Since it’s founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African-Americans and people of color around the world. Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of Brotherhood among African descendants in this country.
In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became America's first Greek-letter organization established by Black college women. Her roots date back to
Howard University, Washington, D.C., where Ethel Hedgeman Lyle conceived the idea for formation. She viewed the Sorority as an instrument for enriching the social and intellectual aspects of college life by providing mental stimulation through interaction with friends and associates.
Kappa Alpha Psi was founded on the campus of Indiana University on January 5, 1911. The Fraternity's fundamental purpose is achievement. 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, Inc.
Twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on January 13, 1913. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. Delta Sigma Theta is the largest black Greek lettered sorority and has a host of famous women.
Three young African-American male students founded Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914. The founders, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.
On November 12, 1922, seven educators came together to form an organization for African-American women who were interested in every phases of education. Founded on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is the only historically black Greek lettered sorority founded on a predominately white campus.
