KAPPA ALPHA PSI WAS FOUNDED ON THE CAMPUS OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY ON JANUARY 5, 1911.

Early in this century, African-American students were actively dissuaded from attending college. Formidable obstacles were erected to prevent the few who were enrolled from assimilating into co-curricular campus life. This ostracism characterized Indiana University in 1911, thus causing Elder W. Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, and eight other black students to form Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, which remains the only Greek letter organization with its 1st Chapter on the University's campus.

The founders 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 it's purpose, Kappa Alpha Psi began uniting college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a bond of fraternity.

ELDER WATSON DIGGS [circa 1890-1947],born in Christian County, Kentucky, was a graduate of Indiana State Normal [(now Indiana State Teachers College] and Indiana University, the birthplace of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He served as Grand Polemarch for the first six consecutive years of the Fraternity's existence. For this and other outstanding contributions to the Fraternity, he was awarded the Fraternity's first Laurel Wreath in December, 1924.

An educator by profession, he taught in the public schools of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was elevated to a principalship. After his death on November 8, 1947, the name of the school where he taught was changed to the Elder Diggs School in his memory. Upon America's entrance into World War I, Diggs resigned his principalship to enter the Nation's first Officer's Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was commissioned a lieutenant. After European service with the 368th Infantry, he became a captain in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Diggs was instrumental in having the Indiana Constitution amended to permit Negro enlistment in the Indiana National Guard.

EZRA DEE ALEXANDER [1892-1971] was born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1892, the site of Indiana University. He was graduated from Bloomington High School in 1910. He matriculated at Indiana University in the fall of 1910 and was graduated from Indiana University in 1917 with the A.B. degree. He received his M.D. degree from the Medical School of Indiana University in 1919. He practiced medicine in Indianapolis. In 1920, he married Mary Hunter, a teacher in the Indianapolis Public School system. Alexander served several terms as a member of the Grand Board of Directors.

BYRON K. ARMSTRONG [1890-1980], born in Westfield, Indiana, entered Indiana University where he studied philosophy, mathematics, and sociology. After finishing Indiana University, he earned his Master's degree at Columbia University in 1913, and subsequently the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Michigan. He held teaching positions in Florida, Indiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma. During World War I, he served as an investigator for the Department of Labor. He was awarded the Laurel Wreath in 1935.

HENRY T. ASHER [1892-1963], born in Woodburn, Kentucky in 1892, was graduated from the Bloomington High School in 1910. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in 1914 and the next year was an instructor at Lincoln Institute at Jefferson City, Missouri. He was a graduate student at the University of Minnesota in 1917. He received the degree of LL.B. at the Detroit College of Law in 1928.

MARCUS PETER BLAKEMORE [1889-1959], born in Franklin, Indiana in 1889, attended common and high schools in Anderson, Indiana. He was graduated from High School in 1909 and entered the University of Indiana the following year. After leaving the University, he organized the Electric Engineering Company, which he operated until he enlisted in World War I. He later entered the Dental School of the University of Pittsburgh, from which he was graduated in 1923. At the time of his death in October 1959, he was residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he maintained his practice of dentistry.

PAUL WAYMON CAINE [1891-1922] was born in Charleston, Indiana, in 1891 and attended grade school and high school 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.

Brother Caine went into the catering business in his hometown, later attended Columbia University, set up a catering business in Gary, Indiana, and published a book on catering, which was copyrighted in 1919 by the Hurst Publishing Company. Brother Caine was instrumental in setting up the Gamma, Delta, and Zeta chapters. He later went into business in Peoria, Illinois and was fatally burned during an explosion of gaseous materials in his business in 1922.

GEORGE W. EDMONDS [1890-1962] was born in Vandenburgh County, Knight Township, Indiana on August 13, 1890. He entered Carver Elementary School and Clark High School in Evansville, graduating in 1910. In the fall of 1910, George entered Indiana University at Bloomington. He joined nine other students in founding Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. After George returned home for the summer of 1911, his father became ill with pneumonia and died. His father had worked in the coal mines of Vandenburgh County for many years. George, being the eldest son, became head of the family, thus preventing his return to school. With the new responsibility of supporting the family, George took a job with the area coal mines and worked with the coal mines and the railroad until he died of pneumonia on June 13, 1962. George married the former Willa Mae Forte and settled in Stevenson, Indiana. They became the parents of one son, Noel.

