1940. The First Annual Conclave of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority took place at the Y.M.C.A. on West 137th Street in New York City on June 22, 1940. The Grand Basileus was Philitus Joyce of Gamma Chapter.

The growth of the organization has been continuous with high levels of growth activity during the 1940's and 1970's when 9(nine) and (eight) chapters, respectively, were brought into the Sisterhood. The Sorority, no longer primarily in the North Eastern states, has Chapters across the nation, including, San Diego and Los Angeles in California; Seattle, Washington; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Las Vegas, Nevada; Macon, Georgia and West Palm Beach, Florida.

The following ideals or values were adopted by the Sorority; SISTERHOOD, ACHIEVEMENT, SERVICE and SCHOLARSHIP. The commitment of the Lambda Kappa Mu sisterhood to these ideals is firm and basic to the Sorority's existence. Activity related to these ideals has been different over time, relevant to the times; ranging 

from sponsorship of typing contests for inner city young women to the development and shipment of a mobile health education unit to Ghana to financial and personal support of grass-roots, self-help projects in Henry County, Alabama. Chapter level activity is based on identified concerns in their local communities, such as, tutorial programs, incentive awards to young people, volunteer activity in long term and acute care facilities, and, gifts of material item, monies and their personal involvement to our frail elderly confined to their homes or in institutions.

Lambda Kappa Mu KOPELLES, consits of chapter-sponsored groups of teen-agers. The program evolved out of the Sorority's concern re our youth and the recognition of our responsibility to become involved, in a structural way, with the 'shaping' of our young women. The KOPELLES came into existence during the term of Catherine Cowell, Grand Basileus, 1961-1965, and has grown steadily in membership and program value. The program is focused on the concerns of our young people. It is theirs, it is relevant, wellrounded and fun! Several former Kopelles are now members of the Lambda Kappa Mu sisterhood.

The Florence K. Norman Scholarship was first awarded in 1946. The Recipient, of that first award, became a Soror and was instrumental in organizing Nu Chapter, Long Island, New York. She remains an active member on the local and national level. Awardees, in 1981, numbered 23 (twenty-three). Additionally, many Chapters maintain significant scholarship assistance programs in their local communities.

Lambda Kappa Mu sorority looks forward to continued growth, greater program impact and the acquisition of a permanent Sorority 'home' under the leadership of current Grand Basileus, Audrey Coleman, Kappa Chapter, Boston, Mass. Adhering to our basic ideals while making relevant responses, these aims will be realized.

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[[caption]] North Central Regional Conference
L to R--Daisey Jimerson, Katherine R. Howard--Grammateus LaRita Kersey--friend of Psi chapter, Jennie Washington--prospective Koppelle, Frances Matlock--North Central Regional Director, Josephine E. Fulton--Second Anti Basileus, Hortense E. Matthews--Basileus.[[/caption]]

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