The History of It All: ΑΦΑ and ΖΠΛ

The History of the Fraternity

The most remarkable leadership for the African American community in the 20th century has without question come from the ranks of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Since its founding on Tuesday, December 4, 1906, the fraternity has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and People of Color (POC) around the world. Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity in the United States established for men of African descent, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood between African Americans. The visionary founders, also known as the “Jewels” of the fraternity, are Bro. Henry Arthur Callis, Bro. Charles Henry Chapman, Bro. Eugene Kinckle Jones, Bro. George Biddle Kelley, Bro. Nathaniel Allison Murray, Bro. Robert Harold Ogle, and Bro. Vertner Woodson Tandy.

The fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell University. During those beginning days, the Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity worked to lay a solid foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity. While continuing to stress the pursuit of academic excellence among its members, the fraternity also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African Americans. The aims of this prestigious fraternity continue to follow the values of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind.

The fraternity’s national programs date back to 1919 and include the following:

• A Voteless People is a Hopeless People (Voter Registration Awareness)
• Go to High School, Go to College (Youth Matriculation Awareness)
• My Brother’s Keeper (Brotherhood Assistance Awareness)
• Project Alpha (Health Information Awareness)

The objectives of this fraternity are:

1. to stimulate the ambition of its members
2. to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual
3. to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status.

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The History of the Chapter

The Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on Friday, October 12, 1956 in Seattle, Washington.  Zeta Pi Lambda has a proud history of implementing the national programs of the fraternity at the local level, providing service and advocacy to the Greater Seattle community, promoting leadership of brothers in vital community institutions, and partnering with various community organizations by advancing their missions and objectives with frontline volunteers, financial support, and intellectual capital.

In addition to the fraternity’s national programs, the Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter has been deeply involved in the Seattle community through other programs such as the Guiding Light Mentorship Program, Big Brothers, the C.P Johnson Scholarship Fund, the Herbert Starke Scholarship Fund, and the Karl Holifield Scholarship Fund.  Zeta Pi Lambda has awarded tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving local high school students. Many of the mentees and scholarship recipients have gone on to become Alpha Men and college graduates. During its 5 year adoption of a local middle school, the chapter has donated clothing, food, school supplies, and provided mentorship opportunities to its students. We are also very active within our National Pan-Hellenic Council as we service our communities with the collaboration of other organizations from the Divine Nine.

Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter Charter Members

John Browning	Charles V. Johnson	Dr. Roland Patterson
George Carroll	Lee Lewis	Alfred Petty
Jerry Crowder	Odell Lewis*	Charles Taylor
Hascal Humes	Gordon McHenry, Sr.	Calvin Wallace, Sr.
Cleophus W. Miller

Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter Executive Officers