Lucy Diggs Slowe

Lucy Diggs Slowe (July 4, 1885 - October 21, 1937) is known for being one of the original sixteen founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a college dean, and a tennis champion. Slowe is also a cousin of Elder Watson Diggs, a founder of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Early Life
Lucy was born in Berryville, Virginia to Henry Slowe and Fannie Porter Slowe. Her father was a hotel operator. However, her parents died while Lucy was at a young age. Orphaned, Lucy was raised by her aunt Martha Price in Lexington, Virginia. At thirteen, Lucy and her family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where she attended Baltimore Colored School. She graduated second in the class in 1904 and was the first person from the school to attend Howard University.

Howard and Alpha Kappa Alpha
Lucy Diggs Slowe was one of the nine original founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908. She was instrumental in drafting the sorority's constitution. She also served as the chapter's first president.

Teaching, tennis, and Dean of Women
After graduation, Slowe received her Masters of Arts degree at Columbia University in 1915. She also was an English teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1917, Slowe was the first woman to win American Tennis Association's tournament in 1917, and the first African-American female to win a major sports title.

In 1922, Slowe was also the first College Dean of Women at Howard University, the first African-American female to serve in that position. She also founded the National Association of College Women and thee Association of Advisors to Women in Colored Schools. She served as College Dean until her death on October 21, 1937.

Honors
After Slowe's death, Howard University opened Lucy Diggs Slowe Hall, in 1943. Located on 1758 T Street, NW, the hall still exists today as a co-ed residence. Slowe was also mentioned in an exhibit, Breaking The Barriers: The ATA and Black Tennis Pioneers, sponsored by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum from August 25 to September 9, 2007. She was also honored in 1986 with a plaque presented by National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors' 70th convention.