Richmond (VA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

A History of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

A History of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

Chartered and incorporated originally under the laws of   the State of Indiana as Kappa Alpha Nu on May 15, 1911, the name was changed to   KAPPA ALPHA PSI on a resolution offered and adopted at the Grand Chapter in   December 1914. This change became effective April 15, 1915, on a proclamation by   the then Grand Polemarch, Elder Watson Diggs. Thus, the name acquired a   distinctive Greek letter symbol and KAPPA ALPHA PSI thereby became a Greek   letter Fraternity in every sense of the designation.

From its inception, and for the next six years, Brother   Diggs served as the Grand Polemarch of KAPPA ALPHA PSI Fraternity. Through his   leadership and indefatigable application, augmented by the efforts of B.K.  Armstrong, and John M. Lee, who comprised the remainder of the original Grand   Board of Directors, the infant Fraternity was guided through the most perilous   years of its life. Accordingly, much of the credit for the organization’s   survival through this period is shared by these three men.

From its inception, every endeavor was directed toward   establishing the Fraternity upon a strong foundation before embarking on plans   of expansion. By the end of the first year, working together, Diggs and   Armstrong had completed the ritual and had commenced work on the coat of arms.  Work on the latter was completed during the following summer by Diggs, Armstrong   and Lee while they were pursuing employment at a hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In selecting a suitable motto, Diggs, Armstrong and Lee   solicited the aid of a Professor of Greek Art at Indiana Technical College at   Fort Wayne, Indiana. Having adopted a motto which mutually suited them, they   carried a sketch of the coat of arms to a commercial engraver in Fort Wayne,  from which he made the first metal plate.

For years, in order to safeguard the ritualistic secrets of   the Fraternity, Diggs laboriously typed and bound the rituals. It was not until   he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he met an old German printer in whom he   had confidence, that he entrusted the esoteric materials of the Fraternity to a   commercial printer.

In the spring of 1912 Diggs wrote in a little blue   examination book the first Constitution, which was adopted in 1920 with but a   few revisions. This edition remained in use until 1926 when it was supplanted by   the codified edition jointly written by Diggs, J. Ernest Wilkins, and W. Ellis   Stewart. In 1957 the Constitution again underwent major revision.

Now substantially established and provided with a   Constitution, Ritual, coat of arms, motto, and guiding hand in a dynamic Grand   Chapter, the Fraternity was ready for expansion. In the summer of 1912 Diggs   visited the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois, where he met Earl B.  Dickerson, President of the Old "Illini Club." This club constituted the nucleus   of the University of Illinois Chapter, the Beta, which was chartered on February   8, 1913. Gamma Chapter (later changed to Indianapolis Alumni Chapter) was   established on December 29, 1913, followed by the establishment of Delta Chapter   at the University of Iowa, on March 7, 1914. The latter was subsequently changed   to Gamma Chapter, and the designation of Delta assigned to the Wilberforce   University Chapter at Wilberforce, Ohio. Epsilon Chapter, Lincoln University,  Pennsylvania, was established December 4, 1915, as the first chapter in the   East. Elder W. Diggs journeyed from Indiana to give this chapter his personal   and official installation, recognition and blessing.

Thus ended the infancy of KAPPA ALPHA PSI, whereupon the   Fraternity embarked upon an era of expansion. Except for the years of World War   I and II, when several Grand Chapter meetings were suspended, KAPPA ALPHA PSI   has grown and prevailed with unabating impetus.

KAPPA ALPHA PSI Fraternity, relatively early, envisioned   the modified attitudes of college administrators and administrations regarding   certain frivolous activities previously identified with Greek letter   organizations; and it initiated appropriate changes. Among the early changes   brought about was the banning of paddling and other forms of physical abuse, and   the introduction of constructive endeavors during pledgeship and probation. To date, KAPPA ALPHA PSI Fraternity is organizationally and administratively   mature. It moves steadily toward a tomorrow of promise, productivity and   influence.

Taken from:

"A SHORT CHRONICLE OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY"