Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders' Day... The photo depicts the 2nd annual House Party of Kappa Alpha Nu Fraternity, May 17-18, 1912, Bloomington, IN, the forerunner of today's Grand Chapter Meetings. Six Founders are featured in the photo: 1st Row: Byron K. Armstrong (far left) John M. Lee (2nd from right), Elder W. Diggs (far right) 2nd Row: Paul W. Caine (far left), Marcus P. Blakemore (4th from left) 3rd Row: Founder Ezra D. Alexander (far left) The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 1 day. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders' Day... ΚΑΨ Founders (l to r): Guy L. Grant, Ezra D. Alexander, Henry T. Asher, Edward G. Irvin, and Byron K. Armstrong (c. 1960) at the site of the Elder Watson Diggs Memorial (Alpha Chapter House) on the campus of Indiana University. The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 2 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders' Day... ΚΑΨ Founders (l to r): Edward G. Irvin, Ezra D. Alexander, Guy L. Grant, and Henry T. Asher (c. 1965) The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 3 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders’ Day… This photo features seven of the ten founders at the 44th Grand Chapter Meeting, hosted in Washington, DC in 1954. This was the last time all living* founders would be together. (L to R): Founders Guy L. Grant, John M. Lee, Henry T. Asher, Edward G. Irvin, Byron K. Armstrong, Ezra D. Alexander and Marcus P. Blakemore. *Unbeknownst to the Fraternity, Founder George W. Edmonds was still alive at the time of this photo. He died in 1962. The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 4 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day leading to Founders' Day... From the archives...7 living* Founders meet in 1952 (l to r): John M. Lee, Marcus P. Blakemore, Byron K. Armstrong, Edward G. Irvin, Guy L. Grant, Ezra D. Alexander, and Henry T. Asher *Founder George W. Edmonds was still alive, but his whereabouts were unknown at the time. The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 5 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders’ Day… This photo depicts four of our seven living Founders in 1953 showing off the NEW Founder’s Pin, given to them during the 43rd Grand Chapter Meeting in Chicago, IL. The Founder’s Pin was presented to (l to r) Founders Dr. Ezra D. Alexander, Edward G. Irvin, Dr. Marcus P. Blakemore, Dr. Guy L. Grant, (and not pictured) John M. Lee, Dr. Byron K. Armstrong, and Atty. Henry T. Asher. The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 6 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders' Day... This is a candid photo of Founders Edward G. Irvin, Byron K. Armstrong, John M. Lee, and Ezra D. Alexander during the 46th Grand Chapter Meeting, December 27-29, 1956, Atlanta, GA. The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 7 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders' Day... During a 1959 Founders Day Anniversary Banquet, hosted by Gary (IN) Alumni Chapter, Founder Ezra D. Alexander (seated) installs his son, Ezra D. Alexander Jr. (left) as the new Polemarch and G. Kenneth Washington (second from left) as the new Vice Polemarch, as Founder Guy L. Grant (right) looks on. The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration continues in 8 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

A historic photo from the archives each day, leading to Founders' Day... This photo depicts three Founders (l to r: Ezra D. Alexander, Edward G. Irvin, (far right) Guy L. Grant) and the 2nd Grand Polemarch (second from right) Irven Armstrong, while attending the 48th Grand Chapter Meeting (1958) in Detroit, MI, while displaying a photograph from the Fraternity's first House Party (May 1911). The countdown continues to the 114th anniversary celebration in 9 days. Kevin Scott Grand Historian

Happy Birthday Founder Elder Watson Diggs!!! Elder Watson Diggs was born in Christian County, Kentucky, on December 23, 1883. He received a one-room school education in Louisville, Kentucky, where he helped teach the younger children. Following graduation from Indiana State Normal School in the spring of 1908, Diggs enrolled at Howard University in 1909. Diggs transferred to Indiana University in the fall of 1910 and was the first Black student to graduate with an A.B. degree from Indiana University’s School of Education in 1916. He subsequently earned his M.A. in Education from Indiana University in 1944. Diggs held educator positions at public schools throughout Indiana. Following his death, School #42 was named in his honor where he served as principal for 26 years. After WWI began, Diggs resigned as principal, entered the nation's first officer's training camp at Fort Des Moines, IA, and was commissioned a Lieutenant. He subsequently became a Captain in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Based on discriminatory circumstances facing Black students at Indiana University, Diggs decided to establish a fraternity on campus to give them support and sanctuary based on high Christian ideals and the purpose of achievement. Diggs assumed responsibility for creating many of the primary fraternity documents and emblems. He served as Grand Polemarch, a Grand Board Member, and Grand Historian. He established the first nine undergraduate chapters and the Indianapolis (IN) Alumni Chapter. Diggs was awarded the first Laurel Wreath, the fraternity’s highest honor. The second-highest award available to celebrate a member’s achievements or service to the fraternity is dedicated in his name. Founder Diggs died on November 8, 1947. Kevin Scott Grand Historian