Omega Psi Phi History

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black college, specifically at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on November 17, 1911. 

Founding and Motto: 

Founded by three undergraduates, Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman, along with faculty adviser Ernest Everett Just. 

The name "Omega Psi Phi" was derived from the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," chosen as the motto and adopted Cardinal Principles: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. 

Leadership and Charter Members: 

Edgar A. Love became the first Grand Basileus on November 23, 1911. 

Alpha chapter was organized on December 15, 1911, with fourteen charter members. 

Oscar J. Cooper became the fraternity's second Grand Basileus in 1912, initiating efforts to establish a second chapter at Lincoln University. 

Recognition and Incorporation: 

Initially, Howard University did not recognize the fraternity, operating without official sanction until 1914. 

Omega Psi Phi was officially incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on October 28, 1914. 

George E. Hall, the fourth Grand Basileus, authorized the establishment of the Gamma chapter in Boston. 

World War I and Charles Young:

Omega Psi Phi played a vital role in World War I, with several brothers among the first class of black soldiers at Camp Fort Des Moines in Iowa. 

Retired Colonel Charles Young demonstrated his fitness for duty by riding 500 miles on horseback from Ohio to Washington, D.C.

Early Chapters and Achievements: 

Delta chapter was established on the campus of Meharry Medical School in 1919 by Raymond G. Robinson, the seventh Grand Basileus. 

The Oracle, the fraternity's official publication, was first published in the spring of 1919 under the editorship of Stanley Douglas. 

Harold H. Thomas, the eighth Grand Basileus, was elected in 1920. 

National Achievement Week and Growth: 

Carter G. Woodson inspired the establishment of National Achievement Week in 1920 to promote the study of Negro life and history. 

The first decade of Omega Psi Phi concluded with the Grand Conclave in Atlanta in 1921. 

By 1920, ten chapters were in operation, reflecting the fraternity's growth and effectiveness. 

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has continued to uphold its principles, foster brotherhood, and make significant contributions to education, community service, and the upliftment of its members and the broader society.

ALL INFORMATION IS CREDITED TO: www.oppf.org