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Birth of Omega
On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three
Howard University undergraduate students, with the
assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. This event occurred in the
office of biology Professor Ernest E.
Just, the faculty adviser, in the Science Hall (now known as
Thirkield Hall). The three
liberal arts students were Edgar A. Love,
Oscar J. Cooper and Frank
Coleman. From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is
essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The phrase was
selected as the motto. Manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift were
adopted as cardinal principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the
pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity .
The next meeting was conducted on November 23, 1911. Edgar Love became the
first Grand Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were selected
Grandkeeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grandkeeper 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.
Cooper authorized the investigation of a proposed
second chapter at Lincoln University,
Pennsylvania. Edgar Love was
elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1912 and served until 1915. In 1914,
Howard University withdrew its
opposition, and the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity was incorporated under the laws of the
District of Columbia on
October 28, 1914. Beta Chapter at Lincoln
University was chartered in February, 1914. George E. Hall, the
fourth Grand Basileus, had been initiated at Alpha Chapter in 1914. Grand
Basileus Hall authorized the establishment of
Gamma Chapter in Boston, Massachusetts. However, the
chapter was eventually established during the administration of the fifth Grand
Basileus, James C. McMorries. During the administration of the sixth Grand
Basileus, Clarence F. Holmes, the fraternity's first official hymn, "Omega Men
Draw Nigh", was written by Otto Bohannon. Raymond G. Robinson, the seventh Grand
Basileus, established Delta Chapter
in Nashville, Tennessee in 1919. Robinson left office in 1920 with a total of
ten chapters in operation. Stanley Douglas served as Editor of the first
Oracle published in the spring of 1919. Harold K. Thomas, the eighth Grand
Basileus, was elected at the 1920 Nashville Grand Conclave. It was at this
Conclave that Carter G. Woodson inspired the establishment of National
Achievement Week to promote the study of Negro life and history. The 1921
Atlanta Grand Conclave brought to an end the first decade of the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
INTERNAL GROWTH
In 1922, Grand Basileus J. Alston Atkins appointed the
first District Representatives. Today, there are eleven such officers who are
elected annually by the district conferences/meetings. In 1922, the office of
Vice Grand Basileus was created. The Grand Keeper of Records became the Grand
Keeper of the Records and Seal. The first Omega Bulletin was published in 1928.
Campbell C. Johnson was the Editor. "Omega Dear" was adopted as the official
hymn in 1931. Two faculty from Howard University,
Charles R. Drew, Professor of Surgery, and Mercer
Cook, Professor of Languages, were the composers. Cook wrote the music and first
stanza; Drew wrote the last two stanzas.
THE FORTIES
The Omega "Sweetheart Song", with words and music by Don Q. Pullen, was adopted
as the official sweetheart song by the 1940 Nashville Grand Conclave. Founder
Ernest E. Just entered Omega Chapter in 1941. In 1941, Dr. Charles Drew
perfected the use of blood plasma as a life saving tool. William Hastie resigned
as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War in protest against discrimination in
the Armed Forces. He was later appointed Governor of the Virgin Islands by
President Truman. In 1949, the first National Headquarters Building at 107 Rhode
Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. was purchased.
H. Carl Moultrie, I was selected to serve as the
first National Executive Secretary. In 1949, the scholarship fund was renamed
the Charles R. Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund.
THE FIFTIES
During this era, the thrust was social change. Thousands of Omega men in every
area of the country were actively involved in the fight to eliminate racial
discrimination. An entire book could be written about this phase of Omega
activities. The 1955 Los Angeles Grand Conclave initiated a program whereby each
graduate chapter would purchase a Life Membership from the NAACP. Between 1955
and 1959, chapters contributed nearly $40,000 to the NAACP. In the fifties,
Omega Psi Phi took an official position against hazing as a fraternity activity.
This anti-hazing position remains in effect today, and the policy banning hazing
has been strengthened.
