About Us

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. - History

* excerpt from https://oppf.org

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black college.

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. The founders were three undergraduates — Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. Joining them was their faculty adviser, Ernest Everett Just.

From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning, “friendship is essential to the soul“, the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. That phrase was selected as the motto.

Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as Cardinal Principles.

On November 23, 1911, Edgar A. Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President). Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman were selected to be the Grand Keeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grand Keeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Eleven undergraduate men were selected to become the charter members.

Alpha chapter was organized with fourteen charter members on December 15, 1911. Brothers Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman were elected the chapter’s first Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper of Seals, respectively.

Zeta Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. - History

* excerpt written by Brother Dave Rozzell 8 ZΦ SP10 LM 8785

Of the more than 700 chapters of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated worldwide,[1] very few have a history as rich and auspicious as Zeta Phi Chapter located in Indianapolis, IN. It was chartered In April, 1925[2]as Omega’s 54^th chapter,[3] one of 10 chartered that year,[4] a little less than 14 years after the fraternity’s founding on a Friday night, November 17, 1911.[5]

Zeta Phi was formed as a graduate chapter with five previous members of the fraternity:[6] Emory A. James, a charter member of Beta Chapter, initiated February 6, 1914;[7] Myers E. Proctor, Beta Chapter, 1915;[8] Charles E. Harry III, Alpha Chapter, 1918;[9] Charleston B. Cox, Camp Howard Chapter, 1918;[10] and William Conway Summers, a charter member of Theta Omega Chapter, 1922.[11] Within one month of Zeta Phi’s chartering, these brothers initiated another six men in Indianapolis who included Henry E. Dunn, William T. Wilhite, Harry D. Evans, F.F. Bowler, William A. Thomas, and William E. Baugh. [12]

The 10th District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. respectfully refers to itself as the “Talented Tenth”. This is not an idle play on words. The rich history of the District and its Chapters bears out that fact. Even though one would consider us a “small District” our accomplishments says otherwise. The 10th District was the cradle of advanced education for four of our most distinguished members who attended the University of Chicago: Founder Dr. Ernest Everett Just (1916), Founder Professor Frank Coleman, Carter G. Woodson (1908), and Benjamin Mayes (1935). Brother Woodson created the Association for the Study of Life and History in 1915 at the Wabash Y located in the city of Chicago, which later became the forerunner of Black History Month. It was at this location that one of the oldest Chapters in the district, Sigma Chapter (1921) held its first meetings. 

The “Talented” Tenth District consists of the great states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with over 1900 financial Brothers and more than 60 active Chapters.