Karen Green's Nu Kopelle Scrapbook

Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc., was founded on January 19, 1937, by Florence K. Norman and a group of twenty-five college-educated women, who were engaged in various professions and businesses. They met at the Upper Manhattan Branch of the YMCA in New York City to lay the groundwork to establish a National Sorority of African American business and professional women.Lambda Kappa Mu established the Kopelles youth program in 1962 and according to its website it "strives to build leadership skills in young women by promoting good citizenship, cultural enlightenement and academic achievement."

Florence K. Williamson-Norman, born in Macon County, Kentucky, attended public schools in the area. She attained her higher education at Howard University, Jennifer Business Institute, and the University of Hawaii. She taught at Fesseden School in Florida and also served as Dean of Students there. At the same time, she served as Secretary to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, President of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

During her early years, she saw the plight of Kentucky sharecroppers. This experience of seeing their struggles moved her to assume responsibility for two girls of sharecropper families. This commitment illustrated her efforts to improve life for all African American women. As part of these efforts, she established the Washington Business Institute (Washington, D.C.) for African American girls at a time when the United States provided little support for educating African Americans, least of all for girls. She also founded the Flushing (Queens) Citizen’s Association in the neighborhood where she lived at the time. This group helped families living in the neighborhood to work together to improve their lives.

Source: Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority history on their website. A Sisterhood of Business and Professional Women Accessed 5/22/2024. https://lkmsorority.org/about/history.php