History of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha™, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American Men, was founded on December 4, 1906™ 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 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’s principles 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.
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.
History of Delta Psi Lambda
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. began its presence in the Denver Colorado community in 1922 when the collegiate chapter, Alpha Iota, was founded on the campus of the University of Denver.
The Denver alumni chapter, Delta Psi Lambda, was founded on May 21, 1949 when two former members of Alpha Iota chapter, Brothers Harold Brown and Harry Rahmig, became charter members of the chapter. Delta Psi Lambda chapter is located within the rocky Mountain District of the Western Region of the fraternity.
The fraternity’s mission statement is as follows: “Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence while providing service and advocacy for our communities." Beginning with the year of its founding, Delta Psi Lambda chapter has supported the fraternity mission through active involvement in the following initiatives:
- Youth Mentorship
- Voter Advocacy Programs
- College Scholarship Funding
- Social Justice Involvement
- Various Community Outreach Programs
- Senior Brothers Support
- Brotherhood Encouragement
Delta Psi Lambda has been actively involved in promoting and participating in the fraternity’s mission for seventy-two years. Extremely active and dedicated to endeavors of service to the general community, we continuously strive to give real meaning and essence to our fraternity motto:
“FIRST OF ALL, SERVANTS OF ALL, WE SHALL TRANSCEND ALL”
