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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Records

Notifications

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center [Contact Us]3401 Market Street, Suite 210, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

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.

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.

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

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

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
Finding Aid Author
Kaiyi Chen, updated Joseph-James Ahern
Finding Aid Date
2002, 2020
Access Restrictions

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

Collection Inventory

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Allen, Ronald L., 1999 November 10.
Box 1 Folder 1
Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, University of Pennsylvania, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 2
Alpha Leadership Academy for College Chapter Officers, 2000 March 8.
Box 1 Folder 3
Alpha Phi Alpha, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 4
Alpha University Training Guide Vision 2000: The Light of a New Day (1), 2000.
Box 1 Folder 5
Alpha University Training Guide Vision 2000: The Light of a New Day (2), 2000.
Box 1 Folder 6
Alpha University Training Guide Vision 2000: The Light of a New Day (3), 2000.
Box 1 Folder 7
Alpha Week, 2006.
Box 1 Folder 8
Annual Recognition, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 9
Assistant Director for Programming search and interview schedule, 1989.
Box 1 Folder 10
Awards Packet, 1997.
Box 1 Folder 11
Awards Packet Information, 1995.
Box 1 Folder 12
Belford V. Lawson National Oratorical Contest, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 13
Bicultural Inter-Greek Council (BIG-C), 1991-1996.
Box 1 Folder 14
Bicultural Inter-Greek Council (BIG-C), 1992-1996.
Box 1 Folder 15
Bicultural Inter-Greek Council Constitution, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 16
Bro. Dr. O. Wilson Scholarship Application, 2000 January 10.
Box 1 Folder 17
Campus Organized Lectures on Racial Sensitivity, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 18
Carney, Wallace Webb, "The Early History of Psi Chapter", n.d.
Box 1 Folder 19
Certificate of Liability Insurance, 2000 February 15.
Box 1 Folder 20
Chapter Administration Guide, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 21
Chapter and Leadership Roster, 1998 September.
Box 1 Folder 22
Chapter and Officer Development, training manual, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 23
Chapter Directories, 1982-1991.
Box 1 Folder 24
Chapter Meeting Notes, 1999 - 2000.
Box 1 Folder 25
Chapter Meetings and Reports, 2002.
Box 1 Folder 26
Chapter of the Year Award Nominations, 2001-2002.
Box 1 Folder 27
Chapter Roster, 1999 December.
Box 1 Folder 28
Circulars and membership correspondence, 1981-1998.
Box 1 Folder 29
Constitution, By-laws, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 30
Constitutional Amendments, 1997 September 24.
Box 1 Folder 31
Correspondence, 1989-1998.
Box 1 Folder 32
Correspondence - Miscellaneous, 1998-1999.
Box 1 Folder 33
Correspondence and notes, 1989-1998.
Box 1 Folder 34
Correspondence, membership listings, and miscellaneous material, 1989-1990.
Box 1 Folder 35
Death announcements, [1966-1988].
Box 1 Folder 36
Directory and Chapter Report, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 37
Directory and Chapter Report, 2001.
Box 1 Folder 38
Eastern Region Chapter and Leadership Roster, 1999 Fall.
Box 1 Folder 39
Eastern Region Chapter Convention, Reports of Directors, Officers and Committees, 1994.
Box 1 Folder 40
Eastern Region Committee on Public Policy Report, 1998 April.
Box 1 Folder 41
Eastern Regional Reports, 2002.
Box 1 Folder 42
Episcopal Community Services, 1999 December 16.
Box 1 Folder 43
Facing the Continuing Challenge: Symposium on the Fraternal Ideal program, 1997 October 7.
Box 1 Folder 44
Forms and application package, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 45
Forms, miscellaneous, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 46
Fraternity and Sorority Annual Awards packet, 1992.
Box 1 Folder 47
Fraternity and Sorority, annual chapter report (for award evaluation), n.d.
Box 1 Folder 48
Fraternity President Phone list, PSI Chapter member phone list, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 49
General Meeting, Agenda, 1990.
Box 1 Folder 50
Go-to-High School Go-to-College Curriculum guide, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 51
Go-to-High School Go-to-College, Implementation Guide, 2000.
Box 1 Folder 52
Habitat for Humanity, 1989.
Box 1 Folder 53
Henderson, Maurice, 2000 January 31.
Box 1 Folder 54
History - Miscellaneous, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 55
History of Alpha Phi Alpha, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 56
History of Alpha Phi Alpha, a Development in College Life, by Charles H. Wesley, incomplete photocopy, [1981].
Box 1 Folder 57
History of Alpha Phi Alpha: The Jewels presentation, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 58
