KT/Grandfather of Bands
New Member
When the German army conquered Paris in 1940, Omega Founder Ernest Just was captured and held as a prisoner of war for a short time.
AKA Founder Norma Elizabeth Boyd was awarded a citation as "Woman of the Year in the Field of Legislation" from the National Council of Negro Women on June 13, 1948.
Three of Iota Phi Theta's 12 Founders have the first name Charles. Sigma and Iota both have a founder by the name of Charles Brown.
Two of the Alpha founders worked as waiters at white fraternity houses. Callis worked at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Kelley at the Beta Theta Pi House at Cornell University. This is where they learned about the Greek Letter structure and format. Callis always admitted that they patterned a great deal of the foundation of the ritual after the "white boys." Callis also stated that they were very helpful and cooperative in their quest to organize the fraternity and even gave them a copy of their ritual book.
It was Delta Founder Florence Letcher Toms who first began collecting elephants, which has become a hobby of Delta's all over the world.
AKA Founder Sarah Merriweather Nutter sent Founder Nellie Quander a piece of ivy from the grave of former President Grover Cleveland. This cutting was planted on the right side of the Manual Arts Building at Howard University
The original idea of establishing a Panhellenic Council came in 1922 when Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma were both hosting their National Conventions in Atlanta at the same time. The two fraternities held a joint meeting and proposed that the established fraternities and sororities work together more harmoniously. During this meeting both sides agreed to urge the other fraternities and sororities to join up. Because of the need for unity and the proposal from these two fraternities, nine years later it became a reality. The official creation of the NPHC took place in 1930. In 1935 Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma met again repeating the previous historical situation of 14 years before. Two of the Omega Founders, Dr. Oscar J. Cooper & Dr. Edgar A. Love personally visited the Sigma Conclave to extend greetings.
Bulter University (SGRho's alpha chapter) and the University of Indiana (Kappa's alpha chapter) are less than fifty miles away from one another.
Of the twenty-two women who organized DST sorority, two dated founders of Omega Psi Phi. Delta Founder Edith Young dated Edgar Love and Frank Coleman dated and ultimately married Edna Brown.
Did you know that the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award in 1939, was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho? Her name was Hattie McDaniels and she played Mammy in "Gone With The Wind."
There have been more members of Phi Beta Sigma serving as National President of the NPHC than any other NPHC fraternity or sorority.
Until the mid-eighties all fraternity pledges that entered Hell Week were considered "dogs". Omega Psi Phi is the only fraternity that continues the unofficial "dogmatic image" once a pledge has crossed.
There have been three husband and wife couples to both serve as National residents of their organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha 22nd Supreme Basileus, Janet Jones Ballard, was married to Phi Beta Sigma's 22nd National President, Richard M. Ballard. Dr. William Hale (20th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha) and his wife Dr. Larzette Golden Hale (17th Supreme Basileus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority). Dr. Ivorite L. Scruggs was the 2nd National President of Phi Beta Sigma and his wife Ruth Tappe-Scruggs was the 6th Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
Harlem Renaissance Writer and Folklorist Zora Neale Hurston pledged Howard's Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority around 1925.
Myra Davis holds the distinction of being the only woman to serve as both Basileus of AKA and President of DST in 1912 and 1913 respectively.
Phi Beta Sigma & Zeta Phi Beta were the first and only constitutionally bonded Greek Fraternity/Sorority, brother/sister organizations. They share several of the same cardinal principles within each respective organization. Sigma & Zeta both share the same colors, creed, symbols from their shields, and the namesake of the PHI BETA, they are true originators of the terms "Frat" & "Soror".
The Founding of Delta Sigma Theta was actually a deadline, in which the AKA's gave the 22 founders of DST to stop their rebellion or face expulsion from the sorority. The 22 members declined to obey the orders and DST was established and founded.
Grace Coleman, sister of Omega founder Frank Coleman, was elected Delta's first president in 1914 at Howard University. Grace also was one of the first initiates of the sorority.
