Our History

Since its founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African-Americans and people of color around the world. Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of Brotherhood among African descendants in this country.

The visionary founders, known as the “Jewels” of the Fraternity, are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy. The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha'sprinciples of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.

Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were established at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. The first Alumni Chapter was established in 1911. While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans. Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights through leaders such as: W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others. True to its form as the “first of firsts,” Alpha Phi Alpha has been interracial since 1945.

Fraternity Aims
Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love for all Mankind.

Fraternity Motto
First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.

Fraternity Mission Statement
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.

Fraternity Objectives
The objectives of this Fraternity shall be: to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid down-trodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status.

Chapter History

The Alpha Pi Chapter was originally chartered in January 1924 on the campus of Atlanta University. The Chapter became inactive in 1932 when Atlanta University merged with Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. The Alpha Pi Chapter was relocated and installed at Louisville Muncipal College on Monday, May 7, 1934 by charter members Lincoln R. Blackwell, Charles Coleman, Ralph Graves, Jerome Craig Hancock, Ray Russell, Frederick Waldrop, Euclid Anthony Whitney, George Anderson Woodson, and George R. Woolfolk. After the closure of Louisville Muncipal College in 1951, the Alpha Pi Chapter was resurrected at the University of Louisville in 1978 by the "Horrendous Five" composed of Kenneth Gus Simpson, Morris Sonny Jackson, Craig Tellas Chandler, Arthur Lee Simpson, and Rick Tennyson.

Recent Achievements

2023 Homecoming King - Bro. Prince Chenou
2023 University of Louisville NPHC Stepshow Winner
2023 Outstanding Community Service FSL Award
2023 Midwestern Region College Brother with the Highest GPA - Bro. Prince Chenou
2023 KY Assistant District Director Elect - Bro. Prince Chenou
2023 KY District College Brother of the Year - Bro. Ni'Kerrion McDonald
2023 KY District Chapter of the Year
2023 KY District Miss Black & Old Gold Winner - Ms. Brianna Williams