THE HISTORY OF THE ALPHA LAMBDA CHAPTER

The Alpha Lambda Chapter, the first graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, was founded in Louisville, Kentucky, as an outgrowth of the University Club, which met at the Western Branch Library to discuss current topics of the day.

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Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones, then engaged as a teacher in the city schools of Louisville, was instrumental in persuading the following members of the University Club to become affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha: Messrs. J.O. Blanton, A. S. Brock, W.T. Peyton, J. H. Hubert, W. Welch, F. Johnson, C.A. Powell, J.T. Clark, W. Ballard, and D. L. Lawson. It is worth noting that these men were not members of Alpha Phi Alpha at the time.

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On April 11, 1911, Brother Richard Hill, a graduate of Fisk University, came from the University of Michigan, where he was studying law, and, with the assistance of Jewel Jones, established the first graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

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The decision to establish a graduate chapter was met by opposition from the National Body. At that time, the Brothers' opinion was that the Fraternity was for undergraduates only. After careful consideration, however, the Fourth Annual Convention concluded that this infant group would be the Lambda Chapter, as eight undergraduate chapters already existed at that time.

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The Fifth General Convention and First Alumni Reunion convened on December 26, 1912, with the Kappa Chapter, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Lambda Chapter was ably represented by delegates A. S. Brock and J. T. Clark. Brother Brock presented a recommendation that all graduate chapters be designated similarly to the undergraduate chapters, but with "Lambda" as the final letter. The recommendation was adopted by a motion of Jewel Kelly, seconded by Brother Dunn. Thus, the Louisville chapter became known as Alpha Lambda, and the system for naming the graduate chapters was established.