The Kappa Alpha Psi application for incorporation was filed over the signatures of EZRA D. ALEXANDER, BYRON K. ARMSTRONG, HENRY T. ASHER, MARCUS P. BLAKEMORE, PAUL CAINE, ELDER WATSON DIGGS, GEORGE EDMUNDS, GUY L. GRANT, EDWARD G. IRVIN, JOHN M. LEE, AND FREDERICK MITCHELL (who is this guy?). Mitchell later withdrew from school and therefore never became a member. An issue of the Kappa Journal reported that Irven Armstrong (cousin to Kappa founder Bryon Armstrong) , would have been one of founding fathers if he had not had to work the night of January 5, 1911, the night the fathers signed their names to the great petition or scroll. He later became the second Grand Polemarch.
Although SGRho's were founded at Butler College in 1922 they were not the first black sorority established at Butler University. The AKA's had established a chapter two years before their founding in 1920.
AKA Founder Lucy Diggs Slowe organized the first junior high school in Washington DC, Shaw Junior High School. She was appointed principal Howard University
The first Black Fraternity established at Howard University was Alpha Phi Alpha in 1907 Beta Chapter.
The First Black Fraternity founded at Howard University was Omega Psi Phi in 1911.
The First Black Sorority founded at Howard University was Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1908
The First Black Fraternity to be recognized by Howard University as a national fraternity was Phi Beta Sigma in April 1914. Omega's recognition came later the same year in November.
Although Kappa Alpha Psi was not founded at Howard University, two of their founders Byron K. Armstrong and Elder Watson Diggs attended Howard University in the 1909-1910 school year before transferring to the University of Indiana.
Alpha Kappa Alpha founder Lucy Diggs Slowe, became the first African-American Dean of Women at Howard University and held that post until she died in 1937. Charles Harris Wesley, Alpha historian presided at her funeral and Omega Founder, Frank Coleman was a pallbearer.
In a race to be the first sorority incorporated at Howard University, both Deltas and AKA's alpha chapters were incorporated on the same day. The AKA's incorporated as a national organization in 1913, papers were processed 20 minutes before the Deltas. DST was not incorporated as a national organization (an entire entity) until 1930.
Sigma Founder Dr. Leonard F Morse became the first male student at Howard University to earn 2 degrees and 2 diplomas in three years of college.
December 28th - 29th 1916 Phi Beta Sigma held its 3rd annual convention at its Alpha Chapter House in Washington DC. One of its guest speakers was Omega Psi Phi 4th Grand Basileus George Hall, who was also a Masonic fraternity brother to Sigma Founder A. Langston Taylor.
AKA Founder Norma Elizabeth Boyd was awarded a citation as "Woman of the Year in the Field of Legislation" from the National Council of Negro Women on June 13, 1948.
Three of Iota Phi Theta's 12 Founders have the first name Charles. Sigma and Iota both have a founder by the name of Charles Brown.
Two of the Alpha founders worked as waiters at white fraternity houses. Callis worked at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Kelley at the Beta Theta Pi House at Cornell University. This is where they learned about the Greek Letter structure and format. Callis always admitted that they patterned a great deal of the foundation of the ritual after the "white boys." Callis also stated that they were very helpful and cooperative in their quest to organize the fraternity and even gave them a copy of their ritual book.
It was Delta Founder Florence Letcher Toms who first began collecting elephants, which has become a hobby of Delta's all over the world.
AKA Founder Sarah Merriweather Nutter sent Founder Nellie Quander a piece of ivy from the grave of former President Grover Cleveland. This cutting was planted on the right side of the Manual Arts Building at Howard University
The original idea of establishing a Panhellenic Council came in 1922 when Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma were both hosting their National Conventions in Atlanta at the same time. The two fraternities held a joint meeting and proposed that the established fraternities and sororities work together more harmoniously. During this meeting both sides agreed to urge the other fraternities and sororities to join up. Because of the need for unity and the proposal from these two fraternities, nine years later it became a reality. The official creation of the NPHC took place in 1930. In 1935 Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma met again repeating the previous historical situation of 14 years before. Two of the Omega Founders, Dr. Oscar J. Cooper & Dr. Edgar A. Love personally visited the Sigma Conclave to extend greetings.
Bulter University (SGRho's alpha chapter) and the University of Indiana (Kappa's alpha chapter) are less than fifty miles away from one another.
Of the twenty-two women who organized DST sorority, two dated founders of Omega Psi Phi. Delta Founder Edith Young dated Edgar Love and Frank Coleman dated and ultimately married Edna Brown.
Did you know that the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award in 1939, was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho? Her name was Hattie McDaniels and she played Mammy in "Gone With The Wind."
