Kappa Alpha Psi began as a fraternity for Black college students at Indiana University (Bloomington) in 1911, during a time of intense racial discrimination on campus. Ten students led by Elder Watson Diggs and Byron K. Armstrong founded the group on January 5, 1911, originally naming it Kappa Alpha Nu to honor an earlier Black student society. These founders – including John Milton Lee, Henry Asher, and Ezra Alexander – bound together to support one another academically and socially in an often-hostile environment. From the outset, they emphasized Christian ideals and “Achievement” over mere socializing: their constitution’s objectives focused on the spiritual, social, intellectual and moral welfare of members.

• Jan 5, 1911: Kappa Alpha Nu founded at Indiana University.
• May 15, 1911: Officially incorporated in Indiana (the first Black fraternity to incorporate nationally).
• 1913–1915: Five new undergraduate chapters chartered, mainly in the Midwest.

Initially called Kappa Alpha Nu, the fraternity’s name became problematic when outsiders mockingly interpreted it. To establish a clear identity, members adopted the Greek letter Psi (Ψ) in 1914. A resolution at the Grand Chapter meeting in December 1914 (effective April 15, 1915) officially changed the name to Kappa Alpha Psi®. By that time the group had already grown, chartering its first East Coast chapter in 1915. The organization also began publishing The Kappa Alpha Nu Journal (later Kappa Alpha Psi Journal) in 1914, one of the first of any Black Greek-letter fraternity, setting a precedent for communication and continuity.

• Dec 1914: Name-change resolution passed (Ψ chosen over N).
• Apr 1915: Name Kappa Alpha Psi becomes official.
• 1913–1915: Growth includes Beta (University of Illinois), Gamma (U. of Iowa), Delta (Wilberforce University), and Epsilon (Lincoln U., PA) chapters.

From its founding, Kappa Alpha Psi’s guiding motto has been “Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor.” The fraternity was built on the principle that its members should pursue excellence and leadership in academics, careers, and community life. The organization’s five objectives (including promoting members’ intellectual, social, and moral welfare) were deliberately rooted in high ideals. Notably, Kappa Alpha Psi’s constitution has never included any racial, religious or national-origin restriction on membership – a reflection of the founders’ commitment to inclusivity. Today Kappa Alpha Psi is the second-oldest historically Black college fraternity and the first to incorporate as a national intercollegiate fraternity. It remains a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and sponsors educational and charitable programs (for example, supporting the United Negro College Fund and Habitat for Humanity) as part of its service mission.

• Motto: “Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor”.
• Inclusivity: No clause excludes any man by color, creed or national origin.
• Founders’ Motto: Emphasis on lifting Black youths to greater accomplishments.

Since the 1910s, Kappa Alpha Psi has expanded nationwide and internationally. By the early 1920s it had chapters at leading African-American colleges (e.g. Xi chapter at Howard University in 1920). Today the fraternity claims over 250,000 members with about 700 undergraduate and alumni chaptersacross the U.S. and thirteen overseas chapters (in countries from Nigeria and South Africa to Japan and the U.K.). Local chapters engage in community outreach (feeding the homeless, mentoring youth, hosting blood drives, etc.), while the national organization runs scholarship programs, leadership conferences, and philanthropy. Notably, Kappa Alpha Psi has raised more than $1 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through annual fundraisers, and its members have served in the military and disaster relief efforts worldwide.

• Chapters: ~700 (undergraduate & alumni) in every U.S. state, plus 13 international chapters.
• Members: 250,000+ (listed as 260,000+ in recent sources).
• Activities: Community service (homeless feeding, scholarships, blood drives) and major fundraisers (e.g. $1M+ for St. Jude).