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'''Alpha Phi Alpha''' ('''ΑΦΑ'''), Fraternity (known as A-Phi-A, but also Alphas and A-PHI) is the first intercollegiate [[Greek alphabet|Greek letter]] [[fraternities and sororities|fraternity]] established for [[African American]]s when established in 1906.
'''Alpha Phi Alpha''' ('''ΑΦΑ'''), Fraternity (known as A-Phi-A, but also Alphas and A-PHI) is the first intercollegiate [[Greek alphabet|Greek letter]] [[fraternities and sororities|fraternity]] established for [[African American]]s when established on December 4, 1906 on the campus of [[Cornell University]] in [[Ithaca, New York]].

Alpha Phi Alpha was founded on December 4, 1906 on the campus of [[Cornell University]] in [[Ithaca, New York]]. The fraternity is a member of the [[National Pan-Hellenic Council]] (NPHC), composed of nine (9) International Greek-letter sororities and fraternities, and the only one founded at an [[Ivy League]] school.


The founders, known as the ''Seven Jewels,'' were [[Henry A. Callis]], [[Charles H. Chapman]], [[Eugene K. Jones]], [[George B. Kelley]], [[Nathaniel A. Murray]], [[Robert H. Ogle]] and [[Vertner W. Tandy]].
The founders, known as the ''Seven Jewels,'' were [[Henry A. Callis]], [[Charles H. Chapman]], [[Eugene K. Jones]], [[George B. Kelley]], [[Nathaniel A. Murray]], [[Robert H. Ogle]] and [[Vertner W. Tandy]].


==History==
==History==
The fraternity was born of a desire to promote close association and mutual support among African Americans at the turn of the twentieth century. Initially it provided a literary, study, social and support group at the founders' university, Cornell, for all minority students who faced racial prejudice, sexual orientation issues [http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:NlFrZsfOPIQJ:www.blackcollegewire.org/culture/041008_jlking-q-and-a/+%22alpha+phi+alpha%22+homosexual&hl=en] both educational and social.
The fraternity was born of a desire to promote close association and mutual support among African Americans at the turn of the twentieth century. Initially it provided a literary, study, social and support group at the founders' university, Cornell, for all minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educational and social.


''The Sphinx'' is the fraternity's journal, printed quarterly since [[1914]]. It is among America's oldest periodicals serving as the official publication of an African American organization. The first, founded by fraternity member [[W.E.B. DuBois]] in [[1910]] is [[NAACP]]'s ''[[The Crisis]]''.
Alpha Phi Alpha was infamous for utilizing a test known as the paper bag test, which essentially stated that if you were darker than a paper bag you couldn't get membership. [http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:cJXQGnmLIjUJ:www.brown.edu/Students/Alpha_Phi_Alpha/curlit.html++paper+bag+test++%22alpha+phi+alpha%22&hl=en]


Alpha Phi Alpha is amongst the first to accept homosexual, but has struggled with these members [http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:H-AlVVSoopcJ:www.blackstripe.com/archives/articles/alphaspks.html+%22alpha+phi+alpha%22+homosexual&hl=en] .

''The Sphinx'' is the fraternity's journal, printed quarterly since [[1914]]. It is among America's oldest periodicals serving as the official publication of an African American organization. The first, founded by fraternity member [[W.E.B. DuBois]] in [[1910]] is [[NAACP]]'s ''[[The Crisis]]''.


Since its founding, the fraternity has initiated over 150,000 men into the organization; it has been interracial since [[1945]].
Since its founding, the fraternity has initiated over 150,000 men into the organization; it has been interracial since [[1945]].
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The fraternity's international scope was established early. In [[1908]] it chartered undergraduate chapter ''[[Delta (letter)|Delta]]'' at [[University of Toronto]]; shortly thereafter, the chapter became defunct. Its seat was transferred to what is now [[Huston-Tillotson University]] in [[Austin, Texas]] in [[1939]]. In [[1938]] the fraternity chartered ''Beta [[Psi (letter)|Psi]]'' college chapter in [[London|London, England]]. The ''[[Theta (letter)|Theta ]] Theta Lambda'' alumni chapter was chartered [[1963]] at [[Frankfurt|Frankfurt, Germany]]. Other chapters have been chartered in [[Monrovia]], [[Liberia]], [[Caribbean|Caribbean islands]], [[Vietnam]] and [[South Korea]].
The fraternity's international scope was established early. In [[1908]] it chartered undergraduate chapter ''[[Delta (letter)|Delta]]'' at [[University of Toronto]]; shortly thereafter, the chapter became defunct. Its seat was transferred to what is now [[Huston-Tillotson University]] in [[Austin, Texas]] in [[1939]]. In [[1938]] the fraternity chartered ''Beta [[Psi (letter)|Psi]]'' college chapter in [[London|London, England]]. The ''[[Theta (letter)|Theta ]] Theta Lambda'' alumni chapter was chartered [[1963]] at [[Frankfurt|Frankfurt, Germany]]. Other chapters have been chartered in [[Monrovia]], [[Liberia]], [[Caribbean|Caribbean islands]], [[Vietnam]] and [[South Korea]].


