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THE HISTORY OF THE
OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization to be founded on the campus of a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The founders were three Howard University undergraduates, Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. Joining them was their faculty adviser, Dr. Ernest Everett Just.

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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.

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On November 23, 1911 in Thirkield Hall, Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were selected to be the Grand Keeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grand Keeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were selected to be the charter members and Alpha Chapter was organized with fourteen charter members on December 15, 1911.

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Cooper became the fraternity’s second Grand Basileus in 1912 and authorized the investigation of a proposed second chapter at Lincoln University, Penn.

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Love was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1912 and served until 1915. In 1912, Howard University officials did not initially recognize the fraternity as a national organization and Omega Psi Phi’s leadership refused to only accept local recognition. As a result, the fraternity operated without official sanction, until the university withdrew its opposition in 1914, the same year that the Beta Chapter was chartered at Lincoln University.

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Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on October 28, 1914.

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For more Omega history please visit our National Website

OMEGA        FOUNDERS

DR. ERNEST E. JUST (1883-1941)

  • Ernest E. Just was born in Charleston, South Carolina.

  • Graduated from the Industrial School of the State College, Orangeburg, South Carolina.

  •  Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire

  •  Bachelor of Arts Degree, Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa)

  • Awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP, 1915

  • Doctor of Philosophy Degree, University of Chicago, 1916

  • Became the 19th honoree in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage Stamp Series on February 1, 1996.

PROFESSOR FRANK COLEMAN (1890-1967)

  • Frank Coleman was born in Washington, D.C.

  • Graduated from the M Street High School, Washington, D.C.

  • Bachelor of Science Degree, Howard University, 1913

  • Master of Science Degree, University of Chicago

  • Advanced Training, University of Pennsylvania

  • Professor and head of the Physics Department, Howard University

  •  U.S. Army Officer, World War I

DR. OSCAR J. COOPER (1888-1972)

  • Oscar J. Cooper was born in Washington, D.C.

  • Graduated from the M Street High School, Washington, D.C.

  • Bachelor of Science Degree, Howard University, 1913 Doctor of Medicine Degree, Howard University, 1917

  • Practiced medicine in Philadelphia, PA for 50 years

BISHOP EDGAR A. LOVE (1891-1974)

  • Edgar A. Love was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia

  • Graduated from the Academy of Morgan College

  • Bachelor of Arts Degree, Howard University, 1913

  • Bachelor of Divinity Degree, Howard University, 1916

  • Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree, Boston University, 1918

  • Doctor of Divinity Degree (Honorary), Morgan College, 1935

  • U.S. Army Chaplain, World War I

  • Bishop, Methodist Church

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Humble Beginings  - ΩΨΦ

Since its humble beginnings on the Howard University campus, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity continues to be on the front line, leveraging its power, influence and more than 100 years of commitment to the uplift of our people and our communities.

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