Final answer:
Pi Beta Phi was the first national fraternity for college women, named before the term 'sorority' was in use. The National Pan-Hellenic Council oversees Greek organizations, including historically significant ones like Alpha Kappa Alpha, which was the first Black women's Greek organization at a Black university.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pi Beta Phi was the first organization of college women founded as a national fraternity. It was called a fraternity because, at the time of its establishment, the word "sorority" had not yet been coined. The term fraternity was used in a broad sense, meaning an organization that includes all human beings. This historical fact highlights the evolution of language and the development of women's organizations in college settings.
In the context of the history of Greek organizations, it's important to note that the National Pan-Hellenic Council supervises a collaborative group that includes nine International Greek fraternities and sororities, which represent the culturally established Greek-lettered organizations predominating at historically Black colleges and universities. For instance, in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. became the first Black women's intercollegiate Greek organization founded at Howard University, a Black university, which now boasts notable members such as Kamala Harris and Toni Morrison.