Omega Psi Phi Study guide UPDATED
Questions and CORRECT Answers
When was the first meeting? - CORRECT ANSWER On Wednesday, November 15, 1911,
the founders met and discussed the possibilities of founding a fraternity. The founders agreed to
research the matter of fraternities and look up a suitable name and adjourned until Friday,
November 17, 1911.
Omega Psi Phi Inc. is the first? - CORRECT ANSWER Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is
the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black
college.
When Was Omega Psi Phi Founded? (Second Meeting) - CORRECT ANSWER On the
evening of November 17, 1911, Omega Psi Phi was founded inside the science building (later
renamed Thirkield Hall) at Howard University located in Washington, D.C.
Why was the Science Hall changed to Thirkield Hall - CORRECT ANSWER In 1907,
Howard's President Wilbur P. Thirkield, who recognized the growing importance of science in
education, was able to convince the Federal Government to appropriate $90,000 for a new
science hall, and the building was dedicated in 1910.
What room was Omega Psi Phi Founded?
Howard University in Thirkeld Hall between rooms 213-215
Who are the Founding Fathers of Omega Psi Phi? - CORRECT ANSWER The founders of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. were three undergraduate students
Dr. Oscar James Cooper (1888-1972)
Undergraduate Junior
Professor Frank Coleman (1890-1967)
Undergraduate Junior
,Bishop Edgar Amos Love (1891-1974)
Undergraduate Junior
The undergraduate founders were known as the "Three Musketeers."
and their Faculty Adviser
Dr. Ernest Everett Just (1883-1941)
What is the Omega Psi Phi motto" - CORRECT ANSWER Friendship is essential to the
soul.
▪ Note that Bishop Edgar Amos Love commented that the Greek chosen for "soul" can also be
translated as "life."
▪ Greek grammar and syntax chosen is Philia Ophelema Psukis
What are the Cardinal Principals of Omega Psi Phi? - CORRECT ANSWER Manhood
Scholarship
Perserverance
Uplift
When was the third meeting and what happen? - CORRECT ANSWER First officers and
charter members were selected at the Science Building (now named Thirkeld Hall), Thursday,
November 23, 1911
o Bishop Edgar Amos Love - First Grand Basileus
o Dr. Oscar James Cooper - First Grand Keeper of Records
o Profess Frank Coleman - First Grand Keeper of Seal
o Eleven Howard University undergraduates were selected as charter members
,When was the Fraternity Constitution signed? - CORRECT ANSWER Fraternity's
constitution was signed on Friday, December 8, 1911 (It was also presented to Howard
University President Wilbur Thirkeld).
When was Alpha Chapter organized? - CORRECT ANSWER Alpha Chapter was
organized on Friday, December 15, 1911, at Howard University.
o Fourteen Charter Members
1. Frank Coleman
2. Oscar James Cooper
3. William S. Gilbert
4. Charles Young Harris
5. Clarence Albert Hayes
6. Benjamin Harry Jones
7. Clarence Osceola Lewis
8. Edgar Amos Love
9. Julius Henderson Love
10. William Albert Love
11. William Henry Pleasant
12. Charles Brougham Washington
13. Edgar Paul Westmoreland
14. Frank Howell Wimberly
• There were originally 18 charter members. Members not listed above include:
o Moses T. Clayborne, Christopher C. Cooke, Williams B. Jason, and James R. Johnson
▪ Professor Frank Coleman - First Chapter Basileus
▪ Bishop Edgar Amos Love - First Chapter Keeper of Records
, ▪ Dr. Oscar James Cooper - First Chapter Keeper of Seal
1912 - CORRECT ANSWER 1912
• Dr. Oscar James Cooper selected as the second Grand Basileus
• First Grand Conclave held in Washington, D.C.
• Investigation begins of proposed Beta Chapter at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania
• Howard University refused to recognize the fraternity as a national organization on March 8,
1912.
o Initial opponents of the fraternity's creation included Dean Kelly Miller and Dean George
Cook, the former chaired the faculty committee to address the fraternity.
o Response from fraternity is refusal of recognition solely as a local organization
o Fraternity continues to operate without sanction until 1914
First Honorary Member of Omega Psi Phi - CORRECT ANSWER Just would later
become the first "Elected Active" (honorary) member of the Fraternity on February 28, 1912
through Alpha Chapter.
1913 - CORRECT ANSWER • Bishop Edgar Amos Love selected as third (3rd) Grand
Basileus
• Second Grand Conclave held in Washington, D.C.
1914 - CORRECT ANSWER 1914
• Bishop Edgar Amos Love remains Grand Basileus
• Third Grand Conclave held in Washington, D.C.
• Beta Chapter chartered at Lincoln University, Friday, February 6, 1914
• Fraternity incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, Wednesday, October 28,
1914, at 1:11 PM.
