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Finding Aid

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Records UPS 41 AL

Access to collections is granted in accordance with the Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center.

Summary Information

Prepared by
Kaiyi Chen, updated Joseph-James Ahern
Preparation date
2002, 2020
Date [inclusive]
1966-2002
Extent
4.0 Cubic feet

PROVENANCE

Gift from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in 1998, 2002 and 2020.

ARRANGEMENT

The Alpha Phi Alpha Records are organized into five series: Administrative Records, Events, Press and Publications, Awards and Memorabilia, and Photographs. Each series is arranged alphabetically

AGENCY HISTORY

Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek letter organization for African American college students, was organized at Cornell University in 1906. The Psi Chapter was founded at the University of Pennsylvania in 1920. In addition to Penn, the Chapter has also represented other schools in the area, which include Villanova University, St. Joseph’s College, LaSalle University, Drexel University, and Temple University. In recent decades, the Chapter established such programs as an Annual Career Conference, a Clothing Drive, a petitioning to establish Martin Luther King’s birthday as a national holiday and a letter campaign jointly sponsored with the Penn Coalition of Voter Rights for extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1964.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection documents the development of the fraternity since its birth in 1906 and especially its growth in recent decades. The collection includes the fraternity’s charter administration guide, the Psi Chapter’s constitution and official roster, records of the fraternity’s conventions, anniversary celebration files, programs of various kinds of activities hosted by the Chapter, correspondence, membership listings, and issues of the fraternity’s main journal publication–
Sphinx.

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)
Alpha Psi Alpha Fraternity.
Subject(s)
Greek letter societies–Pennsylvania–Philadelphia.

Inventory

 

Administrative Records 

Box

Folder

Allen, Ronald L. 1999 November 10 

1

1

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, University of Pennsylvania n.d. 

1

2

Alpha Leadership Academy for College Chapter Officers 2000 March 8 

1

3

Alpha Phi Alpha n.d. 

1

4

Alpha University Training Guide Vision 2000: The Light of a New Day (1) 2000 

1

5

Alpha University Training Guide Vision 2000: The Light of a New Day (2) 2000 

1

6

Alpha University Training Guide Vision 2000: The Light of a New Day (3) 2000 

1

7

Alpha Week 2006 

1

8

Annual Recognition 1999 

1

9

Assistant Director for Programming search and interview schedule 1989 

1

10

Awards Packet 1997 

1

11

Awards Packet Information 1995 

1

12

Belford V. Lawson National Oratorical Contest n.d. 

1

13

Bicultural Inter-Greek Council (BIG-C) 1991-1996 

1

14

Bicultural Inter-Greek Council (BIG-C) 1992-1996 

1

15

Bicultural Inter-Greek Council Constitution n.d. 

1

16

Bro. Dr. O. Wilson Scholarship Application 2000 January 10 

1

17

Campus Organized Lectures on Racial Sensitivity 1999 

1

18

Carney, Wallace Webb, “The Early History of Psi Chapter” n.d. 

1

19

Certificate of Liability Insurance 2000 February 15 

1

20

Chapter Administration Guide n.d. 

1

21

Chapter and Leadership Roster 1998 September 

1

22

Chapter and Officer Development, training manual n.d. 

1

23

Chapter Directories 1982-1991 

1

24

Chapter Meeting Notes 1999 – 2000 

1

25

Chapter Meetings and Reports 2002 

1

26

Chapter of the Year Award Nominations 2001-2002 

1

27

Chapter Roster 1999 December 

1

28

Circulars and membership correspondence 1981-1998 

1

29

Constitution, By-laws n.d. 

1

30

Constitutional Amendments 1997 September 24 

1

31

Correspondence 1989-1998 

1

32

Correspondence – Miscellaneous 1998-1999 

1

33

Correspondence and notes 1989-1998 

1

34

Correspondence, membership listings, and miscellaneous material 1989-1990 

1

35

Death announcements [1966-1988] 

1

36

Directory and Chapter Report 1999 

1

37

Directory and Chapter Report 2001 

1

38

Eastern Region Chapter and Leadership Roster 1999 Fall 

1

39

Eastern Region Chapter Convention, Reports of Directors, Officers and Committees 1994 

1

40

Eastern Region Committee on Public Policy Report 1998 April 

1

41

Eastern Regional Reports 2002 

1

42

Episcopal Community Services 1999 December 16 

1

43

Facing the Continuing Challenge: Symposium on the Fraternal Ideal program 1997 October 7 

1

44

Forms and application package n.d. 

