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| FRATERNITY HISTORY A Brief History of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Since its founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. Alpha Phi Alpha, the first inter-collegate Greek-lettered fraternity established for African-Americans, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York bye seven college men who recognized the need for a strong for a strong bond of brotherhood among African-American descendents of this country. The visionary founders known as the "jewels"of the fraternity of the fraternity are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelly, Nathaniel Allison Murry, Robert Harold Olgle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy. Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters were developed at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. While continuing to stress academic excellece among it s members, Alpha also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans. Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights through such leaders such as: W.E.B. Dubois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Dick Gregory, Cornell West, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and many others. Alpha Phi Alpha today continues its commitment to the African-American communiity through its National Program and Special Project outreach activities. The Fraternity has dedicated itself to training a new generation of leaders with national mentoring programs and partnerships designed to ensure the success of our children. CHAPTER HISTORY A Brief History of the Kappa Eta Chapter By the year 1970, the brothers of Alpha Delta Lambda (Graduate) Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (chartered in Memphis in 1930) were interested in the establishment of a chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha on the campus of Memphis State University shortly after the enrollment of African American students at the university.In 1974, at the Alpha Phi Alpha National Convention a petition was made to request a chapter charter. After much discussion and debate airing the both the pros and cons of establishing a chapter at Memphis State University, a charter was granted. The first official initiation of the newly chaterted chapter, Kappa Eta, was held in the months of January and February 1975. The official date of crossing over was February 2, 1975. Those brothers who represented MSU as charter members are: Riddley T. Anderson, Michael Cox, Larry J. Heath, Earnest E. Shelton, Robert T. Summerville, Dennis W. Swift, and Michael Williams. The Kappa Eta Chapter did quite well for the first twenty years, but came under scrutiny in the spring of 1995 when it was charged with underground pledging and was suspended by the National Headquaters. In July 1998, the National Board of Directors approved a reactivation plan for reinstatement. The first in-take group of the reinstated Chapter was intiated on October 30, 1999. Today, the Kappa Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. located at the University of Memphis has set a high standard of excellence in serving the campus, community, city, state, and nation. In the short years the chapter has been visible, they have achieved much success and have gained recognition within Alpha and also beyond the boundaries of Alpha. "With Honor Comes Responsibility" |
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