Who is the lost founder of Kappa Alpha Psi?

2 years ago

9 minutes

The founders of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. are Elder Watson Diggs, better known as “The Dreamer,” Dr. Ezra D. Alexander, Dr. Byron Kenneth Armstrong, Atty. Henry Turner Usher, Dr. Marcus Peter Blakemore, Paul Waymond Kane, George Wesley Edmonds, Dr. Guy Levis Grant, Edward Giles Irwin and Sgt. John Milton Lee.

The founders sought to establish a fraternity with a solid foundation before embarking on plans for expansion. By the end of the first year, the ritual was completed and the creation of the crest and motto began. Frederick Mitchell’s name is listed on the application for the Fraternity, but he declined the school and thus never became a member of the Fraternity.
Founding

The fraternity was founded as Kappa Alpha Nu on the night of January 5, 1911, by ten African American college students. The decision to name Kappa Alpha Nu may have been made in honor of the Alpha Kappa Nu Club, which began on the Indiana University campus in 1903, but had too few members to continue. The organization known today as Kappa Alpha Psi was registered nationally as Kappa Alpha Nu on May 15, 1911. The name of the organization was changed to its present name in 1915, shortly after its inception.
Dedicated Kappa Alpha Psi Frank Summers was one of eighteen members of the Indiana University track team awarded an “I ” in 1915.

At that time there were very few African American students at the school. most white on the campus of Bloomington, Indiana , and they were a small minority because of the era of Jim Crow laws . Many African American students were rarely seen on campus, and white college administrators and classmates discouraged or prohibited them from attending student events and extracurricular activities. African American students were denied membership on sports teams, with the exception of athletics. The racial prejudice and discrimination the founders faced strengthened their bonds of friendship and their growing interest in creating a social group.

Some believe the Greek letters Kappa Alpha Nu were chosen as an homage to Alpha Kappa Nu, but the name has become an ethnic slur among racist factions. Founder Elder Watson Diggs, while watching a young pledge competing on the track, heard fans call this member a “Kappa Alpha nigger,” and a campaign to rename the fraternity ensued. The decision to rename the band was made in December 1914, and the fraternity states that “the name acquired the characteristic symbol of a Greek letter and KAPPA ALPHA PSI , thus became a Greek letter” Fraternity “in every sense of the name.” Kappa Alpha Psi has been the official name since April 15, 1915.

In 1947, the Los Angeles Conclave established the National Silhouettes of Kappa Alpha Psi. as an auxiliary group consisting of the wives or widows of fraternity members. In 1980, the Silhouettes were officially recognized and given a seat on the board of directors of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation. The Silhouettes provide support and assistance for Kappa Alpha Psi activities at the Grand Kappa, provincial, and local levels.

Who is the lost Nupe?

Kappa Alpha Psi Quiz Stats

Hint	Answer
George Wesley Edmonds is known as the ____ _____ ____	The Lost Nupe
Lincoln University created what chapter?	Epsilon
To Encourage	honorable achievement in every field of human endeavor
Elder Watson Diggs was the first to recieve this award (award & year)	Laurel Wreath and December 1924

The eldest of two sons, founder George Wesley Edmonds was born on August 13, 1890, in Knight Township, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. He was clever by nature and a mystery to most in the Fraternity.

He attended nearby Evansville, Indiana’s Carver Elementary School and Clark High School before enrolling at Indiana University in the fall of 1910. He co-founded Kappa Alpha Nu Fraternity with nine other college students. The Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Nu’s papers of formation designated Founder Edmonds as the Corresponding Secretary. Along with Asher and Blakemore, he was one of the three freshmen that were the inaugural Kappa Alpha Nu initiates.

Edmonds never went back to school after spending the 1911 summer at home. Instead, he spent several years working in the Vanderburgh County railroad and coal mines. Additionally, Edmonds resided in Warwick County, Indiana, and Lake County, Indiana (1917–18). (1942).

Edmonds settled in Stevenson, Indiana after getting married to Willa Mae Forte. Noel, their son, was born to them. Edmonds passed away on June 13, 1962.

Edmonds’ early resignation from school means that not much more is known about him. For several years, the Fraternity had been looking for Edmonds. Several things hindered these efforts. His personal situation precluded him from interacting with those in the higher education community.

How many founders do Kappas have?