History of Alpha Psi Alpha, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 59
History of Lambda Phi Epsilon at the University of Pennsylvania, [1995].
Box 1 Folder 60
History of Omega Delta Lambda Chapter, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 61
Housing, correspondence, 1989 July.
Box 1 Folder 62
Information packet for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Boy Scouts of America, 2001.
Box 1 Folder 63
Leadership Academy, 2001 June 11.
Box 1 Folder 64
Leadership and Chapter Development, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 65
Leadership Development Institute, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 66
Leadership Development Institute Mini-Workshop, 1994.
Box 1 Folder 67
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., 1999 May 7.
Box 1 Folder 68
Membership Applications [CLOSED], 1985-1986.
Box 1 Folder 69
Membership Candidates applicants, brochure, Correspondence, 1989.
Box 1 Folder 70
Membership Intake Outline Procedures Manual, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 71
Membership Intake Procedure, 1990 September.
Box 1 Folder 72
Membership Intake Procedures Manual, 1999 March.
Box 1 Folder 73
Membership Material [CLOSED], n.d.
Box 1 Folder 74
Membership Material, miscellaneous, 1990-1997.
Box 1 Folder 75
Membership Miscellaneous, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 76
Minutes and agenda, 1988- 2001.
Box 2 Folder 1
Miscellaneous, 1989-1998.
Box 2 Folder 2
National Headquarters Fund Drive, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 3
National Order of Omega, 1987-1990.
Box 2 Folder 4
National Programs Material, 1999 November 23.
Box 2 Folder 5
National Programs Special Projects guide, 2000.
Box 2 Folder 6
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Correspondence, 1989.
Box 2 Folder 7
Order of Omega, 1989.
Box 2 Folder 8
PAAC Budget 1998-1999, 1998 September.
Box 2 Folder 9
Panhellenic Strategic Development Initiative, 2001 October.
Box 2 Folder 10
Parties, 1987, 1989.
Box 2 Folder 11
Pennbook: Recognition and Governance of Undergraduate Social Fraternities and Sororities, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 12
Pharoah's Council Certification Assessment, 1998 April 4.
Box 2 Folder 13
Pi Rho Chapter, Black and Gold Ball, etc., 1996.
Box 2 Folder 14
President's Retreat, 1989 January 13.
Box 2 Folder 15
Program overview, "A Legacy of Leadership and Service", n.d.
Box 2 Folder 16
PSI Alumni Society Proposal, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 17
Psi Chapter Awards Packet, 1994.
Box 2 Folder 18
Psi Chapter Awards Packet, 1995.
Box 2 Folder 19
Psi Chapter Award Packet, 1996.
Box 2 Folder 20
Psi Chapter Constitution, 1998 September.
Box 2 Folder 21
Psi Chapter Constitution, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 22
Psi Chapter Correspondence, etc., 1982-1991.
Box 2 Folder 23
Psi Chapter Correspondence, etc., 1982-1994.
Box 2 Folder 24
Psi Chapter General Meetings, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 25
Psi Chapter Letter, 1997.
Box 2 Folder 26
Psi Chapter Official Roster, 1997.
Box 2 Folder 27
Psi Chapter Report for the Sphinx, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 28
Psi Chapter Retreat, 2002 September 8.
Box 2 Folder 29
Public Policy Statement, 1988 August.
Box 2 Folder 30
Regional objectives, policy statement, position paper, etc., 1985-1989.
Box 2 Folder 31
Remittance of Funds Report [blank], n.d.
Box 2 Folder 32
Report from the Psi Chapter Retreat, ca. 1999.
Box 2 Folder 33
Report of the Officers and Committees, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 34
Report on Alpha Week, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 35
Reports and messages from President and Vice President, 1988-1996.
Box 2 Folder 36
Ring-binder volume containing information on the history of Alpha, etc., n.d.
Box 2 Folder 37
Risk Management Examination, 1998.
Box 2 Folder 38
Risk Management Examination Answer Key, 1998.
Box 2 Folder 39
Risk Management Handbook, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 40
Risk Management Seminar, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 41
Risk Management Seminar certificate, [1989-1990].
Box 2 Folder 42
Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 43
Sphinxman Handbook, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 44
Staff and member directory, mailing lists, etc., 1988-1989.
Box 2 Folder 45
State and Eastern Region manual, correspondence, programs, [1990]-1995.
Box 2 Folder 46
Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Minority Health Fair, 1997-1998.
Box 2 Folder 47
Tax material, 1986-1989.
Box 2 Folder 48
Telephone number listing, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 49
University of Pennsylvania, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, etc., correspondence, 1988-1990.
Box 2 Folder 50
Voteless People is a Hopeless People, Implementation Guide, 2000.
Box 2 Folder 51
WalkAmerica, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 52
Web pages in html, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 53
Wesley, Charles H. "A Study Guide for The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in College Life, 12th Edition", 1993.
Box 2 Folder 54