When was Omega Psi Phi Incorporated? - CORRECT ANSWER Omega Psi Phi was
incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on October 28, 1914
Questions and CORRECT Answers
When was the first meeting? - CORRECT ANSWER On Wednesday, November 15, 1911,
the founders met and discussed the possibilities of founding a fraternity. The founders agreed to
research the matter of fraternities and look up a suitable name and adjourned until Friday,
November 17, 1911.
Omega Psi Phi Inc. is the first? - CORRECT ANSWER Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is
the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black
college.
When Was Omega Psi Phi Founded? (Second Meeting) - CORRECT ANSWER On the
evening of November 17, 1911, Omega Psi Phi was founded inside the science building (later
renamed Thirkield Hall) at Howard University located in Washington, D.C.
Why was the Science Hall changed to Thirkield Hall - CORRECT ANSWER In 1907,
Howard's President Wilbur P. Thirkield, who recognized the growing importance of science in
education, was able to convince the Federal Government to appropriate $90,000 for a new
science hall, and the building was dedicated in 1910.
What room was Omega Psi Phi Founded?
Howard University in Thirkeld Hall between rooms 213-215
Who are the Founding Fathers of Omega Psi Phi? - CORRECT ANSWER The founders of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. were three undergraduate students
Dr. Oscar James Cooper (1888-1972)
Undergraduate Junior
Professor Frank Coleman (1890-1967)
Undergraduate Junior
,Bishop Edgar Amos Love (1891-1974)
Undergraduate Junior
The undergraduate founders were known as the "Three Musketeers."
and their Faculty Adviser
Dr. Ernest Everett Just (1883-1941)
What is the Omega Psi Phi motto" - CORRECT ANSWER Friendship is essential to the
soul.
▪ Note that Bishop Edgar Amos Love commented that the Greek chosen for "soul" can also be
translated as "life."
▪ Greek grammar and syntax chosen is Philia Ophelema Psukis
What are the Cardinal Principals of Omega Psi Phi? - CORRECT ANSWER Manhood
Scholarship
Perserverance
Uplift
When was the third meeting and what happen? - CORRECT ANSWER First officers and
charter members were selected at the Science Building (now named Thirkeld Hall), Thursday,
November 23, 1911
o Bishop Edgar Amos Love - First Grand Basileus
o Dr. Oscar James Cooper - First Grand Keeper of Records
o Profess Frank Coleman - First Grand Keeper of Seal
o Eleven Howard University undergraduates were selected as charter members
,When was the Fraternity Constitution signed? - CORRECT ANSWER Fraternity's
constitution was signed on Friday, December 8, 1911 (It was also presented to Howard
University President Wilbur Thirkeld).
When was Alpha Chapter organized? - CORRECT ANSWER Alpha Chapter was
organized on Friday, December 15, 1911, at Howard University.
o Fourteen Charter Members
1. Frank Coleman
2. Oscar James Cooper
3. William S. Gilbert
4. Charles Young Harris
5. Clarence Albert Hayes
6. Benjamin Harry Jones
7. Clarence Osceola Lewis
8. Edgar Amos Love
9. Julius Henderson Love
10. William Albert Love
11. William Henry Pleasant
12. Charles Brougham Washington
13. Edgar Paul Westmoreland
14. Frank Howell Wimberly
• There were originally 18 charter members. Members not listed above include:
o Moses T. Clayborne, Christopher C. Cooke, Williams B. Jason, and James R. Johnson
▪ Professor Frank Coleman - First Chapter Basileus
▪ Bishop Edgar Amos Love - First Chapter Keeper of Records
, ▪ Dr. Oscar James Cooper - First Chapter Keeper of Seal
1912 - CORRECT ANSWER 1912
• Dr. Oscar James Cooper selected as the second Grand Basileus
• First Grand Conclave held in Washington, D.C.
• Investigation begins of proposed Beta Chapter at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania
• Howard University refused to recognize the fraternity as a national organization on March 8,
1912.
o Initial opponents of the fraternity's creation included Dean Kelly Miller and Dean George
Cook, the former chaired the faculty committee to address the fraternity.
o Response from fraternity is refusal of recognition solely as a local organization
o Fraternity continues to operate without sanction until 1914
First Honorary Member of Omega Psi Phi - CORRECT ANSWER Just would later
become the first "Elected Active" (honorary) member of the Fraternity on February 28, 1912
through Alpha Chapter.
1913 - CORRECT ANSWER • Bishop Edgar Amos Love selected as third (3rd) Grand
Basileus
• Second Grand Conclave held in Washington, D.C.
1914 - CORRECT ANSWER 1914
• Bishop Edgar Amos Love remains Grand Basileus
• Third Grand Conclave held in Washington, D.C.
• Beta Chapter chartered at Lincoln University, Friday, February 6, 1914
• Fraternity incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, Wednesday, October 28,
1914, at 1:11 PM.
When was Omega Psi Phi Incorporated? - CORRECT ANSWER Omega Psi Phi was
incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on October 28, 1914
