Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
A Brief History
Kappa Alpha Psi (KAΨ) is the second oldest predominantly Black Greek letter collegiate fraternity and the first Black intercollegiate fraternity incorporated as a national body (May 15, 1911). Since KAΨ's founding in 1911 at Indiana University, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed, or national origin. KAΨ has over 125,000 members with 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters throughout 46 of the 50 U.S. states, as well as international chapters in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, Bermuda, Canada, the Dominican Republic, the Grand Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. KAΨ has the distinction of being the oldest Greek letter organization that established its first Chapter on Indiana University's campus.
In 1911, Black students were actively dissuaded from attending college. Formidable obstacles were constructed to prevent the few Black people who were enrolled from assimilating into co-curricular campus life. Just before the founding of KAΨ, there were very few Black students at the predominantly White campus at Bloomington, Indiana, primarily due to Jim Crow-era laws. Many Black students rarely saw each other on campus and were discouraged or prohibited from attending student functions and extracurricular activities by White college administrators and fellow students. Black students were denied membership on athletic teams except for track and field.
The racial prejudice and discrimination encountered by ten Black male Indiana University students, who were enrolled in the 1910-1911 school year, strengthened their bond of friendship and growing interest in starting a fraternity predicated upon and dedicated to the principles of achievement. Those men sought a formula that would immediately raise the sights of Black collegians and stimulate them to accomplishments higher than they might have imagined. Fashioning achievement as its purpose, the newly formed organization began uniting college men of culture, patriotism, and honor in a bond of fraternity.
The fraternity, founded as Kappa Alpha Nu on January 5, 1911, by Elder Watson Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, Guy L. Grant, Marcus P. Blakemore, Ezra D. Alexander, John M. Lee, Henry T. Asher, Edward G. Irvin, George W. Edmonds, and Paul W. Caine, is the beautiful realization of their shared vision.
The name was officially changed to Kappa Alpha Psi on April 15, 1915. 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.
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Elder Watson Diggs
He was born on December 23, 1883, in Madisonville, Kentucky. Founder Diggs enrolled at Howard University in 1909 and transferred to Indiana University in the fall of 1910. In 1916, he became the first Black to earn an A.B. degree from Indiana University’s School of Education. Founder Diggs subsequently earned his Master’s degree in Education from Howard University in 1944.
He helped establish the first nine undergraduate chapters as well as the Indianapolis (IN) Alumni Chapter. He served as Grand Polemarch for the first six years of the Fraternity’s existence, as a Grand Board Member, and as Grand Historian. He wrote the lyrics to the Kappa Hymn and established the Kappa Alpha Nu Journal. Founder Diggs assisted in designing the Coat of Arms, prepared the initiation ceremonial forms, and completed the fraternity’s constitution. He was one of two Founders who pawned his watch to pay for the Fraternity’s incorporation fee.
Founder Diggs was an educator who held positions at public schools throughout Indiana. He resigned as principal and entered the armed forces, where he was commissioned a lieutenant during WWI. He subsequently rose to the rank of Captain in the Reserve Officers Training Corps.
Founder Diggs was the first Laurel Wreath Laureate. Founder Diggs entered the Chapter Invisible on November 8, 1947. Following his death, School #42, where he served as principal for 26 years, was named in his honor. The Elder Watson Diggs Award, the second-highest award available to celebrate a member’s achievements or service to the fraternity, is dedicated in his name.
Byron Kenneth Armstrong
He was born on April 8, 1892, in Westfield, Indiana, and was the cousin of the 2nd Grand Polemarch, Irven Armstrong. Founder Armstrong attended Howard University in 1909 and transferred to Indiana University in the fall of 1910. He earned an A.B. degree from the university in 1913. Founder Armstrong subsequently earned an M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1914 and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan in 1940.
Founder Armstrong held teaching positions as a professor at universities in several states, and also served as Dean in Maryland and Oklahoma.
Founder Armstrong helped establish the Beta, Theta, Xi, Alpha Pi, and Gamma Xi Chapters, as well as the Chicago (IL), Langston (OK), and Tulsa (OK) Alumni Chapters. He served as the first Grand Strategus, fifth Grand Historian, member of the Grand Board, and as Editor of the Journal. He created the Fraternity's motto, assisted in preparing the Coat of Arms, and helped finalize the Fraternity badge.
Founder Armstrong was the 6th Laurel Wreath Laureate. Founder Armstrong entered the Chapter Invisible on June 28, 1980. The Byron K. Armstrong Scholars Award, available to Fraternity undergraduate members for outstanding achievement, is named in his honor.
Guy Levis Grant
He was born on April 9, 1891, in New Albany, Indiana. Founder Grant entered Indiana University in 1909 and earned an A.B. and D.D.S. degree in 1915 and 1920, respectively. He practiced dentistry in Indianapolis for over 50 years.
Founder Grant helped to establish the Beta and Indianapolis (IN) Alumni Chapters. He served as Indianapolis Alumni’s first Polemarch, several terms as a non-voting member of the Grand Board of Directors, and was the Grand Historian for 12 years. Upon his retirement in 1963, the Fraternity conferred upon him the title Grand Historian Emeritus.