''[[Omega (letter)|Omega]]'' chapter was distinguished to contain the names of deceased fraternity members. Some individuals have been made "members" without their consent after their death, including Frederick Douglas who died (1895) before the fraternity was founded (1906) [http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/douglass].
''[[Omega (letter)|Omega]]'' chapter was distinguished to contain the names of deceased fraternity members. [[Frederick Douglass]] became an honorary member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's Omega chapter in [[1921]], enjoying the distinction of being the only member initiated [[wiktionary:posthumous|posthumously]].


==National programs==
==National programs==
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The fraternity sponsors [http://www.marchofdimes.com/aboutus/787_4279.asp ''Project Alpha''] in conjunction with [[March of Dimes]]. Other programs of the fraternity are ''Go To High School, Go To College'' and ''Voteless People Is a Hopeless People''. The fraternity combines its efforts with [[Head Start]], [[Boy Scouts of America]] and [[Big Brothers Big Sisters of America]].
The fraternity sponsors [http://www.marchofdimes.com/aboutus/787_4279.asp ''Project Alpha''] in conjunction with [[March of Dimes]]. Other programs of the fraternity are ''Go To High School, Go To College'' and ''Voteless People Is a Hopeless People''. The fraternity combines its efforts with [[Head Start]], [[Boy Scouts of America]] and [[Big Brothers Big Sisters of America]].


The organization is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC); an umbrella organization established in [[1930]] of nine international collegiate [[fraternities and sororities]].
The fraternity is a member of the [[National Pan-Hellenic Council]] (NPHC), composed of nine (9) International Greek-letter sororities and fraternities, and the only one founded at an [[Ivy League]] school.


===Centennial Celebration===
===Centennial Celebration===
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==Notable Alphas==
==Notable Alphas==
[[Image:Jewelsmini.jpg|thumb|The Jewels: Founders of Alpha Phi Alpha]]

[[:Category:Alpha Phi Alpha brothers|List of Alpha Phi Alpha members]]
[[:Category:Alpha Phi Alpha brothers|List of Alpha Phi Alpha members]]
Notable Alphas include fraternity members civil rights activist [[W.E.B. DuBois]] (honorary), musician [[Duke Ellington]] (honorary; did not attend college [http://www.dukeellington.com/about/bio.htm]), civil rights activist [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], U.S. Supreme Court Justice [[Thurgood Marshall]], athlete [[Paul Robeson]], mayor of [[Washington, D.C.]] [[Marion Barry]], Ambassador [[Andrew Young]], mayor of [[Atlanta]] [[Maynard Jackson]], and civil rights activist [[Whitney Young|Whitney M. Young]]. Some have been honored by the United States Postal Service with a [[commemorative stamp]] in their popular [http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/blackhis/stamps.htm Black Heritage Stamp] series of famous African Americans.
The [[United States Postal Service]] has honored fraternity members W.E.B. Dubois, [[Duke Ellington]], [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], [[Thurgood Marshall]], [[Paul Robeson]] and [[Whitney Young|Whitney M. Young]] with a [[commemorative stamp]] in their popular [http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/blackhis/stamps.htm Black Heritage Stamp] series of famous African Americans.


==Hazing + Pledging==
==Hazing + Pledging==

Revision as of 21:26, 6 January 2006

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Alpha Phi Alpha
ΑΦA
The official crest of Alpha Phi Alpha.
The official crest of Alpha Phi Alpha.
FoundedDecember 4, 1906
Cornell University
TypeService
ScopeInternational
MottoFirst of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All
ColorsBlack and Old Gold
SymbolSphinx, Ape, Pharaoh
FlowerYellow Rose
Chapters700+
Cardinal PrinciplesManly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love for All Mankind
Headquarters2313 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, Maryland
USA
WebsiteAlpha Phi Alpha website

Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ), Fraternity (known as A-Phi-A, but also Alphas and A-PHI) is the first intercollegiate Greek letter fraternity established for African Americans when established on December 4, 1906 on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

The founders, known as the Seven Jewels, were Henry A. Callis, Charles H. Chapman, Eugene K. Jones, George B. Kelley, Nathaniel A. Murray, Robert H. Ogle and Vertner W. Tandy.

