A Brief History
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.
INTERNAL GROWTH
In 1922, Grand Basileus J. Alston Atkins appointed the first District Representatives. Today, there are eleven such officers who are elected annually by the district conferences/meetings. In 1922, the office of Vice Grand Basileus was created. The Grand Keeper of Records became the Grand Keeper of the Records and Seal. The first Omega Bulletin was published in 1928. Campbell C. Johnson was the Editor. "Omega Dear" was adopted as the official hymn in 1931. Two faculty from Howard University, Charles R. Drew, Professor of Surgery, and Mercer Cook, Professor of Languages, were the composers. Cook wrote the music and first stanza; Drew wrote the last two stanzas.
THE FORTIES
The Omega "Sweetheart Song", with words and music by Don Q. Pullen,
was adopted as the official sweetheart song by the 1940 Nashville Grand
Conclave. Founder Ernest E. Just entered Omega Chapter in 1941. In 1941,
Dr. Charles Drew perfected the use of blood plasma as a life saving tool.
William Hastie resigned as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War in protest
against discrimination in the Armed Forces. He was later appointed Governor
of the Virgin Islands by President Truman. In 1949, the first National
Headquarters Building at 107 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
was purchased. H. Carl Moultrie, I was selected to serve as the first National
Executive Secretary. In 1949, the scholarship fund was renamed the Charles
R. Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund.
THE FIFTIES
During this era, the thrust was social change. Thousands of Omega men
in every area of the country were actively involved in the fight to eliminate
racial discrimination. An entire book could be written about this phase
of Omega activities. The 1955 Los Angeles Grand Conclave initiated a program
whereby each graduate chapter would purchase a Life Membership from the
NAACP. Between 1955 and 1959, chapters contributed nearly $40,000 to the
NAACP. In the fifties, Omega Psi Phi took an official position against
hazing as a fraternity activity. This anti-hazing position remains in effect
today, and the policy banning hazing has been strengthened.
THE SIXTIES
The struggle for social justice shifted into high gear. Brothers were
active participants in the "sit-ins" and other demonstrations designed
to call attention to the plight of black Americans. Undergraduate brothers
especially were involved in the demonstrative aspect of the civil rights
struggle. In 1961, the Washington, D.C. Grand Conclave did an excellent
job of highlighting the fifty years of accomplishments by Omega. Brothers
attended the 1961 Golden Anniversary Conclave in record numbers. Founders
Love, Cooper, and Coleman were present. Thirteen of twenty-three former
Grand Basilei were in attendance. Young brothers had the once-in-a-life-time
opportunity to mingle with some of the greatest black men that America
had produced. The Golden Anniversary Conclave authorized $140,000-$150,000
for the construction of a new National Headquarters Building in Washington,
D.C. In 1964, the new National Headquarters Building was dedicated. The
building was a dream come true and was the first building of its type to
be built by a black fraternity. Founders Love, Cooper and Coleman participated
in the ceremonies. The name was later changed to the International Headquarters.
It is located at 2714 Georgia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. Robert
H. Lawrence (in 1966) was selected as the first Black to serve in the Astronaut
Program. Lawrence had earned a Ph.D. Degree in chemistry at Ohio State
University. Founder Frank Coleman entered Omega Chapter in 1967. The 1968
Charlotte Grand Conclave mandated a Constitutional Convention for the revision
of the Constitution and By-Laws as well as the Ritual. The Convention was
held in Atlanta in 1969.
THE SEVENTIES
The newly revised Constitution and By-Laws and the Ritual became effective
at the close of the 1970 Pittsburgh Grand Conclave. H. Carl Moultrie I,
Omega's only National Executive Secretary to this point, was appointed
as a judge to the Superior Court of Washington, D.C., in 1972. Moultrie's
resignation was accepted with regrets. Omega conferred upon Moultrie the
title of National Executive Secretary Emeritus which was later changed
to Executive Secretary Emeritus. The Seventies brought more unpleasant
news. Founder Oscar J. Cooper entered Omega Chapter in 1972. In 1974, Edgar
A. Love, the only surviving founder, entered Omega Chapter. On November
16, 1975, an impressive granite monument was dedicated to the memory of
the four founders. The monument is just a few feet away from Thirkield
Hall, the site of Omega's birth place on the Howard University Campus.
A revived Life Membership Program resulted in a very large number of new
Life Members. The 1976 Atlanta Grand Conclave was the largest in the history
of the fraternity up to that point in time. Many new undergraduate chapters
were chartered, because of the increased enrollment of black students at
previously all-white colleges and universities. "Operation Big Vote" was
successful in getting thousands of black people to vote in the 1976 election.
Many Omegas were active participants. The 1979 Denver Grand Conclave made
a commitment to contribute a minimum of 250,000 dollars to the United Negro
College Fund over the next five years.
THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES
In 1981, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity endowed its first Omega Faculty
Chair. Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi, was the recipient. President
W.A. McMillan stated that the Chair would be used to promote the humanities.
The fraternity completed its 250,000 dollars contribution to the United
Negro College Fund, an organization under the direction of Christopher
Edley, and approved a plan to continue the annual gift of 50,000 dollars
to that organization in perpetuity. The fraternity accelerated its financial
support to the National Urban League. Mr. John Jacobs, Executive Director
of the Urban League, participated in Grand Conclaves on a regular basis.
Jesse Jackson, former president of Operation PUSH and founder of the Rainbow
Coalition, attended Grand Conclaves on a regular basis and received support
for these organizations as well as for his 1984 and 1988 campaigns for
the presidency of the United States.
The Seventy-fifth Anniversary Grand Conclave celebration was deemed the single most significant event on Omega's horizon. The dates selected were July 25-August 1, 1986 in Washington, D.C., the city of Omega's birth. It was the largest Conclave ever. Grand Basileus Moses C. Norman, Sr., elected at the 1984 Louisville Grand Conclave, appointed a committee to review the structure and operations of the fraternity as a means of future focus. In 1984, John S. Epps was selected as only the fifth Omega Man to wear the title of Executive Secretary. In 1990, the title was changed to Executive Director. Two revised methods of bringing members into the fraternity were approved by the organization. Pledging was abolished and the new Membership Selection and Education Program came into being on August 1, 1985. In April, 1991, the new Membership Intake Program was implemented. Initial plans were begun for the writing of an updated history of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. H. Carl Moultrie, I, Executive Secretary Emeritus and Ronald E. McNair, noted Astronaut, entered Omega Chapter. Don Q. Pullen and W. Mercer Cook also entered Omega Chapter.
Omega continued to flourish, largely because Founders Love, Cooper,
Coleman and Just were men of the very highest ideals and intellect. The
Founders selected and attracted men of similar ideals and characteristics.
It is not by accident that many of America's great black men are/were Omega
Men. To this date, there are very few Americans whose lives have not been
touched by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Omega has a rich heritage to be protected, celebrated and enhanced!