1

45

Forms, miscellaneous n.d. 

1

46

Fraternity and Sorority Annual Awards packet 1992 

1

47

Fraternity and Sorority, annual chapter report (for award evaluation) n.d. 

1

48

Fraternity President Phone list, PSI Chapter member phone list n.d. 

1

49

General Meeting, Agenda 1990 

1

50

Go-to-High School Go-to-College Curriculum guide 1999 

1

51

Go-to-High School Go-to-College, Implementation Guide 2000 

1

52

Habitat for Humanity 1989 

1

53

Henderson, Maurice 2000 January 31 

1

54

History – Miscellaneous n.d. 

1

55

History of Alpha Phi Alpha n.d. 

1

56

History of Alpha Phi Alpha, a Development in College Life, by Charles H. Wesley, incomplete photocopy [1981] 

1

57

History of Alpha Phi Alpha: The Jewels presentation n.d. 

1

58

History of Alpha Psi Alpha n.d. 

1

59

History of Lambda Phi Epsilon at the University of Pennsylvania [1995] 

1

60

History of Omega Delta Lambda Chapter n.d. 

1

61

Housing, correspondence 1989 July 

1

62

Information packet for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Boy Scouts of America 2001 

1

63

Leadership Academy 2001 June 11 

1

64

Leadership and Chapter Development 1999 

1

65

Leadership Development Institute 1999 

1

66

Leadership Development Institute Mini-Workshop 1994 

1

67

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. 1999 May 7 

1

68

Membership Applications [CLOSED] 1985-1986 

1

69

Membership Candidates applicants, brochure, Correspondence 1989 

1

70

Membership Intake Outline Procedures Manual n.d. 

1

71

Membership Intake Procedure 1990 September 

1

72

Membership Intake Procedures Manual 1999 March 

1

73

Membership Material [CLOSED] n.d. 

1

74

Membership Material, miscellaneous 1990-1997 

1

75

Membership Miscellaneous n.d. 

1

76

Minutes and agenda 1988- 2001 

2

1

Miscellaneous 1989-1998 

2

2

National Headquarters Fund Drive 1985 

2

3

National Order of Omega 1987-1990 

2

4

National Programs Material 1999 November 23 

2

5

National Programs Special Projects guide 2000 

2

6

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Correspondence 1989 

2

7

Order of Omega 1989 

2

8

PAAC Budget 1998-1999 1998 September 

2

9

Panhellenic Strategic Development Initiative 2001 October 

2

10

Parties 1987, 1989 

2

11

Pennbook: Recognition and Governance of Undergraduate Social Fraternities and Sororities n.d. 

2

12

Pharoah’s Council Certification Assessment 1998 April 4 

2

13

Pi Rho Chapter, Black and Gold Ball, etc. 1996 

2

14

President’s Retreat 1989 January 13 

2

15

Program overview, “A Legacy of Leadership and Service” n.d. 

2

16

PSI Alumni Society Proposal n.d. 

2

17

Psi Chapter Awards Packet 1994 

2

18

Psi Chapter Awards Packet 1995 

2

19

Psi Chapter Award Packet 1996 

2

20

Psi Chapter Constitution 1998 September 

2

21

Psi Chapter Constitution n.d. 

2

22

Psi Chapter Correspondence, etc. 1982-1991 

2

23

Psi Chapter Correspondence, etc. 1982-1994 

2

24

Psi Chapter General Meetings 1999 

2

25

Psi Chapter Letter 1997 

2

26

Psi Chapter Official Roster 1997 

2

27

Psi Chapter Report for the Sphinx n.d. 

