Kappa Alpha Psi was founded on the campus of Indiana University on January 5th, 1911. The Fraternity's fundamental purpose is achievement.
Early in the last century, African-American students were actively dissuaded from attending college. Formidable barriers were put up to prevent the few who were enrolled from assimilating into co-curricular campus life. This ostracism characterized Indiana University in 1911, thus triggering Elder W. Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, and eight other Black students to form Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, which remains the only Greek letter organization with its 1st Chapter on the University's campus.
The founders wanted a formula that would immediately raise the sights of Black collegians and stimulate them to accomplishments higher than they might have imagined. Fashioning achievement as its purpose, Kappa Alpha Psi set in motion uniting college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a bond of fraternity.
Elder Watson Diggs "The Dreamer"
Dr. Ezra Dee Alexander
Dr. Byron Kenneth Armstrong
Attorney Henry Tourner Asher
Dr. Marcus Peter Blakemore
Paul Waymond Caine
George Wesley Edmonds
Dr. Guy Levis Grant
Edward Giles Irvin
Sergeant John Milton Lee