Kappa Alpha Psi - Prairie View Alumni Chapter
Collection
Identifier: RG 0015
Scope and Contents
The Kappa Alpha Psi - Prairie View Alumni Chapter Collection houses the records of the fraternity. This collection, which dates from 1973 to 1993, contains correspondence, financial documents, memberships rosters, programs, photographs and artifacts that gives a concise documentation of the fraternity’s function at the campus of Prairie View A&M University.
Dates
- 1973-1993
- Majority of material found within 1980 - 1990
Language of Materials
This collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to the public for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Kappa Alpha Psi – Prairie View Alumni Chapter Collection must be obtained from the African American Library at the Gregory School or the appropriate copyright holder.
Historical Note
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African-American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin. The motto of the Fraternity is, "Achievement in every field of human endeavor." During this time there were very few African-American students at the majority white campus at Bloomington, Indiana and they were a small minority due to the era of the Jim Crow laws. Many African-American students rarely saw each other on campus and were discouraged or prohibited from attending student functions and extracurricular activities by white college administrators and fellow students. African-American students were denied membership on athletic teams with the exception of track and field. The racial prejudice and discrimination encountered by the founders strengthened their bond of friendship and growing interest in starting a social group.
The fraternity now has over 150,000 members with 721 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the United States and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, Japan, United States Virgin Islands, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The president of the national fraternity is known as the Grand Polemarch, who assigns a Province Polemarch for each of the twelve provinces (districts/regions) of the nation. The fraternity has many notable members recognized as leaders in the arts, athletics, business, civil rights, education, government, and science sectors at the local, national and international level.
Kappa Alpha Psi sponsors programs providing community service, social welfare and academic scholarship through the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation and is a supporter of the United Negro College Fund and Habitat for Humanity. Kappa Alpha Psi is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). The fraternity is the first predominantly African American Greek-letter society founded west of the Appalachian Mountains, still in existence, and it is known for its "cane stepping" in NPHC organized step shows. Kappa Alpha Psi celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 5, 2011.
The fraternity now has over 150,000 members with 721 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the United States and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, Japan, United States Virgin Islands, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The president of the national fraternity is known as the Grand Polemarch, who assigns a Province Polemarch for each of the twelve provinces (districts/regions) of the nation. The fraternity has many notable members recognized as leaders in the arts, athletics, business, civil rights, education, government, and science sectors at the local, national and international level.
Kappa Alpha Psi sponsors programs providing community service, social welfare and academic scholarship through the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation and is a supporter of the United Negro College Fund and Habitat for Humanity. Kappa Alpha Psi is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). The fraternity is the first predominantly African American Greek-letter society founded west of the Appalachian Mountains, still in existence, and it is known for its "cane stepping" in NPHC organized step shows. Kappa Alpha Psi celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 5, 2011.
Extent
4.3 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in into eight series, which are further organized into subseries. Series are arranged at by subject and format, and subseries are arranged chronologically by date.
Series I: Correspondence (1978-1993); Sub Series I: Letters; Sub Series II: Notes
Series II: Financial Documents (1980-1992); Subseries I: Bank Statements; Subseries II: Checks; Subseries III: Financial Reports; Subseries IV: Receipts
Series III: Lists (1973-1993); Subseries I: Reports; Subseries II: Rosters
Series IV: Minutes (1980-1991); Subseries I: Meetings
Series V: Printed Materials (1981-1993); Subseries I: Circulars; Subseries II: Pamphlets; Subseries III: Program
Series VI: Photographic Material (no date); Subseries I: Photographs
Series VII: Miscellaneous (1979-1992); SubSeries Random Papers
Series VIII: Artifacts (1976-1983)
Series I: Correspondence (1978-1993), consists of letters addressed to the organization, or starts with the greeting of “Dear Brothers.” The letters pertain to different issues, such as council meetings, chapter suspensions letters and other chapter activities. This series also contains letters about issues pertaining to finances of the organization. Such as, initiation fees, estimates for events, contract agreement and remittance letters. You can also find letters from the position of executive secretary, which contains documents titled “Executive Secretary’s Bulletin” and other correspondence. This series also consist of letters addressed to different individuals pertaining to various issues such as alleged violations, suspensions and thank you notes. You will also find short notes that are wrote on forms call “Note-O-Grams.” This series is divided into sub series. All items in each sub series are arranged in chronological order.
Series II: Financial Documents (1980-1992), consists of financial reports from the Prairie View Alumni Chapter. You will also find copies of checks reflecting chapter dues, life membership payments and reinstatement fees. The series consist of reports that show paid dues and outstanding balances. You will also find receipts for payments for various items such as remittance fees, and Headquarters’ building fund. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each subseries are arranged in chronological order.
