The History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black college.

On the evening of November 17, 1911, Omega Psi Phi was founded inside the Science Building (later renamed Thirkield Hall) at Howard University located in Washington, D.C. The founders were three undergraduates — Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. Joining them was their faculty adviser, Ernest Everett Just.

From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning, “friendship is essential to the soul“, the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. That phrase was selected as the motto.

Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as Cardinal Principles.

The next meeting was conducted on November 23, 1911. Edgar Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were selected Grand Keeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grand Keeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were selected as charter members.

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. 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. 

Oscar Cooper became the fraternity's second Grand Basileus in 1912. During Cooper's administration, a request was received for the establishment of a Chapter at the University of Michigan.  This was tabled on April 26, 1913.  He did authorized the investigation of a proposed second chapter at Lincoln University, in Oxford, PA.

Edgar Love was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1913 at the 3rd Grand Conclave in Washington, D.C. and was re-elected to the post again at the 4th Grand Conclave in 1914. Under Love's administration, Howard University withdrew its opposition to the Fraternity being a national organization.  During the same year, Oscar Cooper, William Griffith Brannon, and John H. McMorries were dispatched to Lincoln University to establish the Fraternity's second Chapter, Beta, which was chartered on February 6, 1914.  at Lincoln University.  Additionally, under his administration, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on October 28, 1914 at 1:11 PM.

George E. Hall, the fourth Grand Basileus, authorized the establishment of Gamma Chapter in Boston on December 13,1916 and appointed a committee of Brothers living in the Boston area to form the Chapter. 

James C. McMorries, brother of John H. McMorries, was elected the fifth Grand Basileus at the 5th Grand Conclave in 1916.  In April 1917, the U.S. entered WWI and Omega men played a pivotal role in petitioning the Secretary of War for the establishment of an Officers Training Camp for African American men.  The 17th Provisional Training Camp was established at Ft. Des Moines from June to October 1917.  Sixteen Brothers participated in the Camp including Founders Edgar Love and Frank Coleman.  Recognizing an opportunity for brotherhood and growth, these Brothres petitioned Grand Basileus McMorries for the establishment of a temporary Chapter at Ft. Des Moines.  Permission was granted and Omega's fourth Chapter, the War Chapter, was established with Jesse Heslip elected as Basileus.  During its time, the Chapter initiated a total of ten men into the fold of Omega under two separate initiations.  This helped laid foundation for the future growth of the Fraternity.

At the 6th Grand Conclave, dental student Clarence F. Holmes was elected the sixth Grand Basileus in 1917.  Under Holmes' administration, the Fraternity's first official hymn, "Omega Men Draw Nigh" written by Otto Bohannon, was established.  Additionally, recognizing the success of the War Chapter, Holmes approved the establishment of a temporary Chapter, Camp Howard Chapter, during the Student Army Training Camp (SATC) at Howard University.  This Camp was held to training college men as military instructors for their colleges and universities.  Over 450 men from 70 colleges and universities attended the Camp from August 1 to September 16, 1918.  During the brief time of the Camp Howard Chapter, 27 men from nine different colleges and universities were initiated into the Fraternity. Like the War Chapter, this laid the foundation of exponential growth for the Fraternity post-WWI.

Through the two temporary Chapters and initiation of 37 men from different colleges, universities, and areas of the country, Raymond G. Robinson, the seventh Grand Basileus, spearheaded an unprecedented growth spur in the Fraternity during his administration.  Elected Grand Basileus at the 7th Grand Conclave in 1918 and serving in that capacity until 1920, Robinson almost quadrupled the number of Chapter from 3 to 11 through leveraging these newly initiated Brothers. He also revived a dormant Gamma Chapter and established the first Chapters for alumni Brothers (the first graduate Chapter, Iota, was established on August 17, 1920 in Atlantic City, NJ, with the second, Lambda, established in November 1920 in Norfolk, VA, and the third, Mu, established in December 1920 in Philadelphia, PA).  Another significant achievement under the Robinson administration was the publication of the first issue of The Oracle in June 1919 with Stanley M. Douglass, the Grand Keeper of Records, as the first Editor. 

At the 9th Grand Conclave in Nashville, Harold H. Thomas was elected as the eighth Grand Basileus of the Fraternity.  During his administration, the Campaign for the Study of Negro Literature and History was established.  This was the Fraternity's first national public initiative which was inspired by a stirring speech given by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an honorary member of the Fraternity, at the 9th Grand Conclave in 1920 entitled "Democracy and the Man far Down."  Thomas continued the expansion of the Fraternity adding 7 more Chapters to the fold during 1921.

Nu Chapter was organized at the Pennsylvania State College, State College. Pa., Feb. 5, 1921, by eight students of the above named college. This chapter was a direct result of  the  efforts  of  several  of these students, who had realized the necessity for some organization among the Negro students at State College. 

Previous to the establishment  of  the chapter, these students were affiliated with a local organization, which failed to accomplish the purpose for which it had been established. In order that the spirit of co­operation, loyalty and sincerity would be a vital factor in these young men's lives, they needed a more  binding  organization, one with a broader foundation, from which they might receive inspiration. Therefore, efforts were centered towards the establishment of a fraternity chapter, and Nu Chapter was the result.

Although the chapter is young in its organization, the value of its establishment has  already  been  seen.  The men have taken a new interest in organized  activity and are co-operating in the proper sense of the word. Omega Psi Phi is a name in which they already take pride, and for which they are always ready to sacrifice.

State College is located in the center of Pennsylvania, and affords an ideal location for molding our men into firm sincere Omega men.

The members are: George D Brooks, Louis A. Potter, Daniel B. Taylor, James A. Gardiner, Eldridge A. Miller, William N. Lewis, J. Lester Smith, James A. Moore. The above are Charter Members of the Chapter.

The first step taken by Nu Chapter after its organization, was to petition for college recognition. The final action of the committee on Student Organization has not been returned as yet but the chapter expects favorable reply. 

Through the investigative Committee, a campaign is to be launched to encourage students to "come to State”.