Alpha Phi Alpha Turns 113 Years Old Today

On this day 113 years ago Alpha Phi Alpha, became the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American Men, and was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African descendants in this country.

It was initially founded as a literary and social studies club in the 1905–1906 school year, but later evolved into a fraternity with a founding date of December 4, 1906.

he fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.

Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were established at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. The first alumni chapter was established in 1911.