GUY LEVIS GRANT [1891-1973], born in New Albany, Indiana, attended public schools in that city, was graduated from Scribner High School in 1909, and later entered Indiana University. While there, he majored in chemistry, graduating with the A.B. degree in 1915. In 1920, he received the D.D.S. degree from Indiana Dental School, then a part of the University of Indiana; he practiced dentistry in Indianapolis. In 1929, he married Laura Hammons.

He served as a member of the Grand Board of Directors and was the Fraternity's Historian. In addition to his activities with Kappa Alpha Psi, Brother Grant held memberships in several civic, professional, and business organizations. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Indianapolis.

EDWARD GILES IRVIN [1893-1983], born in Spencer, Indiana, on August 13, 1893, was graduated from Kokomo, Indiana High School in 1910 and entered the University of Indiana the same year. After leaving school, he pursued a Journalistic career in various cities throughout the country until World War I.

Aside from his success as a Journalist, Brother Irvin was a pioneer in promoting basketball and track athletics in the small town schools of Indiana. He was an active member of the Methodist Church of Chicago and a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges. He organized and operated the Afro-American Manufacturing Company in Chicago, which produced novelties, candies, and specialties.

JOHN MILTON LEE [1890-1958], born in Danville, Indiana, September 7, was graduated from the Danville High School in 1910 and entered the University of Indiana and there completed three years of pre-medical work. He later became a student at Temple University (1915) but was compelled to leave school because of a death in the family. He enlisted in the 349th Field Artillery in March of 1918 and served overseas as a First Class Sergeant and Gunner.

His battery enjoys the unique distinction of having been the first battery of Negro Artillerymen ever to open fire upon an enemy. John Milton Lee fired the first shot.

He helped organize, and for several years was president of, the Fairview Gold Club, the first Negro Golf Club in Pennsylvania. In 1931 he married Mary Walker Robinson. Vocationally, he was engaged in several enterprises. For eight years, he conducted a successful catering business in Philadelphia; he organized and served as Vice-president and Secretary of the Mutual Emergency Union, a mutual aid company in Philadelphia. He was also a member of the board of Managers of the Columbia Community Branch of the YMCA.

HISTORICAL FACTS

First chapter by-laws were adopted April 2, 1944.

First delegate to Grand Chapter Conclave: elected October, 1944 to attend 34th Grand Chapter at Louisville, KY, December 28-30, 1944. The chapter has had representation at every conclave since.

First Guide Right program was chaired by Brother L. K. Shivery in April 1944. Brother Shivery proposed that a scholarship plan be established by the chapter to encourage college attendance by black males in the Birmingham area.

C. Spaulding [President and CEO of North Carolina Mutual] was speaker for Guide Right observance at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on April 20, 1947.

Birmingham became active with the Birmingham Pan Hellenic Council in 1946. Dr. Ransey G. Cole was chapter representative for several years. Everharding Pruitt served as Pan Hellenic president from 1957 to 1965.

The chapter hosted its first Provincial Council [Southeastern] in 1948. Birmingham has served as host for the Southern Provincial Councils in 1955, 1965, 1982, 1992 and 2002. The 1965 council was the first such meeting held by a black organization in a major hotel in the City of Birmingham.

Toussaint L. Hale, who had served as chapter Keeper of Records since and before the chartering of the chapter [1943] and had served almost as long as Keeper of Records of the Southeastern Province, was appointed by Grand Polemarch Frank M. Summers in 1950 as Polemarch of the newly established Southern Province. Brother Hale served in this office until 1957. Brother Hale was awarded the Elder Watson Diggs Award [posthumously] in 1980 at the 63rd Grand Chapter in Atlanta.

Everharding Pruitt has served as Polemarch, Keeper of Records, Keeper of Exchequer and three times as chair of host chapter of province councils in Birmingham. Brother Pruitt was elected Province Keeper of Records and Exchequer in 1956 at Fort Lauderdale and served continuously until 1992. During the existence of the Southern Province from 1951 to 1992, Brother Pruitt was present at all province councils except one and all other conferences and board of directors meetings except one. He has been the recipient of eighteen awards from chapters of the Southern Province, Province Polemarchs, Grand Polermarchs and Grand Chapter. The Elder Watson Diggs Award was conferred on Brother Pruitt at the 66th Grand Chapter in 1985 at Washington, D. C.