2

28

Psi Chapter Retreat 2002 September 8 

2

29

Public Policy Statement 1988 August 

2

30

Regional objectives, policy statement, position paper, etc. 1985-1989 

2

31

Remittance of Funds Report [blank] n.d. 

2

32

Report from the Psi Chapter Retreat ca. 1999 

2

33

Report of the Officers and Committees 1999 

2

34

Report on Alpha Week 1999 

2

35

Reports and messages from President and Vice President 1988-1996 

2

36

Ring-binder volume containing information on the history of Alpha, etc. n.d. 

2

37

Risk Management Examination 1998 

2

38

Risk Management Examination Answer Key 1998 

2

39

Risk Management Handbook n.d. 

2

40

Risk Management Seminar 1999 

2

41

Risk Management Seminar certificate [1989-1990] 

2

42

Robert’s Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure n.d. 

2

43

Sphinxman Handbook n.d. 

2

44

Staff and member directory, mailing lists, etc. 1988-1989 

2

45

State and Eastern Region manual, correspondence, programs [1990]-1995 

2

46

Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Minority Health Fair 1997-1998 

2

47

Tax material 1986-1989 

2

48

Telephone number listing n.d. 

2

49

University of Pennsylvania, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, etc., correspondence 1988-1990 

2

50

Voteless People is a Hopeless People, Implementation Guide 2000 

2

51

WalkAmerica 1999 

2

52

Web pages in html n.d. 

2

53

Wesley, Charles H. “A Study Guide for The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in College Life, 12th Edition” 1993 

2

54

 

Events 

Box

Folder

82nd Anniversary Convention Souvenir Journal 1988 

2

55

89th Anniversary Convention 1995 

2

56

93rd Anniversary of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity 1999 

2

57

African Rhythms 1995 

2

58

Alpha Week 1998, 2001-2002 

2

59

Annual Cabaret Announcement 1991 – 1992 

2

60

Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, Columbia Maryland Chapter 1985 January 13 

2

61

Centennial Program 2020 

2

62

C.O.L.O.R.S. (Campus Organized Lectures on Racial Sensitivity), Handbill [1994] 

2

63

C.O.L.O.R.S. Week 2001-2002 

2

64

Delta Lambda Foundation and the Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Millennium Chapter of the Year, Black and Gold Ball 2001 May 19 

2

65

Diversity Week Swarthmore College 2001 

2

66

Eastern Region Convention Black and Gold Banquet Program 1999 April 10 

2

67

Eastern Region Convention 1994 

2

68

Eastern Region Convention 1996 

2

69

Eastern Region Convention 1998 

2

70

Eastern Region Convention 2000 

2

71

Eastern Region Convention 2002 

2

72

Eastern Region Convention 2003 

2

73

Eastern Region District Conference 1994 

2

74

Educational and Economic Development Forum 1998 

2

75

Event Flyers 1997-2002 

2

76

Founders Day Banquet program 1972 September 22 

2

77

General Convention 2001 

2

78

Hale House Dinner 1997 

2

79

Martin Luther King, Jr., commemoration, Programs 1985 

2

80

Pharaoh’s Ball Program 2000 January 22 

2

81

Pharaoh’s Ball Program 2002 January 25 

2

82

Pharaoh’s Dance 1993-1998 

2

83

Pharaoh’s Dance Program Draft 1999 

2

84

Pharaoh’s Dance Program Solicitation 1998 January 1 

2

85

Pharaoh’s Dance Publicity and tickets 1998 

2

86

Programs 1991-1997 

3

1

Programs and posters 1985-1998 

3

2

Programs and posters of various activities 1988-1996 

3

3

Programs miscellaneous including annual cabaret, etc. 1990-2001 

3

4

PSI Chapter 81st Anniversary Program 2000 

3

5

Renaissance: A Sense of Continuity 1982 

3

6

Seventh Annual Cabaret “Unforgettable”, Program 1992 

3

7

Symposium on the Fraternal Idea, “Facing the Continuing Challenge” 1995, 1997 

3

8

 

Press and Publications 

Box

Folder

Alpha Phi Alpha Today, clippings n.d. 

