Meet Helen Perry

Helen Perry’s story begins in Chicago, where she was born on May 9, 1895. She grew up as the eldest of three daughters in the Perry home, alongside her sisters Melba and Dorothy. Her father, Dr. Alfred Franklin Perry, was a local physician, but he passed away when Helen was just a child—a detail thoughtfully noted by the Chicago Defender, which later introduced her to its readers as “Miss Helen Perry, daughter of the late Dr. A. F. Perry” .

Education and Early Ambitions

Helen was serious about her studies and earned a Bachelor of Philosophy (Ph.B.) from the University of Chicago—a remarkable achievement, especially given the era’s barriers for Black women in higher education. That degree is highlighted in community notices, signaling Helen’s place among the city’s growing cohort of Black women professionals .

Sorority Life and Leadership

Helen didn’t just take up space in Chicago’s professional circles—she helped shape them. She was a founding member an incorporator of Upsilon Delta Pi Sorority Incorporated.  In November 1922, she joined five other remarkable women as a charter member of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Theta Omega Chapter, planting the seeds for a new wave of civic engagement among Black women in the city. The Cook County Board later commemorated Helen for her foundational role at a gathering on South Wabash Avenue. She went on to serve as chapter president from 1925 to 1926, where she guided programs that helped young people, offered career guidance to high-school seniors, and raised money for scholarships with clever “Vanishing Luncheons.” Helen’s efforts are still documented on Theta Omega’s website and in their official records .

Wide-Ranging Connections

If you visited Helen at 4810 Langley Avenue in Chicago, you’d have found her hosting social events for the Upsilon Delta Pi Sorority—a sign of her broad involvement in the city’s vibrant women’s organizations before the AKA chapter even came to be. The Chicago Defender picked up on her talents as a hostess, further anchoring her reputation in the community .

Work and Civic Service

Helen was listed in census records over the years as a teacher and university graduate. Though the exact school isn’t clear, it’s likely she worked in Chicago’s public or community education system. Her civic footprint stretched across the city, from church-based Lyceum programs to youth mentoring—always with a focus on education, opportunity, and creating new pathways for the next generation .

Later Years and Legacy

Helen made Chicago her home throughout her life. She passed away on January 1, 1947, at the age of 51. Today, her legacy lives on through the organizations she helped anchor—especially Theta Omega Chapter and the AKArama Community Service Center, a lasting testament to the vision she shared with her fellow founders. In official city proclamations and enduring sorority history, Helen’s name continues to be honored for building structures of support and leadership for Black women in Chicago.