History

The fraternity was born of a desire to promote close association and mutual support among African Americans at the turn of the twentieth century. Initially it provided a literary, study, social and support group at the founders' university, Cornell, for all minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educational and social.

The Sphinx is the fraternity's journal, printed quarterly since 1914. It is among America's oldest periodicals serving as the official publication of an African American organization. The first, founded by fraternity member W.E.B. DuBois in 1910 is NAACP's The Crisis.

Alpha Phi Alpha is amongst the first to accept homosexual, but has struggled with these members [1] .

Since its founding, the fraternity has initiated over 150,000 men into the organization; it has been interracial since 1945.

The fraternity will celebrate a century of service in 2006.

Mission

The objectives of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Inc.) are to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the cause of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic, and intellectual status. The first two objectives

  1. to stimulate the ambition of its members, and
  2. to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the cause of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual

provide the basis for the establishment of Alpha University.

Chapters

The first chapter established at Cornell University is named Alpha chapter. Chapters were developed at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black; the second chapter Beta was established at Howard University. The fraternity established Alpha Lambda its first graduate alumni chapter in 1911 at Louisville, Kentucky.

The fraternity's international scope was established early. In 1908 it chartered undergraduate chapter Delta at University of Toronto; shortly thereafter, the chapter became defunct. Its seat was transferred to what is now Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas in 1939. In 1938 the fraternity chartered Beta Psi college chapter in London, England. The Theta Theta Lambda alumni chapter was chartered 1963 at Frankfurt, Germany. Other chapters have been chartered in Monrovia, Liberia, Caribbean islands, Vietnam and South Korea.

Omega chapter was distinguished to contain the names of deceased fraternity members. Frederick Douglass became an honorary member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's Omega chapter in 1921, enjoying the distinction of being the only member initiated posthumously.

National programs

The Washington, D.C. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation is a project of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Inc.) of which King was a member. In 1998, the fraternity was authorized by United States Congress to establish a foundation to manage fundraising and design of a memorial to Dr. King [2].

The fraternity sponsors Project Alpha in conjunction with March of Dimes. Other programs of the fraternity are Go To High School, Go To College and Voteless People Is a Hopeless People. The fraternity combines its efforts with Head Start, Boy Scouts of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

The fraternity is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), composed of nine (9) International Greek-letter sororities and fraternities, and the only one founded at an Ivy League school.

Centennial Celebration

File:Alpha Centennial Memorial.jpg
Centennial Memorial at Cornell University

Alpha Phi Alpha's official 2006 Centennial (Celebration) will occur July 25 - 30, 2006 in Washington, D.C.. The 2006 Centennial Celebration Kickoff was a pilgrimage to Cornell University on November 19, 2005 which united over 700 fraternity brothers. During the daylong pilgrimage, members marched across campus and unveiled a new centennial memorial to Alpha Phi Alpha. The memorial, a wall in the form of a "J" in recognition of the Jewels, has a bench and a plaque and is in front of Barnes Hall. [3]

The first pilgrimage was held in 1956 to celebrate the 50th anniversary and drew about 1,000 members who traveled by chartered train from Buffalo to Ithaca.

Notable Alphas

File:Jewelsmini.jpg
The Jewels: Founders of Alpha Phi Alpha

List of Alpha Phi Alpha members

The United States Postal Service has honored fraternity members W.E.B. Dubois, Duke Ellington, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson and Whitney M. Young with a commemorative stamp in their popular Black Heritage Stamp series of famous African Americans.

Hazing + Pledging

Alpha Phi Alpha has had a long history of hazing as well as pledging. Pledging has been abolished since the early 1990's. The issue with hazing has embroiling the fraternity in numerous deaths, arrests, injuries, and resulting lawsuits against the fraternity. Although officially prohibited, the problem nevertheless persists. See for more info [4].

References

  • Wesley, Charles H., The History of Alpha Phi Alpha, A Development in College Life, Chicago, Foundation Publishers, 1981
  • Mason, Herman "Skip", Jr., The Talented Tenth: The Founders and Presidents of Alpha , 1991, 2005
  • Ross, Lawrence C. Ross, Jr., "The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities", 2000