THE SIXTIES
The struggle for social justice shifted into high gear. Brothers were active
participants in the "sit-ins" and other demonstrations designed to call
attention to the plight of black Americans. Undergraduate brothers especially
were involved in the demonstrative aspect of the civil rights struggle. In 1961,
the Washington, D.C. Grand Conclave did an excellent job of highlighting the
fifty years of accomplishments by Omega. Brothers attended the 1961 Golden
Anniversary Conclave in record numbers. Founders Love, Cooper, and Coleman were
present. Thirteen of twenty-three former Grand Basilei were in attendance. Young
brothers had the once-in-a-life-time opportunity to mingle with some of the
greatest black men that America had produced. The Golden Anniversary Conclave
authorized $140,000-$150,000 for the construction of a new National Headquarters
Building in Washington, D.C. In 1964, the new National Headquarters Building was
dedicated. The building was a dream come true and was the first building of its
type to be built by a black fraternity. Founders Love, Cooper and Coleman
participated in the ceremonies. The name was later changed to the International
Headquarters. It is located at 2714 Georgia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20001. Robert H. Lawrence (in 1966) was selected as the first Black to serve in
the Astronaut Program. Lawrence had earned a Ph.D. Degree in chemistry at Ohio
State University. Founder Frank Coleman entered Omega Chapter in 1967. The 1968
Charlotte Grand Conclave mandated a Constitutional Convention for the revision
of the Constitution and By-Laws as well as the Ritual. The Convention was held
in Atlanta in 1969.
THE SEVENTIES
The newly revised Constitution and By-Laws and the Ritual became effective at
the close of the 1970 Pittsburgh Grand Conclave. H. Carl Moultrie I, Omega's
only National Executive Secretary to this point, was appointed as a judge to the
Superior Court of Washington, D.C., in 1972. Moultrie's resignation was accepted
with regrets. Omega conferred upon Moultrie the title of National Executive
Secretary Emeritus which was later changed to Executive Secretary Emeritus. The
Seventies brought more unpleasant news. Founder Oscar J. Cooper entered Omega
Chapter in 1972. In 1974, Edgar A. Love, the only surviving founder, entered
Omega Chapter. On November 16, 1975, an impressive granite monument was
dedicated to the memory of the four founders. The monument is just a few feet
away from Thirkield Hall, the site of Omega's birth place on the Howard
University Campus. A revived Life Membership Program resulted in a very large
number of new Life Members. The 1976 Atlanta Grand Conclave was the largest in
the history of the fraternity up to that point in time. Many new undergraduate
chapters were chartered, because of the increased enrollment of black students
at previously all-white colleges and universities. "Operation Big Vote" was
successful in getting thousands of black people to vote in the 1976 election.
Many Omegas were active participants. The 1979 Denver Grand Conclave made a
commitment to contribute a minimum of 250,000 dollars to the United Negro
College Fund over the next five years.
THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES
In 1981, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity endowed its first Omega Faculty Chair.
Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi, was the recipient. President W.A.
McMillan stated that the Chair would be used to promote the humanities. The
fraternity completed its 250,000 dollars contribution to the United Negro
College Fund, an organization under the direction of Christopher Edley, and
approved a plan to continue the annual gift of 50,000 dollars to that
organization in perpetuity. The fraternity accelerated its financial support to
the National Urban League. Mr. John Jacobs, Executive Director of the Urban
League, participated in Grand Conclaves on a regular basis. Jesse Jackson,
former president of Operation PUSH and founder of the Rainbow Coalition,
attended Grand Conclaves on a regular basis and received support for these
organizations as well as for his 1984 and 1988 campaigns for the presidency of
the United States.
The Seventy-fifth Anniversary Grand Conclave celebration was deemed the single
most significant event on Omega's horizon. The dates selected were July
25-August 1, 1986 in Washington, D.C., the city of Omega's birth. It was the
largest Conclave ever. Grand Basileus Moses C. Norman, Sr., elected at the 1984
Louisville Grand Conclave, appointed a committee to review the structure and
operations of the fraternity as a means of future focus. In 1984, John S. Epps
was selected as only the fifth Omega Man to wear the title of Executive
Secretary. In 1990, the title was changed to Executive Director. Two revised
methods of bringing members into the fraternity were approved by the
organization. Pledging was abolished and the new Membership Selection and
Education Program came into being on August 1, 1985. In April, 1991, the new
Membership Intake Program was implemented. Initial plans were begun for the
writing of an updated history of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. H. Carl
Moultrie, I, Executive Secretary Emeritus and Ronald E. McNair, noted Astronaut,
entered Omega Chapter. Don Q. Pullen and W. Mercer Cook also entered Omega
Chapter.
Omega continued to flourish, largely because Founders Love, Cooper, Coleman and
Just were men of the very highest ideals and intellect. The Founders selected
and attracted men of similar ideals and characteristics. It is not by accident
that many of America's great black men are/were Omega Men. To this date, there
are very few Americans whose lives have not been touched by a member of the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Omega has a rich heritage to be
protected, celebrated and enhanced!
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