STUDYING THE HISTORY OF THE FRATERNITY
Because official, original records of the first ten years of the Fraternity are missing, incomplete, lost pending search, or otherwise destroyed, some level of speculation, extrapolation and use of a “preponderance of evidence” from other third-party documents and accounts contemporary to the event must be used in reaching conclusions. It is therefore critically important to understand the methodology used in the research and retelling of the history of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – and to view the information through a society lens that existed in that time, and not through the lens of attitudes of today.
It is also important to know that it was initially designed by the Founders that the chapters of the Fraternity would be established at premier colleges and universities across the U.S. It must also be noted that except for the temporary “War Chapters” at Camp Des Moines, IA (established June 18, 1917), and at Camp Howard, Washington, DC (established September 1, 1918), the chapters of the Fraternity established between 1911 to 1920 were established without any designation of graduate or undergraduate... they were just “chapters”.
There was also no formal designation of "undergraduate Brother" or "graduate Brother" in these “mixed” chapters during that time. Beginning in August 1920 with the first graduate chapter being established, it was realized a method to differentiate the graduate chapters that would be established from their undergraduate counterparts had to be created.
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CHAPTERS OF THE FRATERNITY IN CHICAGO
Eight (8) chapters of the Fraternity exist or have existed in the city of Chicago since the Fraternity was founded as a national organization on the campus of Howard University on November 17, 1911 as the first predominately Black Greek-letter organization to be founded at an Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
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IOTA – Omega’s First Graduate Chapter
Members click here to view The Oracle: August 1921
An excerpt from pgs. 22-23:
Subordinate Chapters
“The Iota Chapter was established on the night of August 17,1920 in Atlantic City, N.J., after authority had been obtained from Grand Basileus Robinson, who sent a telegram from Boston authorizing same. The initiation was held with Brother J. Granady, and many visiting brothers from the Alpha and Beta chapters. Chapters participated in the initiatory ceremonies, which were among the most impressive and orderly that the writer has ever witnessed.”
“The field was combed carefully, and in order that Omega's first graduate chapter might have a solid foundation, from a large field of eligibles, only two men were finally chosen for the initiation. This is in accordance with Omega's time-honored custom of emphasizing quality rather than quantity. The two brothers initiated were Brother H.A. Warner and G.D. Brooks. Brother Brooks has proved his loyalty and enthusiasm by setting up the Nu Chapter at Pennsylvania State College, Pa., of which he is now the honored Basileus.”
“The Iota Chapter gave several informal smokers in the law offices of Brother F.H. Wimberly in the Sheen Building, which served to bind the men together in a most intimate way. The New York Age carried the following notice in its column relative to the establishment of the Iota Chapter: "Negro college men in Atlantic City, N.J., announce the establishment of the Iota Chapter, a graduate chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. This chapter has been put on a permanent basis, which means that the Omega spirit is pervading the communities on the Jersey coast. Influential business men and leaders in other professions have accepted membership in the Iota Chapter.”
“The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is a national organization with subordinate chapters in some of the most noted institutions of learning in the country, and includes in its membership some of the most distinguished men of the Negro race, two of whom are recipients of the famous Spingarn Medal.”
The 1920s, with tourism at its peak, are considered by many historians as Atlantic City's golden age. Chartered in Atlantic City, NJ on August 17, 1920, Iota chapter was the ninth permanent chapter and the first graduate chapter chartered by the Fraternity. The main reason Iota chapter was established specifically as a graduate chapter was because at the time there existed increasing opportunities for educated Blacks to find employment in the summer months during this economic boon.
The chapter remained with an active status in Atlantic City until about May 1922.
To this point no recorded reason has been found as to why Iota chapter folded, but on page 35 of the May 1922 Oracle it indicates Iota chapter was inactive, had been shuttered by the Fraternity and placed in a Reserved status (with more to be heard about Iota chapter).
