KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC HISTORY
KAPPA ALPHA PSI, a college Fraternity, now comprised of functioning Undergraduate and Alumni
Chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the country, is the crystallization of a
dream. It is the beautiful realization of a vision shared commonly by the late Revered
Founders ELDER WATSON DIGGS, "THE DREAMER"; JOHN MILTON LEE; BYRON K. ARMSTRONG; GUY LEVIS
GRANT; EZRA D. ALEXANDER; HENRY T. ASHER; MARCUS P. BLAKEMORE; PAUL CAINE; EDWARD G. IRVIN
and GEORGE W. EDMONDS.
It was the vision of these astute men that enabled them in the school year 1910 - 11, more
specifically the night of January 5, 1911, on the campus of Indiana University at Blooming-
ton, Indiana, to sow the seed of a fraternal tree whose fruit is available to, and now en-
joyed by, college men everywhere, regardless of their color, religion or national origin. It
is a fact of which KAPPA ALPHA PSI is justly proud that the Constitution has never contained
any clause, which either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership merely
because of his color, creed, or national origin. The Constitution of KAPPA ALPHA PSI is pre-
dicated upon, and dedicated to, the principles of achievement through a truly democratic
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 ad-
opted 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, augment-
ed by the efforts of B.K. Armstrong, and John M. Lee, who comprised the remainder of the ori-
ginal 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, work-
ing 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 Uni-
versity 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 unabated 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"