Pi Gamma Omicron
Pi Gamma Omicron (ΠΓΟ) was one of the first documented black collegiate fraternities which was founded in 1905.[1] The group was founded at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.[2][3] The group had 12 members.[4] The group was not known by the Ohio State's registrars office but was known to the Chicago Defender newspaper which wrote an article about Pi Gamma Omicron.[1][5] This article about Pi Gamma Omicron took the interest of Alpha Phi Alpha founder Robert H. Ogle who was inspired to transform Alpha Phi Alpha from a literary society into a fraternity.[5] Pi Gamma Omicron had initial desires to become a national fraternity by establishing chapters in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, and Indiana according to the Beta Theta Pi correspondent at Ohio State University.[6]
Some members went on to earn law degrees.[2]
Founders
The Founders of Pi Gamma Omicron were:[4][7]
- Leroy Barnett
- William Berry
- W. E. Davis
- Richard Pettiford
- Elmer Shackelford
- John Shavers
- Norman Thorne
- H. A. Turner
- C. C. Underwood
- Walter Williams
- William Woodward
See also
- List of African-American Greek and fraternal organizations
- History of North American fraternities and sororities
References
- ^ a b Kofi Lomotey (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Education. SAGE Publications. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4129-4050-4.
- ^ a b "Tracking the early history of African-American fraternities at OSU". "From Woody's Couch" - Official Ohio State University Archives’ blog. March 28, 2012.
- ^ Ricky L. Jones (10 March 2010). Black Haze: Violence, Sacrifice, and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities. SUNY Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7914-8565-1.
- ^ a b OSU Archives Student Assistant Michelle Brundige (March 2012). "Pi Gamma Omicron Members" (PDF).
- ^ a b Gregory S. Parks (13 June 2008). Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. University Press of Kentucky. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-8131-3872-5.
- ^ "The Rainbow of the Delta Tau Delta". Vol. XXIX, no. 3. March 1906. p. 406. ISSN 1532-5334.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ "Ohio State Lantern". January 10, 1906. p. 3. OCLC 18384916.
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