Members click here to view The Oracle: May 1922
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SIGMA – Chicago’s First Chapter
Members click to view: The Oracle: August 1921
An excerpt from pg. 28:
New Chapters
“As we go to press word reaches us of the establishing of the following chapters: Pi, Baltimore; Rho, Biddle University (Johnson C. Smith); Sigma, University of Chicago and Northwestern University; Tau, University of Michigan ; Upsilon, St. Louis, Mo.; Phi, University of Pittsburgh.”
With this announcement, Chicago's initial introduction to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was the establishment of Sigma chapter, officially chartered in 1921 for both the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Sigma chapter most certainly almost immediately became a mixed chapter composed not only of undergraduates initiated into the Fraternity from the University of Chicago and Northwestern, but the chapter also had members in its ranks who graduated from college and returned home to Chicago or moved to Chicago for opportunity, or who were initiated or were “elected” as honorary members while in graduate school in Chicago, or who may have been elected as honorary members by Sigma chapter after graduation.
Since the first college graduates for membership became members (beginning in 1912 in Alpha chapter with Founder Professor Ernest E. Just), the individual focus of these graduates was understandably different than their undergraduate brethren... which eventually led to the establishment of graduate chapters in the Fraternity...and by default, the classification as undergraduate chapters as well.
On December 15, 1923, two years after it was established, the Sigma chapter charter was transferred by the Supreme Council from the University of Chicago to McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada - becoming the first International chapter of the Fraternity. (NOTE: Sigma chapter is again located in the Tenth District and active at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI since it was transferred there on March 4, 1961.)
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SIGMA OMEGA – Chicago’s First Graduate Chapter
Members click to view: The Oracle: May 1922
An excerpt from pg. 36:
“Note – Omega after the name of a Chapter indicates that it is a graduate Chapter. This is by vote of the Grand Conclave for the renaming of Chapters. – Editor”
This reporting by the Editor to the Oracle of this mandate - from what is believed to reference the 10th Grand Conclave in Atlanta, GA five months previous in December 1921 - was the first to require that graduate chapter names would be assigned by, “adding Omega as the second Greek letter to the end of the name of what would be by default the undergraduate chapter that existed in that city".
Since Sigma was the reclassified “undergraduate” chapter that had already been in existence in Chicago for nearly 2 years, that meant the first graduate chapter established in Chicago would be named Sigma Omega... which happened when Sigma Omega chapter was established as a graduate chapter on October 1, 1923.
The graduate Brothers who were members of the undergraduate Sigma chapter, now had a new graduate chapter in Chicago to transfer their membership to and associate with - since to this point the closest graduate chapter to Chicago had been Nu Omega chapter, 250 miles away in Detroit, MI, established 9 months previous in January 1923 as the first graduate chapter in what would become the Tenth District of the Fraternity.
This approval by the Supreme Council to establish Sigma Omega graduate chapter simultaneously called for the Sigma chapter undergraduate charter to be separated from Northwestern University and anchored solely on the campus of the University of Chicago. (NOTE: Northwestern University would eventually receive their own charter for Psi Sigma chapter in 1947.)
Sigma Omega chapter continues to remain active in Chicago today and chose to celebrate its 100 Year Centennial Anniversary in 2021. This is in recognition of the graduate members who have served the Chicago community since 1921 as members of Sigma chapter.
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IOTA – Reactivation, Redesignation and Relocation
The Sigma chapter charter remained at the University of Chicago until Iota chapter was redesignated from a graduate chapter to an undergraduate chapter, transferred from Atlantic City, and relocated to the University of Chicago campus on October 12, 1923 by an action of the Supreme Council. This displaced what is believed to have been the dormant, undergraduate Sigma chapter assigned there less than one month previous.
(Members click to view: The Oracle: May 1924
Iota chapter continued in operation for more than 30 years, initially at the University of Chicago as an undergraduate chapter, then by some point before May 1924 as a city-wide undergraduate chapter, until a point in the early1950's the chapter did not constitutionally have enough members to operate as a chapter in good standing in the Fraternity and became inactive. During Iota chapter's inactive years, Sigma Omega chapter supported the efforts of the undergraduate brothers within Sigma Omega by initiating a series of undergraduate lines between 1954 and 1957 with the intent to re-activate Iota chapter, culminating with the May 27, 1957 Application for Undergraduate Chapter Charter and the September 9, 1957 petition. These efforts resulted in the Iota chapter being recognized by the Fraternity as being in good standing, and the charter being re-activated and re-designated, first as a citywide undergraduate chapter, then shortly afterward as an Intermediate Chapter for both graduate and undergraduate members.
