NPHC

In short…

The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated supported the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated in accomplishing their dream of an interfraternity council by incorporating it into our plan of an National Pan Hellenic Council which came true due to the consistent and steadfast efforts of both Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated has been credited with the idea of the creation of the Interfraternity council that led to the NPHC in 1930.

However...

It is more likely that the credit of the creation of the National Pan - Hellenic Council should go to the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, followed by the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. 

Well why?

1. Let’s first start off with definitions of a few words for clarity. 

   1. Definition of interfraternity

: occurring between or involving two or more fraternities

2. Definition of Panhellenic

1 : of or relating to all Greece or all the Greeks

2 : of or relating to the Greek-letter sororities or fraternities in American colleges and universities or to an association representing them

Now some people will state that Greek organizations used fraternity interchangeably however there was a noticeable change in the use of fraternity for women in the use of sororities before 1900. 

Omega Psi Phi has published accounts that credit Phi Beta Sigma as having begun correspondence of the creation of the interfraternity council as far back as 1920.

These accounts also show the documentation of an inner discussion in the Alpha chapter of Omega Psi Phi as to the creation of an interfraternity council from at least 1914. 

The terms for this discussion were as follows. 

1. Their first attempt to organize an Inter Fraternal association on a national basis.

2. The object of this meeting was to formulate plans for the convening of an Inter-Fraternal Congress to be composed of representatives of all the Greek letter organizations.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated speaking at a joint meeting of the two fraternities on the proposed council. 

Here are the items proposed. 

1. At the Omega Conclave in Atlanta in December, 1921, Mr. A. L. Taylor, then National Secretary of Phi Beta Sigma spoke at a joint meeting of the two fraternities on the proposed council. There was a call for a session of all fraternities to consider.

1.  A uniform method of pledging men.

2. The regulation of the status of men graduating from college and entering professional school with reference to their right to become members of a professional Greek letter society.

3. General Discussion of interfraternal matters.

Omega Psi Phi went on record as favoring the movement. It was suggested that each fraternity be entitled to three representatives and three votes.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity nor Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity have stated in those documents that they

1. Outlined an action plan for the sororities 

2. Contacted the other five organizations BEFORE Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated did so on December 29th, 1921 

3. Set up a meeting with the five other organizations BEFORE Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated did so by telegram, inviting them to meet with Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1922. 

4. Did anything more than agree amongst themselves an Interfraternity Council should exist based on some agreed terms. 

Alpha Kappa Alpha’s convention ended on December 30th, 1921 both Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi’s conventions ended on December 31st, 1921.

Furthermore, not only did Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated actually send out the invitations that led to the Inter Fraternity meeting but were present and accounted for until its terms were finalized in May of 1930.

Omega Psi Phi acknowledges receipt of the invitation in February 1922.

Others have written recently that in the last century that in 1922 Taylor was instrumental in bringing together the Howard University BGLOs to discuss the possibility of forming a Pan-Hellenic Council. Although that meeting failed to yield an actual council, Taylor provided much of the ideological foundation for such an organization.

However, this statement fails to mention three things. 

1. This statement is untrue as both Omega Psi Phi & Alpha Kappa Alpha came up with the idea independently. 

2. No actual idea from Phi Beta Sigma was reportedly used in the actual formation of the NPHC. 

3. In the 1922 meeting Taylor was reportedly allowed to speak but failed to garner any support for whatever he proposed and did not join the council until 1931 along with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, followed by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in 1937.

4. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated’s role in both inviting, organizing, planning and following through with the entire idea to its fruition BEFORE and doesn’t address that the actual topics brought forth by PBS failed.

In actuality several terms and fees were outlined in this meeting as reported by THE Sphinx in May 1922, from the April 17-19th conference.

Was considered successful.

Afro American

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is heartily in accord with the opinion of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority with respect to closer cooperation between our Greek letter organizations,as expressed by Miss Waters in her letter.

OPP acknowledges our resolve to work together on page 5, along with receipt of our IVY Leaf organ that references the Pan -Hellenic telegram on page. 10

This was characteristic of Taylor, for as Sigma brother Scruggs wrote of him: “When Taylor left the center of the stage, the main theme of the plot had been introduced. It would, of course, be developed, embellished, and varied in the years to come.”32 Six years later, another meeting took place at Howard at which various BGLOs decided to move forward with the idea of a council. 

1. Phi Beta Sigma took out advertisements in newspapers inviting the entirety of other Greeks to an Interfraternity meeting AFTER they  The National Pan-Hellenic Council was founded on May 10, 1930, and still exists today.

In short…

The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated supported the men of Omega Psi Phi fraternity in accomplishing their dream of an interfraternity council by incorporating it into our plan of an National Pan Hellenic Council which came true due to the consistent and steadfast efforts of both Alpha Kappa Alpha and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.