Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., 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 was the vision of ten 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, and for the next six years, Brother Diggs served as the

Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  Through his

leadership and indefatigable application, augmented by the efforts of Byron Kenneth Armstrong, and John Milton 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, much of the credit for the organization's survival through this period is shared by these three men.

 

From its inception, every endeavor was directed toward establishing the fraternity upon a strong foundation before embarking on plans of expansion. By the end of the first year, working together, Diggs and Armstrong had completed the ritual and had commenced work on the coat of arms.  Work on the latter was completed during the following summer by Diggs, Armstrong and Lee while they were pursuing employment at a hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

 

In selecting a suitable motto, Diggs, Armstrong and Lee solicited the aid of a Professor of Greek Art at Indiana Technical College at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Having adopted a motto which mutually suited them, they carried a sketch of the coat of arms to a commercial engraver in Fort Wayne, from which he made the first metal plate.