Recognizing an opportunity for brotherhood and growth, these Brothres petitioned Grand Basileus McMorries for the establishment of a temporary Chapter at Ft. Sixteen Brothers participated in the Camp including Founders Edgar Love and Frank Coleman. The 17th Provisional Training Camp was established at Ft. entered WWI and Omega men played a pivotal role in petitioning the Secretary of War for the establishment of an Officers Training Camp for African American men. McMorries, was elected the fifth Grand Basileus at the 5th Grand Conclave in 1916. Hall, the fourth Grand Basileus, authorized the establishment of Gamma Chapter in Boston on December 13,1916 and appointed a committee of Brothers living in the Boston area to form the Chapter. Additionally, under his administration, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on Octoat 1:11 PM. McMorries were dispatched to Lincoln University to establish the Fraternity's second Chapter, Beta, which was chartered on February 6, 1914. During the same year, Oscar Cooper, William Griffith Brannon, and John H. Under Love's administration, Howard University withdrew its opposition to the Fraternity being a national organization. and was re-elected to the post again at the 4th Grand Conclave in 1914. He did authorized the investigation of a proposed second chapter at Lincoln University, in Oxford, PA.Įdgar Love was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1913 at the 3rd Grand Conclave in Washington, D.C. During Cooper's administration, a request was received for the establishment of a Chapter at the University of Michigan. Oscar Cooper became the fraternity's second Grand Basileus in 1912. The fraternity refused acceptance as a strictly local organization. The Faculty Council proposed to accept the fraternity as a local but not a national organization. On March 8, 1912, the previously submitted fraternity constitution was rejected by the Howard University Faculty Council. Love, Cooper and Coleman were elected the Chapter's first Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper of Seals, respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were selected as charter members.Īlpha Chapter was organized with fourteen charter members on Decem. Cooper and Coleman were selected Grand Keeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grand Keeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Edgar Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President).
The next meeting was conducted on November 23, 1911. A decision was made regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The three liberal arts students were Edgar A. Just, the faculty adviser, in the Science Hall (now known as Thirkield Hall). This event occurred in the office of biology Professor Ernest E.
“Omega has a rich heritage to be protected, celebrated and enhanced.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. To this date, there are very few Americans whose lives have not been touched by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. It is not by accident that many of America’s great black men are/were Omega Men.
Since Omega’s beginning, she has continued to flourish, largely because Founders Love, Cooper, Coleman and Just were men of the very highest ideals and intellect, therefore the Founders selected and attracted men of similar ideals and characteristics. Alpha Chapter was organized with fourteen charter members on December 15, 1911. The phrase was selected as the motto and Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as the cardinal principles.Įleven other Howard University undergraduate men were selected as charter members. From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning “Friendship is Essential to the Soul,” the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. Cooper and Frank Coleman, with the assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three Howard University undergraduate students, Edgar A.