82nd Anniversary Convention Souvenir Journal, 1988.
Box 2 Folder 55
89th Anniversary Convention, 1995.
Box 2 Folder 56
93rd Anniversary of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 57
African Rhythms, 1995.
Box 2 Folder 58
Alpha Week, 1998, 2001-2002.
Box 2 Folder 59
Annual Cabaret Announcement, 1991 - 1992.
Box 2 Folder 60
Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, Columbia Maryland Chapter, 1985 January 13.
Box 2 Folder 61
Centennial Program, 2020.
Box 2 Folder 62
C.O.L.O.R.S. (Campus Organized Lectures on Racial Sensitivity), Handbill, [1994].
Box 2 Folder 63
C.O.L.O.R.S. Week, 2001-2002.
Box 2 Folder 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.
Box 2 Folder 65
Diversity Week Swarthmore College, 2001.
Box 2 Folder 66
Eastern Region Convention Black and Gold Banquet Program, 1999 April 10.
Box 2 Folder 67
Eastern Region Convention, 1994.
Box 2 Folder 68
Eastern Region Convention, 1996.
Box 2 Folder 69
Eastern Region Convention, 1998.
Box 2 Folder 70
Eastern Region Convention, 2000.
Box 2 Folder 71
Eastern Region Convention, 2002.
Box 2 Folder 72
Eastern Region Convention, 2003.
Box 2 Folder 73
Eastern Region District Conference, 1994.
Box 2 Folder 74
Educational and Economic Development Forum, 1998.
Box 2 Folder 75
Event Flyers, 1997-2002.
Box 2 Folder 76
Founders Day Banquet program, 1972 September 22.
Box 2 Folder 77
General Convention, 2001.
Box 2 Folder 78
Hale House Dinner, 1997.
Box 2 Folder 79
Martin Luther King, Jr., commemoration, Programs, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 80
Pharaoh's Ball Program, 2000 January 22.
Box 2 Folder 81
Pharaoh's Ball Program, 2002 January 25.
Box 2 Folder 82
Pharaoh's Dance, 1993-1998.
Box 2 Folder 83
Pharaoh's Dance Program Draft, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 84
Pharaoh's Dance Program Solicitation, 1998 January 1.
Box 2 Folder 85
Pharaoh's Dance Publicity and tickets, 1998.
Box 2 Folder 86
Programs, 1991-1997.
Box 3 Folder 1
Programs and posters, 1985-1998.
Box 3 Folder 2
Programs and posters of various activities, 1988-1996.
Box 3 Folder 3
Programs miscellaneous including annual cabaret, etc., 1990-2001.
Box 3 Folder 4
PSI Chapter 81st Anniversary Program, 2000.
Box 3 Folder 5
Renaissance: A Sense of Continuity, 1982.
Box 3 Folder 6
Seventh Annual Cabaret "Unforgettable", Program, 1992.
Box 3 Folder 7
Symposium on the Fraternal Idea, "Facing the Continuing Challenge", 1995, 1997.
Box 3 Folder 8