There are ten founders:

Elder Watson Diggs, who was born in Christian County, Kentucky, and died in 1947, attended Indiana State Normal (now Indiana State Teachers College) and Indiana University, the latter of which was the founding institution of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He presided over the Fraternity’s Grand Polemarch for the first six years in a row. He received the Fraternity’s first Laurel Wreath in December 1924 in recognition of these and other exceptional services to the organization.

In 1892, Ezra Dee Alexander was born in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University. He lived there until 1971. 1910 saw his graduation from Bloomington High School. He enrolled in Indiana University in the fall of 1910, and he received an A.B. degree from the university in 1917. In 1919, he graduated with his M.D. from Indiana University’s Medical School. He worked as a doctor in Indianapolis. He wed Mary Hunter, a teacher employed by the Indianapolis Public Schools, in 1920. The Grand Board of Directors included Alexander for numerous terms.

Born in Westfield, Indiana, Byron Kenneth Armstrong (1890–1980) enrolled at Indiana University to pursue studies in sociology, mathematics, and philosophy. He graduated from Indiana University, went on to Columbia University for his master’s degree in 1913, and later received his doctor of philosophy from the University of Michigan. In Florida, Indiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma, he worked as a teacher. He worked as an investigator for the Department of Labor during World War I. In 1935, he received the Laurel Wreath.

Born in Woodburn, Kentucky, in 1892, Henry Tourner Asher (1892-1963) graduated from Bloomington High School in 1910. In 1914, he graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and the following year, he began working as a teacher at Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1917, he was enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota. In 1928, he graduated from the Detroit College of Law with an LL.B.

Marcus Peter Blakemore, who was born in Franklin, Indiana in 1889, studied in Anderson’s elementary and high schools before passing away in 1959. In 1909, he received his high school diploma and enrolled in Indiana University the following year. He founded the Electric Engineering Company after graduating from the university, which he ran up until his enlistment in World War I. Later, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh Dental School, where he eventually graduated in 1923. He was a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he kept up his dental business, until the time of his passing in October 1959.

Paul Waymond Caine (1891–1931) was raised in Greencastle, Indiana, and was educated there through high school. He was born in Charleston, Indiana. When Kappa Alpha Nu was being organized, he assisted the other Founders while a student at Indiana University in 1909. He was never able to complete his sophomore year due to a devastating fire that occurred in the fraternity house where he worked. Brother Caine started a catering business in his hometown, went to Columbia University, opened a catering business in Gary, Indiana, and wrote a book on catering that the Hurst Publishing Company copyrighted in 1919. He also established a catering business in Gary. The founding of the Gamma, Delta, and Zeta chapters was made possible in large part by Brother Caine.

On August 13, 1890, George Wesley Edmonds (1860–1962) was born in Knight Township, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. At Evansville, he enrolled in Carver Elementary School and Clark High School, where he graduated in 1910. George enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington in the fall of 1910. He founded Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity together with nine other students.

Guy Levis Grant, who was born in New Albany, Indiana, and attended local public schools before graduating from Scribner High School in 1909 and enrolling at Indiana University, lived there from 1891 to 1973. He studied chemistry there, earning an A.B. in 1915 as a result. He graduated with a D.D.S. in 1920 from Indiana Dental School, which was then a division of the University of Indiana. He worked as a dentist in Indianapolis. He wed Laura Hammons in 1929.

Edward Giles Irvin (1893–1982), who was born on August 13, 1893, in Spencer, Indiana, graduated from Kokomo High School that same year and enrolled in the University of Indiana. He followed a career in journalism after graduating from high school and did so in a number of locations around the nation up until World War I.

John Milton Lee, who was born on September 7, 1890, in Danville, Indiana, graduated from Danville High School in 1910 and enrolled at the University of Indiana, where he pursued pre-medical studies for three years. Later, he enrolled in Temple University (1915), but was forced to drop out due to a family death. He joined the 349th Field Artillery in March 1918 and was a First Class Sergeant and Gunner while serving abroad. The distinction of being the first battery of Negro artillerymen to ever fire on an enemy belongs to his battery. The opening shot was fired by John Milton Lee.

What does Nupe mean for Kappas?

Kappa is the shortened name of the fraternity that was formed by all black students in January 1911 on the campus of Indian University to work to create conditions of equality for Black Africans and Americans in American college campuses. • Nupe is the name reserved for all pledged members of the fraternity.