Kappa Alpha Psi is a college fraternity with active undergraduate and alumni chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the country. It is the crystallization of a dream— and beautiful realization of a vision shared by the late Revered Founders Elder Watson Diggs, John Milton Lee, Byron K. Armstrong, Guy Levis Grant, Ezra D. Alexander, Henry T. Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Paul W. Caine, Edward G. Irvin, and George W. Edmonds.
The vision of these astute men materialized during the 1910–1911 school year, specifically on the night of January 5, 1911, at Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana. They planted the seed of a fraternal organization whose fruits are now enjoyed by college men everywhere, regardless of color, religion, or national origin. From its inception, Kappa Alpha Psi has been proud of its Constitution, which has never contained, as well as suggested, any clause excluding membership based on race, creed, or national origin. The Constitution of Kappa Alpha Psi is founded on and dedicated to the principles of achievement through a truly democratic fraternity.
Charted and incorporated originally under the laws of the State of Indiana as Kappa Alpha Nu on May 15, 1911, the fraternity’s name was changed to Kappa Alpha Psi by resolution offered and adopted at the Grand Chapter in December 1914. This change became effective April 15, 1915, under the proclamation of Grand Polemarch Elder Watson Diggs, established Kappa Alpha Psi as a Greek-letter fraternity in every sense.
From the fraternity’s founding and for six critical years, Brother Diggs served as Grand Polemarch. Through his leadership and tireless efforts, supported by Byron K. Armstrong and John M. Lee, who comprised the remainder of the original Grand Board of Directors, the fraternity navigated its formative and most challenging years. Much of the credit for its survival during this period is owed to these three men.
From its inception, every endeavor was directed toward establishing the Fraternity upon a strong foundation before embarking on plans of expansion. By the end of its first year, Diggs and Armstrong had completed the ritual and had commenced work on the coat of arms, finalized during the summer while working at a hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In selecting a suitable motto, Diggs, Armstrong and Lee solicited the aid of a Professor of Greek Art at Indiana Technical College at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Having adopted a motto which mutually suited them, they carried a sketch of the coat of arms to a commercial engraver in Fort Wayne, from which he made the first metal plate.
For years, to safeguard the fraternity’s ritualistic secrets, Diggs personally typed and bound the rituals. Only after moving to Indianapolis and meeting a trusted German printer did he allow the esoteric materials to be professionally printed.
In the spring of 1912, Diggs drafted the first Constitution in a little blue examination book, which was adopted in 1920 with minor revisions. This document remained in use until 1926 when a codified edition was written by Diggs, J. Ernest Wilkins, and W. Ellis Stewart. The Constitution underwent major revisions again in 1957.
With a Constitution, ritual, coat of arms, motto, and the guiding hand of a dynamic Grand Chapter, the fraternity was ready for expansion. In the summer of 1912, Diggs visited the University of Illinois at Urbana Illinois, where he met Earl B. Dickerson, President of the Old “Illini Club.” This club became the nucleus of the Beta Chapter, chartered on February 8, 1913. Gamma Chapter (later renamed Indianapolis Alumni Chapter) was established on December 29, 1913, followed by the establishment of the Delta Chapter at the University of Iowa on March 7, 1914. This chapter was later renamed Gamma, with the Delta designation assigned to Wilberforce University. The Epsilon Chapter at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, was established on December 4, 1915, as the first chapter in the East. Elder Watson Diggs journeyed from Indiana to give this chapter his personal and official installation, recognition and blessing.
This period marked the end of Kappa Alpha Psi’s infancy and the beginning of an era of expansion. Despite interruptions during World War I and World War II, with the suspension of several Grand Chapter meetings, Kappa Alpha Psi has grown with unwavering momentum.
Kappa Alpha Psi , relatively early, envisioned the modified attitudes of college administrators and administrations regarding certain frivolous activities previously identified with Greek letter organizations; and it initiated appropriate changes. Among the early changes brought about was the banning of paddling and other forms of physical abuse, and the introduction of constructive endeavors during pledgeship and probation. To date, Kappa Alpha Psi is organizationally and administratively mature. It moves steadily toward a tomorrow of promise, productivity and influence