3

9

Alpha Spirit 1990 Spring 

3

10

Alpha Spirit 1999 

3

11

Calendar 1996, 1998 

3

12

Chapter Bulletin 1997 November 

3

13

Chapter Bulletin 2000 March 

3

14

Clippings, miscellaneous 1989-2001 

3

15

Daily Pennsylvanian 1989 March 17 

3

16

Daily Pennsylvanian 1995 – 1997 

3

17

Daily Pennsylvanian 1998-1999 

3

18

Daily Pennsylvanian 2001-2002 

3

19

Jewel 2002 December 

3

20

Membership Brochure n.d. 

3

21

Miscellaneous clippings [1990-1995] 

3

22

Newspaper clippings 1989 

3

23

Nubian Voices (Drexel University) n.d. 

3

24

Pennsylvania Current 1999 May 13 

3

25

Quadrennial Report 1996 

3

26

Red and Blue, Article “The Notorious F.R.A.T.” 1998 January 

3

27

Scoop USA “Black Writers Keep Martin Luther King Dream Alive” 1998 February 6 

3

28

Sphinx Vol. 74, No. 1 and 4 1988 

3

29

Sphinx Vol. 80, No. 3 1995 

3

30

Sphinx Vol. 81, No. 1 and 2 1996 

3

31

Sphinx Vol. 82, No. 2 and 3 1997 

3

32

Sphinx Vol. 83, No. 1 1998 

3

31

Sphinx Vol. 84, No. 1 – 3 1999 

3

32

Sphinx Vol. 86, No. 1 2001 

3

33

Sphinx Vol. 87, No. 1 – 3 2002 

3

34

Sphinx Vol. 88, No. 1 2003 

3

35

Sphinx Speaks 1999 February 

3

36

Spirit General Convention preview 1997 

3

37

Sunday Tribune 2002 April 7 

3

38

Swarthmore Phoenix 1999 September 17 

3

39

Teen parenthood is no joke, Poster n.d. 

3

40

Value Added Services Guide 2001-2002 

3

41

Vision 1999 November 15 

3

42

Vision 2000 February 

3

43

 

Awards and Memorabilia 

Box

Folder

Angelou, Maya, “Black Family Pledge” n.d. 

3

44

Centennial Banner 2020 January 21 

 OS 3

 

Centennial Citation – City Council of Philadelphia 2020 January 17-20 

 4

 

Centennial Poster with signatures 2020 

 OS 1

 

Centennial Proclamation – State of Pennsylvania 2020 January 10 

 4

 

Century of PSI [pin] 2020 

 4

 

City of Philadelphia, Resolution No. 958, declaring “Alpha Phi Alpha Day” 1982 December 4 

3

45

Commendations 2001 

3

46

Family n.d. 

3

47

Greek Alumni Council Award of Excellence in Outstanding Alumni(ae) Relations 1999 April 8 

3

48

Greek Alumni Council Award of Excellence in Outstanding Community Service and Community Partnership 1999 April 8 

3

49

Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding New Member Ed. and Sensitivity Training 2001 

 4

 

Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Chapter Operations and Membership 2002 

 4

 

Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Alumni Relations 2002 

 4

 

Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Internal Operations 2002 

 4

 

Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Special Accomplishment Award 2001 

 4

 

Legacy of Psi Chapter n.d. 

3

50

Minority Health Festival Certificate of Appreciation 1997 April 12 

3

51

Minority Health Festival Certificate of Appreciation 1998 May 29 

3

52

Music score [1989] 

3

53

Paddle 1960 

 OS 2

 

Paddle 1965 

 OS 4

 

Re-Elect Darren Morton pen n.d. 

 4

 

 

Photographs 

Box

Folder

82nd Anniversary Convention 1988 

3

54

Ball 2002 January 27 

3

55

Founders Day Banquet photographs [reprints] 1972 September 22 

3

56

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2002 January 21 

3

57

Project Alpha 2002 

3

58

Unidentified: Casual ca. 2000 

3

59

Unidentified: Community Events ca. 2000 

3

60

Unidentified: Formal Events ca. 2000 

3

61