Compagnonnage

1986 · 81584 — Decatur GA: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Kappa Alpha Alpha Chapter 1986. Presumed First Edition First printing thus. Wraps. Good. Format is approximately 8.5 inches by 11 inches. 20 pages plus covers. Illustrated cover. Illustrations and advertisements. Some cover and page soiling noted. Pencil notation on first page. Signed inscription on front cover reads: To a good friend and a great American Julian Bond and Lawrence Douglas Wilder 11/24/86. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. is a historically African American Greek-lettered fraternity. The organization has over 750 undergraduate and graduate chapters. The fraternity was founded on November 17 1911 by three Howard University juniors Edgar Amos Love Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman and their faculty adviser Dr. Ernest Everett Just. Omega Psi Phi is the first fraternal organization founded at a historically black university. In 1924 at the urging of fraternity member Carter G. Woodson the fraternity launched Negro History and Literature Week in an effort to publicize the growing body of scholarship on African-American history. Encouraged by public interest the event was renamed "Negro Achievement Week" in 1925 and given an expanded national presence in 1926 by Woodson's Association for the Study of Negro Life as "Negro History Week."3 Expanded to the full month of February from 1976 this event continues today as Black History Month. Since 1945 the fraternity has undertaken a National Social Action Program to meet the needs of African Americans in the areas of health housing civil rights and education. Omega Psi Phi has been a patron of the United Negro College Fund since 1955 providing an annual gift of $350000.00 to the program. The Kappa Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. begins as a dream a distant but real hope in the minds of 12 Omega brothers in Decatur Georgia. These brothers hoped to have form a fraternal entity under the auspices of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. They dedicated their endeavor to the Fraternity's Founding Fathers - Frank Coleman Oscar J. Cooper Ernest E. Just and Edgar A. Love - and sought to emulate the aspirations that brought the Founders together at Howard University on a fall evening Friday November 17 1911. On a summer day on June 1 1979 the Association of Omega Men which was to become Kappa Alpha Alpha Chapter was organized. The founding brothers of Kappa Alpha Alpha Chapter were; Lloyd P. Atkins Alonza A. Bennett first Basileus Robert Cannon Glenn E. Ford first Keeper of Records and Seal Alfonza L. Gayle James George Edward Hargrave Jr. Ronald Jackson Alvin Sanders Eric Turpin Webster Wallace and James Witherspoon. Throughout the years of existence Kappa Alpha Alpha Chapter has remained true to the Four Cardinal Principles on which the Fraternity was founded. The chapter continues its commitment to social action and Dekalb Community at large - based on programs which are designed to aid and meet the needs of all people thereby hopefully moving our society closer toward the goals of true friendship - Friendship is Essential to the Soul. Lt. Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder was the featured speaker at this event. Julian Bond was not listed on the program but apparently was in attendance at this Georgia event. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Alpha Chapter paperback