Intermediate chapters had been created through necessity, partly because colleges and universities had requirements for formal recognition of campus organizations to be actually on campus, so sometimes a "city-wide" designation was prohibited. These chapters were also a vehicle for undergraduate students attending schools in the larger urban cities like Boston, New York and Chicago with multiple colleges and universities (where undergraduate chapters of the Fraternity did not exist on a campus) to have access and opportunity to join the Fraternity; and for recent college graduates to continue to associate with the Fraternity in locations where a graduate chapter did not exist. It was also a bridge to allow those recent graduates a chance to establish themselves in their careers and start earning wages to be better able to financially support Omega through their dues payments.
Then, after a twelve-year inactive period that began in 1983, again for a lack of members to constitutionally operate as a chapter of the Fraternity in good standing, through the efforts of Brothers Kenny Coles (Omicron Theta ’77), a former 2nd Vice 10th District Representative, Undergraduate/Intermediate Representative to the Supreme Council, and a past Basileus of Sigma Omega chapter; and Melvin Slater, Sr. (Iota ’81), a past Basileus of Rho Gamma Gamma chapter (who’s "Post Mortem" line in 1981 was the only line initiated by Iota chapter in the decade of the eighties), submitted a proposal to reactivate Iota chapter:
(Members click to view: Proposal to Reactivate Iota Chapter_1994
In a letter from Grand Basileus Dorsey C. Miller the Iota chapter charter was re-activated on February 12, 1995, retaining its Intermediate chapter status.
(Members click to view: Iota Reactivation February 12, 1995
Shortly after the February reactivation, Iota chapter was returned to its original designation as a graduate chapter on July 12, 1995 creating a third graduate chapter in Chicago.
(Members click to view: Iota Status Change July 20, 1995
This change was in line with the Fraternity's decision to convert all Intermediate chapters in existence to graduate chapters since the need for Intermediate chapters no longer existed after the proliferation of chapters over the years.
Iota chapter continues to remain active in Chicago today and celebrated the chapter’s 100 Year Centennial Anniversary in 2020.
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SIGMA EPSILON – Roosevelt University
Iota chapter as a citywide undergraduate chapter and Sigma Omega chapter as a graduate chapter were the only chapters of the Fraternity in Chicago until 1948, before Sigma Epsilon chapter was established as an undergraduate chapter at Roosevelt College in 1947(now Roosevelt University).
As of this writing, little is known about the establishment of and the initial years of Sigma Epsilon chapter. The chapter’s first Basileus was James A. Franklin who had been initiated into the Fraternity eight years earlier through Sigma Omega chapter in March of 1940. The charter line was initiated into the Fraternity through Iota chapter on April 29, 1948 and was composed of William R. Bonner (the chapter’s first Keeper of Records and Seal), Millard A. Hughes, Lester Morton, Harvey R. Thomas and James P. Williams.
The chapter remained active in Chicago at the now Roosevelt University campus, initiating a number of members between April 1948 until November 1954. Shortly afterward it appears the chapter was inactive and shuttered for some yet unknown reason.
The chapter charter was placed in Reserve until the Fraternity relocated the chapter charter and assigned it to Barber-Scotia College in Concord, N.C. on December 7, 1968… locally referred to as “The Stormy Chapter”.
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EPSILON ETA – Chicago State University
On April 20, 1974 an Application for Undergraduate Chapter Charter to the Fraternity. Most of those fourteen Brothers listed on the application were initiated into the Fraternity through the Iota citywide intermediate chapter, and ten of those Brothers listed were indicated as enrolled as students at Chicago State University: Charles Browne (Iota ’69), William Fowler, Clarence Pearson, Eric Woodard RJ Cobb, Steve Charles, Allen Edge and Kenneth Green (Iota ’71), Melvin Jefferson (Sigma Sigma ’70), Fulton Nolen, Jr. (Iota ’68).
