Kappa Alpha Psi Flashcards

Founders of Kappa Alpha Psi

• Elder Watson Diggs: First Grand Polemarch, received the Laurel Wreath Award in 1924.
• Byron Kenneth Armstrong: Founded the oldest alumni chapter in Chicago, IL.
• Ezra Dee Alexander: Achieved an MD degree in 1919.
• Henry Tourner Asher: Attorney who graduated from Detroit College of Law in 1928.
• Paul Waymond Caine: Key in establishing multiple chapters and was the first founder to die, fatally burned in an explosion.
• George Wesley Edmonds: Worked in coal mines.
• Guy Levis Grant: Dentist with BS in 1915 and DS in 1920; served as Grand Historian.
• Edward Giles Irvin: Journalist who founded The Shinning Star newspaper in 1922.
• John Milton Lee: First Negro to engage in combat in Germany and established the Lambda chapter.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

• Second oldest collegiate historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity, and first intercollegiate fraternity incorporated as a national body.
• Founded on January 5, 1911, with chapters founded at Indiana University.
• Colors are Crimson and Cream, with the motto "Achievement in every field of human endeavor."

Evolution and Structure

• Organization initially named Alpha Omega during formation with Diggs as president and Irvin as temporary secretary.
• Renamed Kappa Alpha Psi in December 1914, effective April 15, 1915.
• First incorporated Black Fraternity record on May 15, 1911.

Mission Statement

• Aims to unite college men of culture, patriotism, and honor, promoting honorable achievement and welfare of members.
• Encourages service to public interests and supports colleges and universities.

Greek Alphabet Knowledge

• First two lines of the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta; Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda, Mu.
• Last two lines of the Greek alphabet: Nu, Xi, Omicron, Pi, Rho, Sigma; Tau, Upsilon, Phi, Chi, Psi, Omega.

The Divine Nine

• Refers to all the historically Black Greek organizations.

Notable Achievements

• 1923: Marcus Peter Blakemore earns his dental degree.
• 1922: Edward Giles Irvin's contribution with The Shinning Star newspaper.
• 1928: Henry Tourner Asher graduates with his law degree.