Alpha Phi Alpha Today, clippings, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 9
Alpha Spirit, 1990 Spring.
Box 3 Folder 10
Alpha Spirit, 1999.
Box 3 Folder 11
Calendar, 1996, 1998.
Box 3 Folder 12
Chapter Bulletin, 1997 November.
Box 3 Folder 13
Chapter Bulletin, 2000 March.
Box 3 Folder 14
Clippings, miscellaneous, 1989-2001.
Box 3 Folder 15
Daily Pennsylvanian, 1989 March 17.
Box 3 Folder 16
Daily Pennsylvanian, 1995 - 1997.
Box 3 Folder 17
Daily Pennsylvanian, 1998-1999.
Box 3 Folder 18
Daily Pennsylvanian, 2001-2002.
Box 3 Folder 19
Jewel, 2002 December.
Box 3 Folder 20
Membership Brochure, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 21
Miscellaneous clippings, [1990-1995].
Box 3 Folder 22
Newspaper clippings, 1989.
Box 3 Folder 23
Nubian Voices (Drexel University), n.d.
Box 3 Folder 24
Pennsylvania Current, 1999 May 13.
Box 3 Folder 25
Quadrennial Report, 1996.
Box 3 Folder 26
Red and Blue, Article "The Notorious F.R.A.T.", 1998 January.
Box 3 Folder 27
Scoop USA "Black Writers Keep Martin Luther King Dream Alive", 1998 February 6.
Box 3 Folder 28
Sphinx Vol. 74, No. 1 and 4, 1988.
Box 3 Folder 29
Sphinx Vol. 80, No. 3, 1995.
Box 3 Folder 30
Sphinx Vol. 81, No. 1 and 2, 1996.
Box 3 Folder 31
Sphinx Vol. 82, No. 2 and 3, 1997.
Box 3 Folder 32
Sphinx Vol. 83, No. 1, 1998.
Box 3 Folder 31
Sphinx Vol. 84, No. 1 - 3, 1999.
Box 3 Folder 32
Sphinx Vol. 86, No. 1, 2001.
Box 3 Folder 33
Sphinx Vol. 87, No. 1 - 3, 2002.
Box 3 Folder 34
Sphinx Vol. 88, No. 1, 2003.
Box 3 Folder 35
Sphinx Speaks, 1999 February.
Box 3 Folder 36
Spirit General Convention preview, 1997.
Box 3 Folder 37
Sunday Tribune, 2002 April 7.
Box 3 Folder 38
Swarthmore Phoenix, 1999 September 17.
Box 3 Folder 39
Teen parenthood is no joke, Poster, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 40
Value Added Services Guide, 2001-2002.
Box 3 Folder 41
Vision, 1999 November 15.
Box 3 Folder 42
Vision, 2000 February.
Box 3 Folder 43

Angelou, Maya, "Black Family Pledge", n.d.
Box 3 Folder 44
Centennial Banner, 2020 January 21.
Box OS 3
Centennial Citation - City Council of Philadelphia, 2020 January 17-20.
Box 4
Centennial Poster with signatures, 2020.
Box OS 1
Centennial Proclamation - State of Pennsylvania, 2020 January 10.
Box 4
Century of PSI [pin], 2020.
Box 4
City of Philadelphia, Resolution No. 958, declaring "Alpha Phi Alpha Day", 1982 December 4.
Box 3 Folder 45
Commendations, 2001.
Box 3 Folder 46
Family, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 47
Greek Alumni Council Award of Excellence in Outstanding Alumni(ae) Relations, 1999 April 8.
Box 3 Folder 48
Greek Alumni Council Award of Excellence in Outstanding Community Service and Community Partnership, 1999 April 8.
Box 3 Folder 49
Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding New Member Ed. and Sensitivity Training, 2001.
Box 4
Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Chapter Operations and Membership, 2002.
Box 4
Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Alumni Relations, 2002.
Box 4
Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Internal Operations, 2002.
Box 4
Greek Awards Ceremony Outstanding Program for Special Accomplishment Award, 2001.
Box 4
Legacy of Psi Chapter, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 50
Minority Health Festival Certificate of Appreciation, 1997 April 12.
Box 3 Folder 51
Minority Health Festival Certificate of Appreciation, 1998 May 29.
Box 3 Folder 52
Music score, [1989].
Box 3 Folder 53
Paddle, 1960.
Box OS 2
Paddle, 1965.
Box OS 4
Re-Elect Darren Morton pen, n.d.
Box 4

82nd Anniversary Convention, 1988.
Box 3 Folder 54
Ball, 2002 January 27.
Box 3 Folder 55
Founders Day Banquet photographs [reprints], 1972 September 22.
Box 3 Folder 56
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, 2002 January 21.
Box 3 Folder 57
Project Alpha, 2002.
Box 3 Folder 58
Unidentified: Casual, ca. 2000.
Box 3 Folder 59
Unidentified: Community Events, ca. 2000.
Box 3 Folder 60
Unidentified: Formal Events, ca. 2000.
Box 3 Folder 61

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