Alpha Kappa Nu

Alpha Kappa Nu (ΑΚΝ) is the first documented African-American collegiate fraternal organization in the United States.[1] Founded in 1903 at Indiana University and lasting until around 1905, it had a membership of 10, which included all the colored students at the school.[2] A second chapter was set to be established at Wilberforce University.[2] Wilberforce University was where the fraternity Gamma Phi was established in 1905.

The Alpha Kappa Nu Greek Society was formed at Indiana University and Earlham College to strengthen the blacks' voice. Seated are James Knight, Howard Thompson, E.B. Keemer and Fred Williamson. Standing are John Hodge, Thomas Reynolds, Mr. Hill, R.A. Roberts and Gordon Merrill
Newspaper Article about formation of Alpha Kappa Nu
Newspaper Article about formation of Alpha Kappa Nu
Newspaper Article about formation of Alpha Kappa Nu
Newspaper Article about formation of Alpha Kappa Nu

History

Social club

In The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi: A History of the Beginning and Development of A College Greek Letter Organization 1911-1999, Historian Ralph J. Bryson recounted that his own fraternity "may have begun in 1903 on the campuses of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, but there were too few registrants to assure continuing organization. That year, a club was formed called "Alpha Kappa Nu Greek Society"; though newspaper accounts from 1903 and 1905 identified the organization as a Greek fraternity with elected officers and a constitution with "plans of establishing branches at leading negro institutions," the club was never incorporated, and disappeared after a short time.[3] The group lasted for 14 months.[4] Although the group was also stated to have lasted until 1911.[5] The purpose of the group was to "strengthen the negro voice."[6] The group was listed as the first black college chapter to own its own house.[5]

Kappa Alpha Psi

Bryson states that the original moniker (Kappa Alpha Nu) of Kappa Alpha Psi, which did become an African-American fraternity, may have been chosen in tribute to the short lived club.[3] However, there is no concrete evidence as to why the Greek letters Kappa Alpha Nu were chosen,(Kappa is the 10th letter of the Greek alphabet and there were 10 founders, Alpha as being the first Black frat at I.U., Nu unknown) and the name was later changed, due to an incident at an I.U. Track Meet involving Kappa Frank Stewart, changing from Nu to Psi, which was also formed by the combined letters of I.U.(ψ)). Kappa Alpha Psi's historian credits the name change in 1915 with allowing their organization to "thereby became a Greek letter Fraternity in every sense of the designation."[3]

See also

References
  1. "A Brief History: Kappa Undergoes a Name Change". The Abington-Ambler Pa. Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  2. The Crescent of Gamma Phi Beta. 1904. pp. 134–.
  3. Bryson, Ralph J. (2003). The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi: A History of the Beginning and Development of A College Greek Letter Organization 1911-1999. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
  4. Kofi Lomotey (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Education. SAGE Publications. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4129-4050-4.
  5. Ricky L. Jones (27 June 2015). Black Haze, Second Edition: Violence, Sacrifice, and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities. SUNY Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-4384-5674-4.
  6. Richard T. Schaefer (20 March 2008). Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. SAGE Publications. p. 510. ISBN 978-1-4129-2694-2.
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