About Us
The Beginning
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black college.
On the evening of November 17, 1911, Omega Psi Phi was founded inside the Science Building (later renamed Thirkield Hall) at Howard University located in Washington, D.C. The founders were three undergraduates — Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. Joining them was their faculty adviser, Ernest Everett Just.
From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning, “friendship is essential to the soul“, the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. That phrase was selected as the motto.
Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as Cardinal Principles.
On November 23, 1911, Edgar A. Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President). Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman were selected to be the Grand Keeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grand Keeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Eleven undergraduate men were selected to become the charter members.
Alpha chapter was organized with fourteen charter members on December 15, 1911. Brothers Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman were elected the chapter’s first Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper of Seals, respectively.
Brother Cooper became the fraternity’s second Grand Basileus in 1912 and authorized the investigation of establishing a second chapter on the campus of Lincoln University located in Pennsylvania.
History of Epsilon Phi Chapter
In the home of the legendary 5th District,the third chapter was established on April 20, 1925 in the Southwest corner of Tennessee, the Epsilon Phi Chapter was born, lead by a legendary president from Rust College, the first District Representative of the Legendary 5th District and seven enthusiastic men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. These men all saw a need for excellence to be established within Memphis, TN. They wanted to continue the vision that three undergraduate students and their faculty advisor envisioned at a historically Black college in Washington, D.C., just few years earlier.
The Epsilon Phi chapter has been the home to several legendary men who embodied “Friendship is Essential to the Soul”, while a that believe in a very simple phrase and answered the call to service. Men that have walked through the doors of Epsilon Phi strongly embrace both of these simple yet powerful concepts. Famous men such as brothers; Colonel George Washington Lee (soldier, poet, musician, broadcaster), civil rights leader and attorney Benjamin Hooks, and Captain Luke Weathers (one of the foundational members of the movie Red Tails) and Nathaniel D. Williams (the unofficial ambassador of Beal Street). These men along with others have and will continue to live up to the expectations and history of Epsilon Phi chapter.
Epsilon Phi takes great pride in being the current 5th District Representative and seven past District Representatives, numerous District Officers and over 300 initiated Brothers. The chapter of Epsilon Phi holds a high number or recognitions from men within the Chapter including, Social Action Chapter of the Year, Large Graduate Chapter of the year and numerous men that have been awarded individual recognitions.
