History of Omega Psi Phi FRATERTNITY INC.
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PSI PHI CHAPTER
History of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three Howard University undergraduate students, with the assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. This event occurred in the office of biology 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 .
Omega continued to flourish, largely because Founders Love, Cooper, Coleman and Just were men of the very highest ideals and intellect. The Founders selected and attractetd 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.
psi phi chapter
“ Psi Phi Chapter was established and chartered by the fraternity’s Supreme Council on January 23, 1932 and the Charter was signed and sealed on March 6, 1932. The Charter members were: Brothers Hobart T. Allen, Francis L. Atkins, Samuel G. Baker, Clark S. Brown, Sr., W. Otto Gill, Issac P. Perry, William L. Stepp, Sr., Andrew I. Terrell, E. Friar Wilson and Chauncey G. Winston”
The first officers of the chapter at its conception were, Baslieus, Bro. Ernest F. Wilson, Vice Baslieus, Bro. Clark S. Brown, Sr., Keeper of Records and Seal, Bro. Samuel G. Baker, Keeper of Finance, Bro. Andrew I. Terrell, Sr., and Chaplain, Bro. Chauncey. G. Winston.
Bro. Jasper Alston (Jack) Atkins, a member of Psi Phi Chapter, was the Founder of the Omega Talent Hunt Contest, which is now one of the fraternity’s nationally mandated programs. The program helped discover and encourage many of our great musicians and music teachers. Bro. Atkins also served as our ninth Grand Basileus from 1921-1924.
Dr. Ernest E. Just
Ernest E. Just was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He Graduated from the Industrial School of the State College in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He later attended Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire. Just earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa) and later a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Chicago. He was Awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP in1915.
Dr. Oscar J. Cooper
Oscar J. Cooper was born in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the M Street High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Howard University in 1913. He earned a Doctor of Medicine Degree frozttm Howard University in 1917. He went on to practice medicine in Philadelphia, PA for 50 years.
Professor Frank Coleman
Frank Coleman was born in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the M Street High School, Washington, D.C. In 1913, he earned aBachelor of Science Degree from Howard University. He went on to receive a Master of Science Degree from the University of Chicago and Advanced Training at University of Pennsylvania. Coleman served as Professor and head of the Physics Department at
Howard University.
Bishop Edgar A. Love
Edgar A. Love was born in Virginia. He graduated from the Academy of Morgan College. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Howard University in 1913, Love went on to earn a Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree from Howard 3 years later. He received a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Boston University in 1918 and an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Morgan College in 1935. Love served as a U.S. Army Chaplain in World War II. He was also a Bishop in the Methodist Church.