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Phi Beta Kappa,
the first American college fraternity, was organized on the campus
of the College of William and Mary in 1776. Men and women are
members of this college honorary scholarship society.
Greek-lettered fraternities and
sororities have played a major role in American college life since
1776. Black college fraternities and sororities did not emerge until
the early 1900's. Unlike their white counterparts, the black groups
have remained very active at the graduate level. Since their
founding, these groups have played a major role in the cultural,
social and civic life of their communities.
The member organizations of the
National Pan-Hellenic Council are:
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Howard University, 1908
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Howard University, 1913
Zeta Phi
Beta Sorority, Howard University, 1920
Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority, Butler University, 1922
Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity, Cornell University, 1906
Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity, Indiana University, 1911
Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity, Howard University, 1911
Phi Beta
Sigma Fraternity, Howard University, 1914
THE BIRTH OF OMEGA
On Friday evening, November 17,
1911, three Howard University undergraduate students, with the
assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity. This event occurred in the office of biology
Professor Ernest E. Just, the faculty adviser, in the Science
Hall (now known as Thirkield Hall). The three liberal arts
students were Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman.
From the initials of the Greek phrase
meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi
Phi was derived. The phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood,
scholarship, perseverance and uplift were adopted as cardinal
principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the pin and
emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity .
The next meeting was
conducted on November 23, 1911. Edgar Love became the first Grand
Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were selected
Grandkeeper of
the Records
(National Secretary) and Grandkeeper of Seals (National Treasurer),
respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were
selected as charter members.
Alpha Chapter
was organized with fourteen charter members on December 15, 1911.
Love, Cooper and Coleman were elected the chapter's first
Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper of Seals, respectively.
On March 8, 1912, the previously
submitted fraternity constitution was rejected by the Howard
University Faculty Council. The Faculty Council proposed to accept
the fraternity as a local but not a national organization. The
fraternity refused acceptance as a strictly local
organization.
Oscar Cooper
became the fraternity's second Grand Basileus in 1912. Cooper
authorized the investigation of a proposed second chapter at
Lincoln University,
Pennsylvania.
Edgar Love
was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1912 and served until
1915. In 1914, Howard University withdrew its opposition, and
the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was incorporated under the laws
of the District of Columbia on October 28, 1914. Beta Chapter
at Lincoln University was chartered in February, 1914.
George E. Hall, the fourth Grand
Basileus, had been initiated at Alpha Chapter in 1914. Grand
Basileus Hall authorized the establishment of Gamma Chapter
in Boston, Massachusetts. However, the chapter was eventually
established during the administration of the fifth Grand Basileus,
James C. McMorries.
During the administration of the sixth
Grand Basileus, Clarence F. Holmes, the fraternity's first official
hymn, "Omega Men Draw Nigh", was written by Otto Bohannon.
Raymond G. Robinson, the seventh Grand
Basileus, established Delta Chapter in Nashville, Tennessee
in 1919. Robinson left office in 1920 with a total of ten chapters
in operation.
Stanley Douglas served as Editor of
the first Oracle published in the spring of 1919.
Harold K. Thomas, the eighth Grand
Basileus, was elected at the 1920 Nashville Grand Conclave. It was
at this Conclave that Carter G. Woodson inspired the establishment
of National Achievement Week to promote the study of Negro life and
history.
The 1921 Atlanta Grand Conclave
brought to an end the first decade of the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity. | 
