Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc.   click on a Founder's name or photo to read more... | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Elder W. Diggs |  Ezra D. Alexander |  Byron K. Armstrong |  Henry T. Asher |
 Marcus P. Blakemore |
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 Paul W. Caine |
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 George W. Edmonds |  Guy L. Grant |  Edward G. Irvins |  John Milton Lee |
Born in Christian County, Kentucky, was a graduate of Indiana State Normal (now Indiana State Teacher College)
and Indiana Univeristy, the birthplace of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He served as Grand Polemarch for the first
six consecutive years of the Fraternity's existence. For this and other outstanding contributions to the Fraternity,
he was awarded the Fraternity's first Laurel Wreath in December, 1924. An educator by profession, he taught in the
public schools of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was elevated to a principalship. Upon America's entrance into World War I,
Diggs resigned his principalship to enter the Nation's First Officer's Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was
commissioned a lieutenant. After European service with the 368th Infantry, he became a captain in the Reserve Officers
Training Corps. Diggs was instrumental in having the Indiana Constituion amended to permit Negro enlistment in the Indiana
National Guard. After his death on November 8, 1947, the name of the school where he taught was changed to the
Elder Watson Diggs School in his memory. Elder Diggs is the cousin of Alpha Kappa Alpha founder Lucy Diggs-Slowe.
Ezra Dee Alexander was born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1892, the site of Indiana University.
He graduated from bloomington High School in 1910.
He matriculated at Indiana University in the fall of 1910 and graduated from Indiana Univeristy in 1917 with an B.A degree.
He received his M.D. degree from the Medical School of Indiana University in 1919. Alexander served several terms
as a member of the Grand Board of Directors.
Born in Westfield, Indiana, entered Howard University in 1909, met Elder Watson Diggs, and together they transferred to
Indiana University in the fall of 1910. By 1914 Armstrong had earned his Masters degree from Columbia University.
His early continuing efforts in the fraternity earned him the Laurel Wreath in 1935. In 1940, he was awarded a
Doctor of Philosophy degree by the University of Michigan.
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Born in Woodburn, Kentucky, Asher moved to Bloomington, where he graduated from high school in the spring of 1910.
In june of 1914, Asher received a Bachelors of Arts degree from Indiana University. After teaching for one year at
Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City, Missouri, Asher entered the graduate school at the University of Illinois in 1915-16,
but received his Masters of Art degree from the University of Minnesota in 1917. In 1928, he was awarded the L.L.B. degree
by the Detroit College of Law.
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BORN in Franklin, Indiana. Blakemore attended the public school of Anderson, Indiana. In 1909, Blakemore graduated from
high school and in the fall of 1910, entered Indiana University. A rugged individual, Blakemore was determined to make a place in
life for himself. As a roommate of Byron K. Armstrong, he became enthusiactic about the new Fraternity and contributed significantly
to Kappa Alpha Nu. Blakemore left the University in 1911, but in 1923 he received his D.D.S degree from the
University of Pittsburg and practiced until his death in October 9, 1959.
Caine entered the University from Greencastle, Indiana. He enrolled at Indiana University in 1909 and helped the other
Founders in organizing Kappa Alpha Nu. Because of a disastrous fire in the Fraternity house in whcih he was employed,
he never finished his sophmore year. Brother Caine went into the catering business in his hometown, later attended
Columbia University and set up a catering business in Gary, Indiana, and published a book on catering, which was copyrighted
in1919 by the Hurst publishing company. Brother Caine was instrumental in setting up the Gamma, Delta, and Zeta chapters.
He later went into business in Peoria, Illinois and was fatally burned during an explosion of gaseous materials in his
business and died in 1922.
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George W. Edmunds was born in Vandenburgh County, Knight Township, Indiana on August 13, 1890.
He entered Carver Elemenetary School and Clark High School in Evansville, graduating in 1910. In the fall of 1910,
George entered Indiana University at Bloomington. He joined nine other students in founding Kappa Alpha Nu.
After George returned home for the summer of 1911, his father became ill with pneumonia and died. His father had
worked in the coal mines of Vandenburgh County for many years. George, being the eldest son, became head of the family,
thus preventing his return to school. With the new responsibility of supporting the family, George took a job with the area
coal mines and worked with the coal mines and the railroad until he died of pneumonia on June 13, 1962. George married
the former Willa Mae Forte and settled in Stevenson, Indiana. They became parents of one son, Noel.
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Born in New Albany, Indiana, guy was the third of Robert and Lucy Grant's thirteen children, five of whom became members
of Kappa Alpha Psi. After the death of his father, Guy became the head of the Household and assumed responsibility for
the education for the education of himself and his younger brothers. After finishing high school, Guy entered Indiana University
where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1915. In 1920, he received his D.D.S degree from the School
of Denistry. Grant is admired for his determination, tenacity and achievement against great odds.
Born in Spencer, Indiana, Irvin graduated from Kokomo High School. In the fall of that year, he entered Indiana University,
and became a Founder of Kappa Alpha Nu, and served on the Fraternity's Incorporation Committee. After leaving Indiana,
Irvin pursued a career in journalism. After World War I, he served on the staff of the Indiana Freeman. In March of 1922,
he established the Shining Star, a weekly newspaper in Anderson, Indiana. Within five years and no capital, he enlarged the
paper from a leaflet to an eight page, six column newspaper. The success of this venture brought a bid from the Gary sun
for Irvin's services as editor. He accepted, but later resigned to become sports editor with the Chicago Daily Bulletin.
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John Milton Lee, born in Danvill, Indiana, September 7, 1890, was a graduated from the Danvill High School in 1910
and entered the University of Indiana and there completed three year of pre-medical study. Lee was from the beginning
an active and interested participant in the founding of Kappa Alpha Nu. In 1915, he attented Temple University. In 1918,
he enlisted in the 349th Field Artillery and served overseas as a sergent first class and gunner. His was the first all-black
battery to open fire on an enemy. He was the associate editor of Modern Artilleymen, the offical record of Battery F,
349th Artillery. Lee died January 8,1958.
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