The Founders
Marie participated actively in the planning and organization of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She was present at the inaugural meeting, January 15, 1908, and along with Ethel Hedgeman, was delegated to present the plans for the establishment of the sorority to university officials. These two young women submitted copies of the proposed constitution to the president of Howard University, Wilbur P Thirkield, and to the deans, Lewis Moore and Kelly
Miller. Ms. Woolfolk was the spokesman and made her presentation so well,
that the constitution was approved and Alpha Kappa Alpha was recognized by
the university administration as an official campus organization. At a
follow-up meeting on February 21, officers were elected and Marie Woolfolk
became the first secretary of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
She was chosen to approach members of the sophomore class who had shown an interest in joining the sorority and who had been selected for membership by Beulah Burke. The new members were added without initiation. Marie was a tall, slim, clear-eyed young woman, remembered as being stylish and elegant. In addition to her activities for Alpha Kappa Alpha, she was a lyric soprano in the Howard University Chorus and an active performer with the dramatics club. In 1908, she graduated magna cum laude, with honors in Latin and history although she was an English major. She then attended the Schauffler Training School for Social Service in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was the only Black person enrolled. At Schauffler, she majored in religion. She then returned to Atlanta to accept a position as community assistant to the pastor of the First Congregational Church under the leadership of Dr. Henry Procter. She wrote of her work at this time in a letter to Dean Miller at Howard University:
She held her position at the church for seven years, during which time she assisted the probation officer of the city of Atlanta with delinquent girls. Ms. Woolfolk also taught night school for four years. Then she became head of the Inspection Department of the Standard Life Insurance Company for another four years. In 1917, she was one of two Blacks who worked with the Red Cross following the great Atlanta fire. In 1919, she married Dr. Alfred G. Taylor of Atlanta. Their daughter, Mrs. Alfred Marie Taylor Anderson, is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Mrs. Taylor helped to organize Kappa Omega Chapter, Atlanta in 1923 and was the first basileus of the chapter. She was an inspiration to all who came to know her. Throughout her life, Mrs. Taylor was very active in the civic and social activities of Atlanta. She served as a member of the board of directors of the Carrie Steele Pitts foster home, and she chaired the Finance Committee of the YWCA. She was also a member of the board of the Community Planning Council and for many years was closely associated with the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She organized numerous Community Chests (predecessor to The United Way) campaigns and an important anti-tuberculosis drive. She continued as an active member of the First Congregational Church. Marie Woolfolk Taylor died on November 9, 1960 and is buried in Atlanta, Georgia. |