Series III: Lists (1973-1993), series contains reports that states newly elected chapter officers. It also contains roster reports of the alumni chapter membership at Prairie View A&M University and one membership count list for all chapters in the Southwestern Providence. You can also find membership rosters printed on oversized computer paper, and rosters with no dates. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each subseries are arranged in chronological order.
Series IV: Minutes (1980-1991), contains reports that documented chapter business meeting and a state caucus meeting. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each sub series are arranged in chronological order.
Series V: Printed Materials, (1981-1993), consist of printed information about Kappa Alpha Psi Providence in organizational material such as the Pacific Reporter, as well as pamphlets. You will also find event programs and a funereal program. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each sub series are arranged in chronological order.
Series VI: Photographic Material (undated), contain over 60 photographs documenting events, step shows, and brotherhood of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on the campus of Prairie View A&M University, Houston, Texas and around the country. This series is arranged in numerical order according to its identification number (i.e. RG0015.PH0001, RG.0015.PH0002, etc.).
Series VII: Miscellaneous VII (1979-1992), contain items such as membership cards, African American petition, a party flyer, probate show notes and more.
Series VIII: Artifacts (1976-1983), consist of fraternity paraphernalia, such as wooden paddles, t-shirts, a cane and pledge boots.
Series I: Correspondence (1978-1993); Sub Series I: Letters; Sub Series II: Notes
Series II: Financial Documents (1980-1992); Subseries I: Bank Statements; Subseries II: Checks; Subseries III: Financial Reports; Subseries IV: Receipts
Series III: Lists (1973-1993); Subseries I: Reports; Subseries II: Rosters
Series IV: Minutes (1980-1991); Subseries I: Meetings
Series V: Printed Materials (1981-1993); Subseries I: Circulars; Subseries II: Pamphlets; Subseries III: Program
Series VI: Photographic Material (no date); Subseries I: Photographs
Series VII: Miscellaneous (1979-1992); SubSeries Random Papers
Series VIII: Artifacts (1976-1983)
Series I: Correspondence (1978-1993), consists of letters addressed to the organization, or starts with the greeting of “Dear Brothers.” The letters pertain to different issues, such as council meetings, chapter suspensions letters and other chapter activities. This series also contains letters about issues pertaining to finances of the organization. Such as, initiation fees, estimates for events, contract agreement and remittance letters. You can also find letters from the position of executive secretary, which contains documents titled “Executive Secretary’s Bulletin” and other correspondence. This series also consist of letters addressed to different individuals pertaining to various issues such as alleged violations, suspensions and thank you notes. You will also find short notes that are wrote on forms call “Note-O-Grams.” This series is divided into sub series. All items in each sub series are arranged in chronological order.
Series II: Financial Documents (1980-1992), consists of financial reports from the Prairie View Alumni Chapter. You will also find copies of checks reflecting chapter dues, life membership payments and reinstatement fees. The series consist of reports that show paid dues and outstanding balances. You will also find receipts for payments for various items such as remittance fees, and Headquarters’ building fund. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each subseries are arranged in chronological order.
Series III: Lists (1973-1993), series contains reports that states newly elected chapter officers. It also contains roster reports of the alumni chapter membership at Prairie View A&M University and one membership count list for all chapters in the Southwestern Providence. You can also find membership rosters printed on oversized computer paper, and rosters with no dates. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each subseries are arranged in chronological order.
Series IV: Minutes (1980-1991), contains reports that documented chapter business meeting and a state caucus meeting. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each sub series are arranged in chronological order.
Series V: Printed Materials, (1981-1993), consist of printed information about Kappa Alpha Psi Providence in organizational material such as the Pacific Reporter, as well as pamphlets. You will also find event programs and a funereal program. This series is divided into sub series. All items in each sub series are arranged in chronological order.
Series VI: Photographic Material (undated), contain over 60 photographs documenting events, step shows, and brotherhood of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on the campus of Prairie View A&M University, Houston, Texas and around the country. This series is arranged in numerical order according to its identification number (i.e. RG0015.PH0001, RG.0015.PH0002, etc.).
Series VII: Miscellaneous VII (1979-1992), contain items such as membership cards, African American petition, a party flyer, probate show notes and more.
Series VIII: Artifacts (1976-1983), consist of fraternity paraphernalia, such as wooden paddles, t-shirts, a cane and pledge boots.
Acquisition Information
Donated By: Christopher E. Knight, February 2011
Processing Information
Processed by: Miguell Ceasar
- African American men -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African Americans -- Texas -- Prairie View Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Community leadership Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Education, Higher Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Greek letter societies Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Kappa Alpha Psi Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Universities and colleges Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- RG 0015 Kappa Alpha Psi- Prairie View Alumni Chapter
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of Records at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Miguell Ceasar
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Gregory School Repository