(Members click to view: Application for Undergrad Chapter - Epsilon Eta
Epsilon Eta chapter was approved by the Fraternity to be established as an undergraduate chapter at Chicago State University on February 18, 1975. Three years later, Willie “Billy” Rivers, Jr. (Iota ’77), was Dean of the charter line of James Harrington, Mark Hall and Michael Jones that was initiated into the Fraternity on February 18, 1978.
The chapter has a spotty existence since that time with regular periods of inactivity due to a lack of members to remain an active chapter within the Fraternity, and suspension by the Fraternity due to violations of the Fraternity’s policies, until it was shuttered by the Fraternity in 1996.
Once again through the efforts of Iota chapter to reactivate the Epsilon Eta chapter charter, several lines composed of Chicago State University students were initiated in December 2009, February 2010, July 2010, and July 2011. Continuing to lack the minimum number of members to be recognized as an active chapter, the chapter remained inactive until it was eligible to be reactivated in November 2013.
Since that time the chapter has continued its existence with short periods of inactivity due primarily to the lack of members in order to remain a chapter in good standing, but of this writing has initiated nearly 60 members into the Fraternity.
Epsilon Eta chapter continues to remain active at Chicago State University today.
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KAPPA MU – University of Illinois at Chicago
Kappa Mu chapter was established as an undergraduate chapter by the Fraternity at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Month day, 1983.
The chapter was chartered by a group of brothers that included Ricardo “Rick” Williams (Tau Kappa ’80), Thomas “Tony” Howery (Omega Theta ’80) and Eric “ET” Turnquest (Alpha Theta ’81). Similar to its undergraduate predecessor at Chicago State University, Kappa Mu chapter had a spotty and very short existence of less than 10 years, marked by periods of inactivity due to a lack of members to remain an active chapter within the Fraternity, and suspension by the Fraternity due to violations of the Fraternity’s policies.
Kappa Mu chapter was shuttered by the Fraternity in 1988 and has not been reactivated in any location since that time. The charter is in a Reserved status.
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RHO GAMMA GAMMA – The Expansion Chapter
In 1984 through 1985, the Omega Expansion Committee was formed to locate a graduate chapter of the Fraternity in the city of Chicago that would bring together brothers interested in expansion of the Fraternity’s footprint. Eight of its key chartering members had all been initiated through the Pi Beta chapter at Illinois State University (chartered June 1, 1971): Warren Cottrell (‘72), Eugene Jenkins (‘73), Marvin McNeil, Jesse Teverbaugh and Joseph Wilson (‘74), Edgar Seale and Raymond Campbell (‘76) and Jacob Martin (‘79). These brothers, along with 25 others, became financial members at-large of the Fraternity during this time.
On March 1, 1987 Rho Gamma Gamma chapter was chartered with 33 members as the second graduate chapter established in Chicago.
Rho Gamma Gamma chapter continues to remain active in Chicago today.
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RHO MU MU – The “Westside” Chapter
Rho Mu Mu chapter was the fourth graduate chapter established in the City of Chicago on September 6th, 2011 by men who felt there was a greater need for the Fraternity to have a presence on Chicago’s west side.
Six of the 25 key charter members of Rho Mu Mu coincidently had all been initiated through the Mu Xi chapter (chartered March 11, 1977 in Glen Ellyn, IL): Sadaris Cheatem (‘93), Terrence Lang (‘98), Carlton Lee and Reuben Jones (‘02), Willie J. Edwards (‘06) and Octavious Bellamy (‘09); and 5 were initiated through Chicago’s Rho Gamma Gamma chapter (chartered March 1, 1987): Corey Walker (‘87), David Diaz (‘88), Steven Hill (‘98), Thomas Barnes and Roderique McClain (‘07).
Rho Mu Mu chapter continues to remain active in Chicago today.