Cooper and Frank Coleman were elected the chapter’s first Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper of Seals, respectively.īrother Cooper became the fraternity’s second Grand Basileus in 1912 and authorized the investigation of establishing a second chapter on the campus of Lincoln University located in Pennsylvania.īrother Love was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1912 and served until 1915. Eleven undergraduate men were selected to become the charter members.Īlpha chapter was organized with fourteen charter members on December 15, 1911. Cooper and Frank Coleman were selected to be the Grand Keeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grand Keeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President).

Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as Cardinal Principles. Joining them was their faculty adviser, Ernest Everett Just.įrom the initials of the Greek phrase meaning, “ friendship is essential to the soul“, the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The founders were three undergraduates - Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. On the evening of November 17, 1911, Omega Psi Phi was founded inside the Science Building (later renamed Thirkield Hall) at Howard University located in Washington, D.C. is the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black college.

Phi beta sigma fraternity hymn lyrics