There have been more members of Phi Beta Sigma serving as National President of the NPHC than any other NPHC fraternity or sorority.
Until the mid-eighties all fraternity pledges that entered Hell Week were considered "dogs". Omega Psi Phi is the only fraternity that continues the unofficial "dogmatic image" once a pledge has crossed.
There have been three husband and wife couples to both serve as National residents of their organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha 22nd Supreme Basileus, Janet Jones Ballard, was married to Phi Beta Sigma's 22nd National President, Richard M. Ballard. Dr. William Hale (20th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha) and his wife Dr. Larzette Golden Hale (17th Supreme Basileus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority). Dr. Ivorite L. Scruggs was the 2nd National President of Phi Beta Sigma and his wife Ruth Tappe-Scruggs was the 6th Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
Harlem Renaissance Writer and Folklorist Zora Neale Hurston pledged Howard's Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority around 1925.
Myra Davis holds the distinction of being the only woman to serve as both Basileus of AKA and President of DST in 1912 and 1913 respectively.
Phi Beta Sigma & Zeta Phi Beta were the first and only constitutionally bonded Greek Fraternity/Sorority, brother/sister organizations. They share several of the same cardinal principles within each respective organization. Sigma & Zeta both share the same colors, creed, symbols from their shields, and the namesake of the PHI BETA, they are true originators of the terms "Frat" & "Soror".
The Founding of Delta Sigma Theta was actually a deadline, in which the AKA's gave the 22 founders of DST to stop their rebellion or face expulsion from the sorority. The 22 members declined to obey the orders and DST was established and founded.
Grace Coleman, sister of Omega founder Frank Coleman, was elected Delta's first president in 1914 at Howard University. Grace also was one of the first initiates of the sorority.
The Kappa Alpha Psi application for incorporation was filed over the signatures of EZRA D. ALEXANDER, BYRON K. ARMSTRONG, HENRY T. ASHER, MARCUS P. BLAKEMORE, PAUL CAINE, ELDER WATSON DIGGS, GEORGE EDMUNDS, GUY L. GRANT, EDWARD G. IRVIN, JOHN M. LEE, AND FREDERICK MITCHELL (who is this guy?). Mitchell later withdrew from school and therefore never became a member. An issue of the Kappa Journal reported that Irven Armstrong (cousin to Kappa founder Bryon Armstrong) , would have been one of founding fathers if he had not had to work the night of January 5, 1911, the night the fathers signed their names to the great petition or scroll. He later became the second Grand Polemarch.
Although SGRho's were founded at Butler College in 1922 they were not the first black sorority established at Butler University. The AKA's had established a chapter two years before their founding in 1920.
AKA Founder Lucy Diggs Slowe organized the first junior high school in Washington DC, Shaw Junior High School. She was appointed principal Howard University
The first Black Fraternity established at Howard University was Alpha Phi Alpha in 1907 Beta Chapter.
The First Black Fraternity founded at Howard University was Omega Psi Phi in 1911.
The First Black Sorority founded at Howard University was Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1908
The First Black Fraternity to be recognized by Howard University as a national fraternity was Phi Beta Sigma in April 1914. Omega's recognition came later the same year in November.
Although Kappa Alpha Psi was not founded at Howard University, two of their founders Byron K. Armstrong and Elder Watson Diggs attended Howard University in the 1909-1910 school year before transferring to the University of Indiana.
Alpha Kappa Alpha founder Lucy Diggs Slowe, became the first African-American Dean of Women at Howard University and held that post until she died in 1937. Charles Harris Wesley, Alpha historian presided at her funeral and Omega Founder, Frank Coleman was a pallbearer.
In a race to be the first sorority incorporated at Howard University, both Deltas and AKA's alpha chapters were incorporated on the same day. The AKA's incorporated as a national organization in 1913, papers were processed 20 minutes before the Deltas. DST was not incorporated as a national organization (an entire entity) until 1930.
Sigma Founder Dr. Leonard F Morse became the first male student at Howard University to earn 2 degrees and 2 diplomas in three years of college.
December 28th - 29th 1916 Phi Beta Sigma held its 3rd annual convention at its Alpha Chapter House in Washington DC. One of its guest speakers was Omega Psi Phi 4th Grand Basileus George Hall, who was also a Masonic fraternity brother to Sigma Founder A. Langston Taylor.
