Sphinx. It seems, therefore, a p propriate that as the commemorative issue is published denoting 75 years of existence of the Sphinx that an article be included highlighting 65 years of existence of Mu Lambda Chapter. Any study of the founding of Alpha Phi Alpha would include references to matters of that period to provide a historical perspective. So, too, would one want to know of the climate in Washington, DC that prevailed about the time of the founding of Mu Lambda. As in other parts of our country, racism was active and rampant in the nation's capital. Members of the fraternity and others were disturbed that so few efforts were being undertaken to combat the racism. Constance Green in her book, "Washington, Capital City, 1879-1950," presented a picture of this period of the twenties. It w a s in this period that Mu Lambda was born. This chapter came into existence in this tainted atmosphere and prejudicial surroundings. Its members wanted to join themselves together in order to seek to make use of their unused citizenship participation, denied to them by forces stronger than they were, when alone and working as individuals. For this group purpose there were distinguished and public spirited men in the membership. This statement had meaning for graduate brothers w h o had spent the younger years in the fraternity in college and realized that they should not relinquish nor neglect their relationship in the fraternity in their a d u l t h o o d . These were brothers who had graduated but maintained their m e m b e r s h i p in undergraduate chapters. This was true in Washington, also, as many older brothers remained members of Beta chapter. They began to look for w a y s to demonstrate their loyalties to the best advantage in adult actions, and one of the answers w a s through the organization of a graduate chapter which could cooperate with the undergraduate one. O u t of these ideas came Mu Lambda Chapter. An application for charter was signed by 19 Brothers and sent to the office of General Secretary N o r m a n L. McGhee. This chapter was dated October 1, 1923 and was signed by the following Brothers (many of w h o m had been members of Beta Chapter: A r t h u r Curtis, John Edward Lowery, Merrill Curtis, Clarence H. Mill, Victor Daly, N . A . M u r r a y (Jewel Brother), Eugene L.C. Davidson, Norman L. McGhee, Walter Garvin, Louis T h e Sphinx/Winter 1989
H. Russell, William L. Hansberry, James N. Saunders, Edward W . Howard, Elmory B. Smith, Joseph R. Jones, Harold Stratton, R. Frank Jones, J.H.N. Waring, Charles W. Wesley. These 19 Brothers met monthly and planned a founding ceremony that could be led by General President Booker. The date was set for December 23, 1923. General President Booker could not be present so Brother Norman Bishop represented him. Four other Brothers were present at the ceremony and it w a s decided to include them as founders. They were: Arnold D o n a w a , Daniel W. Edmonds, Charles H. Houston, H o w a r d H. Long, Robert Ogle (Jewel Brother). Jewel Henry A. Callis was not present at these meetings, though he was to become a member later. He had not moved to the city at that time.
maryland Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter Wins Three Awards The Eastern Region District VI C o n ference for Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia was held recently at Towson State University. Alpha Brothers from each of the above areas competed for the following awards: College C h a p t e r of the Year, College Brother of the Year, Alumni C h a p t e r of the Year, Alumni Brother of the Year, and Alpha M a n of Merit. Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter was awarded the Alumni Chapter of the Year A w a r d . Since March 1, 1975, Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter has grown and developed as the Brotherhood continues to reach out creatively to serve the community in many areas. In addition to support of our national programs, the chapter has been involved in many local, civic and educational activities in H o w a r d C o u n t y . The chapter has fostered and promoted financial scholarship programs for high school seniors and recognition A w a r d s for outstanding upperclassmen in the high schools. The chapter has also worked in conjunction with the H o w a r d C o u n t y Social Services to provide transportation to senior citizens for shopping and other needs. The chapter has also sponsored youth basketball teams and programs in Junior Olympics, and supported the N A A C P , UNCF and AFRICARE. Recently the chapter spearheaded
the movement to cause the management of H o w a r d Cable to restore W H M M TV Channel to the air in early April. The Alpha M a n of the Year A w a r d was awarded to Brother Kenneth Jennings. Over the years, Brother Jennings has served the chapter as Dean of Pledges, Newsletter Editor, President of the chapter, ticket coordinator for the Martin Luther King breakfast and several other committees in the chapter. Brother Jennings was the first Brother in the chapter to begin writing articles to the local newspapers concerning the removal of W H M M - T V From the H o w a r d County Cable Channel. The Alpha Man of Merit was awarded to Brother Edward D. Young. Brother Young is a chartered member of the chapter and has lived in Columbia since July, 1967. Brother Young has served the chapter in many areas. They include: President of the chapter, Dean of Pledges, Recording Secretary, Director of Education, and chairman of several committees. Brother Young has been a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity since 1966. Brother Young has received several awards over the years from the Community and the Fraternity.
u of Pennsylvania Psi Chapter Host Black Business Expose Greetings brothers in the name of Alpha! The academic year 1988-89 has proven to be one of the most successful years yet for Psi Chapter. We began the year with a forum on "How to succeed at Penn." Brothers that are seniors from three divisions of Penn (Liberal Arts, Engineering, and Wharton) sat down in a very informal setting to a n s w e r a n y q u e s t i o n s t h a t the freshman m a y have had a n d / o r counsel them in the development of a strategy that would benefit them the most during their u n d e r g r a d u a t e career, and beyond. We repeated this same program at Drexel on the fourth week of school. Both were well attended. October brought with it the realization of our first annual "Black Business Expose." Over fifty Black businesses from all over the West Philadelphia
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