A Brief History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
THE BIRTH OF OMEGA
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On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three Howard University undergraduate
students, with the assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. This event occurred in the office of biology
Professor Ernest E. Just, the faculty adviser, in the Science Hall (now
known as Thirkield Hall). The three liberal arts students were Edgar A.
Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman.
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From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential
to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The phrase was selected
as the motto. Manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift were adopted
as cardinal principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the
pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
.
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The next meeting was conducted on November 23, 1911. Edgar Love became
the first Grand Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were
selected Grandkeeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grandkeeper
of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate
men were selected as charter members.
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Alpha Chapter was organized with fourteen charter members on December 15,
1911. Love, Cooper and Coleman were elected the chapter's first Basileus,
Keeper of Records, and Keeper of Seals, respectively.
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On March 8, 1912, the previously submitted fraternity constitution was
rejected by the Howard University Faculty Council. The Faculty Council
proposed to accept the fraternity as a local but not a national organization.
The fraternity refused acceptance as a strictly local organization.
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Oscar Cooper became the fraternity's second Grand Basileus in 1912. Cooper
authorized the investigation of a proposed second chapter at Lincoln University,
Pennsylvania.
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Edgar Love was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1912 and served until
1915. In 1914, Howard University withdrew its opposition, and the Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia
on October 28, 1914. Beta Chapter at Lincoln University was chartered in
February, 1914.
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George E. Hall, the fourth Grand Basileus, had been initiated at Alpha
Chapter in 1914. Grand Basileus Hall authorized the establishment of Gamma
Chapter in Boston, Massachusetts. However, the chapter was eventually established
during the administration of the fifth Grand Basileus, James C. McMorries.
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During the administration of the sixth Grand Basileus, Clarence F. Holmes,
the fraternity's first official hymn, "Omega Men Draw Nigh", was written
by Otto Bohannon.
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Raymond G. Robinson, the seventh Grand Basileus, established Delta Chapter
in Nashville, Tennessee in 1919. Robinson left office in 1920 with a total
of ten chapters in operation.
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Stanley Douglas served as Editor of the first Oracle published in the spring
of 1919.
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Harold K. Thomas, the eighth Grand Basileus, was elected at the 1920 Nashville
Grand Conclave. It was at this Conclave that Carter G. Woodson inspired
the establishment of National Achievement Week to promote the study of
Negro life and history.
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The 1921 Atlanta Grand Conclave brought to an end the first decade of the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
INTERNAL GROWTH
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In 1922, Grand Basileus J. Alston Atkins appointed the first District Representatives.
Today, there are eleven such officers who are elected annually by the district
conferences/meetings.
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In 1922, the office of Vice Grand Basileus was created. The Grand Keeper
of Records became the Grand Keeper of the Records and Seal. The first Omega
Bulletin was published in 1928. Campbell C. Johnson was the Editor.
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"Omega Dear" was adopted as the official hymn in 1931. Two faculty from
Howard University, Charles R. Drew, Professor of Surgery, and Mercer Cook,
Professor of Languages, were the composers. Cook wrote the music and first
stanza; Drew wrote the last two stanzas.
THE FORTIES
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The Omega "Sweetheart Song", with words and music by Don Q.
Pullen, was adopted as the official sweetheart song by the 1940 Nashville
Grand Conclave.
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Founder Ernest E. Just entered Omega Chapter in 1941.
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In 1941, Dr. Charles Drew perfected the use of blood plasma as a life saving
tool.
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William Hastie resigned as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War in protest
against discrimination in the Armed Forces. He was later appointed Governor
of the Virgin Islands by President Truman.
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In 1949, the first National Headquarters Building at 107 Rhode Island Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. was purchased.
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H. Carl Moultrie, I was selected to serve as the first National Executive
Secretary.
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In 1949, the scholarship fund was renamed the Charles R. Drew Memorial
Scholarship Fund.
THE FIFTIES
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During this era, the thrust was social change. Thousands of Omega men in
every area of the country were actively involved in the fight to eliminate
racial discrimination. An entire book could be written about this phase
of Omega activities.
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The 1955 Los Angeles Grand Conclave initiated a program whereby each graduate
chapter would purchase a Life Membership from the NAACP. Between 1955 and
1959, chapters contributed nearly $40,000 to the NAACP.
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In the fifties, Omega Psi Phi took an official position against hazing
as a fraternity activity. This anti-hazing position remains in effect today,
and the policy banning hazing has been strengthened.
THE SIXTIES
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The struggle for social justice shifted into high gear. Brothers were active
participants in the "sit-ins" and other demonstrations designed to call
attention to the plight of black Americans. Undergraduate brothers especially
were involved in the demonstrative aspect of the civil rights struggle.
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In 1961, the Washington, D.C. Grand Conclave did an excellent job of highlighting
the fifty years of accomplishments by Omega. Brothers attended the 1961
Golden Anniversary Conclave in record numbers. Founders Love, Cooper, and
Coleman were present. Thirteen of twenty-three former Grand Basilei were
in attendance. Young brothers had the once-in-a-life-time opportunity to
mingle with some of the greatest black men that America had produced.