Founder Grant entered the Chapter Invisible on November 11, 1973. The Guy Levis Grant Award is named in his honor to undergraduate members of the Fraternity who exhibit extra meritorious contributions to the Fraternity’s advancement.
Marcus Peter Blakemore
He was born on January 3, 1889, in Franklin, Indiana. Founder Blakemore enrolled at Indiana University in 1910 but left after the spring semester of 1912. After leaving school, he organized the Electric Engineering Company, which he operated until he enlisted with the U.S. Army in WWI. He later attended the University of Pittsburgh, from which he earned a DDS degree in 1923. In 1949, Founder Blakemore became the first Black to receive the MS degree in Prosthetic Dentistry from the University of Pittsburgh Dental School. Founder Blakemore practiced dentistry in Pittsburgh for 35 years.
He was one of two Founders who pawned his watch to pay for the Fraternity’s incorporation fee. Founder Blakemore was a charter member of the Pittsburgh (PA) Alumni Chapter and was instrumental in the establishment of the Beta Epsilon Chapter. He entered the Chapter Invisible on October 9, 1959.
Ezra D. Alexander
He was born on July 18, 1891, in Bloomington, Indiana. Founder Alexander enrolled at Indiana University in the fall of 1910. He earned AB and MD degrees in 1917 and 1919, respectively. Founder Alexander practiced medicine in Indianapolis for nearly 50 years.
Founder Alexander served 22 years as a non-voting member of the Grand Board of Directors. He helped establish the Chicago (IL) and Indianapolis (IN) Alumni Chapters. He affiliated with the Indianapolis Alumni Chapter until he entered the Chapter Invisible on September 29, 1971.
John Milton Lee
He was born on September 7, 1890, in Danville, Indiana. He entered Indiana University in 1910 and completed three years of pre-medical work before leaving the university. He subsequently enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania but withdrew for health reasons. He then became a student at Temple University, but was compelled to leave due to a death in the family.
Founder Lee served as the Fraternity’s first Grand Keeper of the Exchequer. He helped establish the Epsilon and Lambda chapters, as well as the Philadelphia (PA) Alumni Chapter. He served as Interim Polemarch until the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter elected its first Polemarch.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917 and was a non-commissioned officer assigned to a Field Artillery Unit. Founder Lee served overseas as a Sergeant First Class and Gunner with an artillery battery that was the first Negro artillery battery to open fire upon an enemy. He subsequently became an associate editor of Modern Artillerymen, the official record of Battery F. After the War, Founder Lee returned to Philadelphia, where he was involved in several business enterprises. He entered the Chapter Invisible on January 3, 1958.
Henry Tourner Asher
He was born on June 30, 1890, in Owensboro, Kentucky. He enrolled at Indiana University in 1910 and received an A.B. degree in 1914. He also earned an MA degree from the University of Minnesota in 1917 and an LLB degree from the Detroit College of Law in 1928.
Founder Asher was an instructor at Lincoln Institute at Jefferson City, Missouri. Following service overseas in France during WWI, he gave up a possible teaching career at Wilberforce University for a position in real estate. He subsequently took up residence in Detroit, where he entered the Postal Service. Although not a charter member of the Detroit (MI) Alumni Chapter, he was among the first to affiliate with the chapter in 1920. He entered the Chapter Invisible on March 5, 1963.
Edward Giles Irvin
He was born on August 13, 1893, in Spencer County, Indiana. He enrolled at Indiana University in 1910. Founder Irvin did not return to the University following the spring term of 1911. He served in the U.S. Army during WWI and WWII, where he was cited for bravery and valor, respectively.
He later pursued a career in journalism and owned a newspaper in Anderson, Indiana. He was editor of a Gary (IN) newspaper before becoming the sports editor of a Chicago (IL) newspaper.
Founder Irvin was the 24th Laurel Wreath Laureate. Our last living Founder entered the Chapter Invisible on November 4, 1982. The Edward G. Irvin Award, bestowed upon the most outstanding Undergraduate Chapter, is named in his honor.
George Welsey Edmonds
He was born on August 13, 1890, in Knight Township, Indiana. He entered Indiana University in the fall of 1910. After he returned home for the summer of 1911, he never returned to school. Instead, he worked in the coal mines and railroads of Vanderburgh County for many years. He entered the Chapter Invisible on June 13, 1962.
Paul Waymond Caine
He was born on May 17, 1890, in Greencastle, Indiana. He enrolled at Indiana University in 1909 and helped the other Founders in organizing Kappa Alpha Nu. Because of a disastrous fire in the Fraternity house in which he was employed, he never finished his sophomore year.
Founder Caine entered the catering business in his hometown. He later attended Columbia and Purdue Universities, set up catering businesses in Gary, Indiana, as well as in Peoria, Chicago, and Evanston, Illinois, and published a book on catering. He was instrumental in establishing the Beta, Gamma, Delta, Zeta, and Theta chapters of the fraternity.
He later went into business in Rockford, Illinois, where he was burned during an explosion of gaseous materials in his dry-cleaning business. Nearly two weeks later, Founder Caine expired from injuries sustained from the accident and entered the Chapter Invisible on April 15, 1931. The Paul W. Caine Award is presented to outstanding Alumni Chapters in his honor.
