Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Click on icons below to visit website
Temple' s Yard: Information Unavailable
National Website
On Friday evening, November
17, 1911, three Professor
Ernest E. Just,
the faculty adviser, in the Science Hall (now known as Thirkield Hall). The
three liberal arts students were Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank
Coleman.
From the initials of the Greek
phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega
Psi Phi was derived. The phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood, scholarship,
perseverance and uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. A decision was made
regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of
the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
The next meeting was conducted
on November 23, 1911. Edgar Love became the first Grand Basileus (National
President). Cooper and Coleman were selected Grandkeeper of the Records
(National Secretary) and Grandkeeper of Seals (National Treasurer),
respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were selected as
charter members.
Alpha Chapter was organized
with fourteen charter members on December 15, 1911. Love, Cooper and Coleman
were elected the chapter's first Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper of
Seals, respectively.
Omega has continued to flourish, largely because Founders Love, Cooper, Coleman and Just were men of the very highest ideals and intellect. The Founders selected and attracted men of similar ideals and characteristics.
It is not by accident that many of America's great black men are/were Omega Men. To this date, there are very few Americans whose lives have not been touched by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.