The History of Kappa Alpha Psi

Kappa Alpha Psi was founded on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on January 5, 1911.  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 Watson Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, John Milton Lee, Guy Levis Grant, Ezra D. Alexander, Herny T. Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Paul W. Caine, Edward G. Irvin, and George W. Edmonds to form Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Fashioning achievement as it's purpose, Kappa Alpha Psi began uniting college men of culture, patriotism and honor in the bond of fraternity.   Kappa Alpha Psi, a college fraternity, now comprised of functioning Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters on major college campuses and in cities throughout the country, is the crystallization of a dream.  It is the beautiful realization of a vision shared commonly by late revered founder Elder Waston Diggs, The Dreamer.

The Alpha Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was founded at Virginia State College on March 30, 1935 by William Thomas Carter.  It's charter members include Marcellus Winston, John M. Hunter, Thomas Verdell, James A. Johnson, and A. Rouse with the help of the Alpha Gamma Chapter at Virginia Union University and a delegation of brothers from the Washington Alumni Chapter.

The Alpha Phi Chapter has produced outstanding brothers such as Billy Taylor and Reginald Lewis who through leadership and training have made significant contributions to the African American community.  Because of the Alpha Phi Chapter's reputation for making great brothers and it's legendary hospitality, it is know as "The Beast of the East" and is seen as a beacon of light throughout all of Kappadom.