Kappa Alpha Psi was founded on the campus of Indiana University on January 5, 1911. The Fraternity’s fundamental purpose is achievement.
Early this century, African American students were actively dissuaded from attending college. Formidable obstacles were erected to prevent the enrolled few 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, which remains the only Greek letter organization with its 1st Chapter on the University’s campus.
The founders sought a formula that would immediately raise the sights of black collegians and stimulate them to accomplishments higher than they might have imagined.
Fashioning achievement as its purpose, Kappa Alpha Psi began uniting college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a bond of fraternity. KAPPA ALPHA PSI, a college Fraternity, now comprised of functioning Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the country, is the crystallization of a dream. It is the beautiful realization of a vision shared commonly by the late Revered Founders ELDER WATSON DIGGS, “THE DREAMER”; JOHN MILTON LEE; BYRON K. ARMSTRONG; GUY LEVIS GRANT; EZRA D. ALEXANDER; HENRY T. ASHER; MARCUS P. BLAKEMORE; PAUL CAINE; EDWARD G. IRVIN and GEORGE W. EDMONDS.
It was the vision of these astute men that enabled them in the school year 1910 – 11, more specifically the night of January 5, 1911, on the campus of Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana, to sow the seed of a fraternal tree whose fruit is available to, and now enjoyed by, college men everywhere, regardless of their color, religion or national origin. It is a fact of which KAPPA ALPHA PSI is justly proud that the Constitution has never contained any clause, which either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership merely because of his color, creed, or national origin. The Constitution of KAPPA ALPHA PSI is predicated upon, and dedicated to, the principles of achievement through a truly democratic Fraternity.
Chartered and incorporated originally under the laws of the State of Indiana as Kappa Alpha Nu on May 15, 1911, the name was changed to KAPPA ALPHA PSI on a resolution offered and adopted at the Grand Chapter in December 1914. This change became effective April 15, 1915, on a proclamation by the then Grand Polemarch, Elder Watson Diggs. Thus, the name acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and KAPPA ALPHA PSI thereby became a Greek letter Fraternity in every sense of the designation.
From its inception, Brother Diggs served as the Grand Polemarch of KAPPA ALPHA PSI Fraternity for the next six years. Through his leadership and indefatigable application, it was augmented by the efforts of B.K. Armstrong, and John M. Lee, who comprised the remainder of the original Grand Board of Directors, the infant Fraternity was guided through the most perilous years of its life. Accordingly, these three men share much of the credit for the organization’s survival through this period.
From its inception, every endeavor was directed toward establishing the Fraternity upon a strong foundation before embarking on expansion plans. By the end of the first year of working together, Diggs and Armstrong had completed the ritual and commenced work on the coat of arms. Diggs, Armstrong and Lee completed work on the latter the following summer while pursuing employment at a Fort Wayne, Indiana hotel.
Diggs, Armstrong, and Lee solicited the aid of a Professor of Greek Art at Indiana Technical College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in selecting a suitable motto. Having adopted a motto that mutually suited them, they carried a sketch of the coat of arms to a commercial engraver in Fort Wayne, from whom he made the first metal plate.