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The Golden Anniversary Conclave authorized $140,000-$150,000 for the construction
of a new National Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C.
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In 1964, the new National Headquarters Building was dedicated. The building
was a dream come true and was the first building of its type to be built
by a black fraternity. Founders Love, Cooper and Coleman participated in
the ceremonies. The name was later changed to the International Headquarters.
It is located at 2714 Georgia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.
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Robert H. Lawrence (in 1966) was selected as the first Black to serve in
the Astronaut Program. Lawrence had earned a Ph.D. Degree in chemistry
at Ohio State University.
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Founder Frank Coleman entered Omega Chapter in 1967.
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The 1968 Charlotte Grand Conclave mandated a Constitutional Convention
for the revision of the Constitution and By-Laws as well as the Ritual.
The Convention was held in Atlanta in 1969.
THE SEVENTIES
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The newly revised Constitution and By-Laws and the Ritual became effective
at the close of the 1970 Pittsburgh Grand Conclave.
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H. Carl Moultrie I, Omega's only National Executive Secretary to this point,
was appointed as a judge to the Superior Court of Washington, D.C., in
1972. Moultrie's resignation was accepted with regrets. Omega conferred
upon Moultrie the title of National Executive Secretary Emeritus which
was later changed to Executive Secretary Emeritus. The Seventies brought
more unpleasant news. Founder Oscar J. Cooper entered Omega Chapter in
1972. In 1974, Edgar A. Love, the only surviving founder, entered Omega
Chapter.
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On November 16, 1975, an impressive granite monument was dedicated to the
memory of the four founders. The monument is just a few feet away from
Thirkield Hall, the site of Omega's birth place on the Howard University
Campus.
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A revived Life Membership Program resulted in a very large number of new
Life Members.
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The 1976 Atlanta Grand Conclave was the largest in the history of the fraternity
up to that point in time.
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Many new undergraduate chapters were chartered, because of the increased
enrollment of black students at previously all-white colleges and universities.
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"Operation Big Vote" was successful in getting thousands of black people
to vote in the 1976 election. Many Omegas were active participants.
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The 1979 Denver Grand Conclave made a commitment to contribute a minimum
of 250,000 dollars to the United Negro College Fund over the next five
years.
THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES
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In 1981, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity endowed its first Omega Faculty Chair.
Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi, was the recipient. President
W.A. McMillan stated that the Chair would be used to promote the humanities.
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The fraternity completed its 250,000 dollars contribution to the United
Negro College Fund, an organization under the direction of Christopher
Edley, and approved a plan to continue the annual gift of 50,000 dollars
to that organization in perpetuity.
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The fraternity accelerated its financial support to the National Urban
League. Mr. John Jacobs, Executive Director of the Urban League, participated
in Grand Conclaves on a regular basis.
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Jesse Jackson, former president of Operation PUSH and founder of the Rainbow
Coalition, attended Grand Conclaves on a regular basis and received support
for these organizations as well as for his 1984 and 1988 campaigns for
the presidency of the United States.
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The Seventy-fifth Anniversary Grand Conclave celebration was deemed the
single most significant event on Omega's horizon. The dates selected were
July 25-August 1, 1986 in Washington, D.C., the city of Omega's birth.
It was the largest Conclave ever.
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Grand Basileus Moses C. Norman, Sr., elected at the 1984 Louisville Grand
Conclave, appointed a committee to review the structure and operations
of the fraternity as a means of future focus. In 1984, John S. Epps was
selected as only the fifth Omega Man to wear the title of Executive Secretary.
In 1990, the title was changed to Executive Director.
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Two revised methods of bringing members into the fraternity were approved
by the organization. Pledging was abolished and the new Membership Selection
and Education Program came into being on August 1, 1985. In April, 1991,
the new Membership Intake Program was implemented.
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Initial plans were begun for the writing of an updated history of the Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. H. Carl Moultrie, I, Executive Secretary Emeritus
and Ronald E. McNair, noted Astronaut, entered Omega Chapter. Don Q. Pullen
and W. Mercer Cook also entered Omega Chapter.
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In the 1980s and again in the 1990s, the Fraternity reaffirmed its policy
against the use of a canine (dog) reference in association with the organization.
The Fraternity looks with disfavor upon members who violate this policy
by wearing paraphernalia with a canine image. Further, it forbids the wearing
of any such paraphernalia at its meetings and advises non-members that
persons so attired or who make such references do not represent the Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in their actions.
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Omega continued to flourish, largely because Founders Love, Cooper, Coleman
and Just were men of the very highest ideals and intellect. The Founders
selected and attracted men of similar ideals and characteristics.
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It is not by accident that many of America's great black men are/were Omega
Men. To this date, there are very few Americans whose lives have not been
touched by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Omega has a rich heritage to be
protected, celebrated and enhanced!
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