In the beginning -- that is, on January 15, 1908 -- our Sorority consisted of nine (9) women, all to be found at Howard University. Throughout the 109 years of our existence, the Sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated^®, have been change agents - opening doors and following their passions. They have flourished as a motivating force, becoming “The First” to accomplish something special and unique in the fields of the arts, aviation, business, communications, community service, culture, dance, education, film, government, history, government, journalism, law, law enforcement, library science, literature, military, medicine, music, politics, religion, science, the social sciences, sports and technology.

It has been the practice of the Sorority to document and recognize the great groundbreaking journey of our pioneering Sorors by gathering the information within chapter, regional and national archives, and by publishing numerous history books written by the outstanding historians of the organization. We have been able to enhance the knowledge of our history by mounting special exhibits at our national meetings - the Boule. During the 2016 Boule, a special Research and Design Team undertook scholarly research to highlight the many "first" achievements of the individual Sorors of our sorority. With this information, we have designed both a dynamic physical exhibit for presentation at the Boule and provided an accessible online exhibit on the Sorority website, one that allows us to link into multiple platforms (including oral and video history). As you examine and reflect upon this exhibit, it becomes apparent that the depth and breadth of the work of our individual Sorors collectively has influenced the history and evolution of the Sorority and the global communities we serve. The exhibition also will become a significant resource as it opens new doors for further research.