Our History
It was on Palm Sunday, April 1923, that Miss Gladys Merritt discussed the possibilities of a sorority Chapter in Jersey City. Of the eight teachers who attended, only one declined. Friday came and they voted in favor of a permanent organization which was incorporated by a Newark attorney, J. Mercer Burrell. Dr. G. E. Cannon, Mr. J. L. Merritt, Mrs. Lottie Cooper, and Mrs. Estelle Morris became their trustees. The date of incorporation was May 23, 1923 which has become our Founders´ Day. The Sorority spread from the East to the South, Midwest, Southwest, Far West, to Liberia in West Africa, and Barbados, West Indies.
Our Founders
SEATED FRONT ROW:
Gladys Cannon Nunery • Julia Asbury Barnes • Gladys Merritt Ross (Mother Founder) • Dr. Florence Steele Hunt
STANDING BACK ROW: Ella Wells Butler • Edna McConnell • Marguerite Gross • Mildred Morris
The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. (NSPDK) is a nonprofit, educational sorority founded by eight educators desiring to establish a sisterhood among teachers and promote the highest ideals of the teaching profession. NSPDK was the idea of Gladys Merritt Ross, who, on Good Friday, March 30, 1923, convened a group of young teachers from Jersey City Normal School in Jersey City, New Jersey to discuss the idea of forming a sorority. Eight members of those present concurred, and Newark attorney, J. Mercer Burrell, incorporated the new organization on May 23, 1923 - which is now recognized as the official Founders Day. Because the original members were all minors, their parents or guardians, Dr. G.E. Cannon, Mr. J.L. Merritt, Mrs. Lottie Cooper and Mrs. Estelle Morris became trustees. The eight founders are Gladys Merritt Ross (Mother Founder), Julia Asbury Barnes, Ella Wells Butler, Marguerite Gross, Florence Steele Hunt, Edna McConnell, Gladys Cannon Nunery and Mildred Morris Williams.
Theta History
The History of Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa
Theta Chapter, chartered on November 5, 1927, became the 8th chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Sorors from the Alpha, Beta, and Delta Chapters conducted the initiation at the home of Gertrude Robinson. Founder Gladys Cannon Nunery conducted the induction service and presented the charter to the nine ladies who were known as charter members.
