LibGuides: Chambers Library Exhibitions: History of UCO's Black Fraternities &amp; Sororities

History of UCO's Black Fraternities & Sororities

February 2021

In celebration of Black History Month, the Archives & Special Collections features photos of UCO’s historically Black Greek fraternities and sororities. Eight of the nine organizations that compose the National Pan-Hellenic Council have had active charters on Central’s campus over the last 60 years. Five chapters remain active on campus today.

Fraternities and sororities foster unity, encourage academic achievement, and sponsor community service. The chapters featured actively promote diversity and educational programming about black culture while pursuing positive social change.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

For more information, read the exhibition booklet at the link below.

History of UCO's Black Fraternities & Sororities Booklet

Alpha Kappa Alpha members share their scrapbooks with Dean of Women Wilma Armstrong (The Bronze Book: 1969, pg. 198)

Alpha Kappa Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1971, pg. 154)

Alpha Kappa Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1973, pg. 262)

Alpha Kappa Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1974, pg. 254)

Alpha Kappa Alpha members Terri Bush and Larita Mallory (right) show three rushees chapter photos and scrapbooks (The Bronze Book: 1983, pg. 199)

Alpha Kappa Alpha participating in Homecoming parade (The Bronze Book: 1985, pg. 245)

Alpha Kappa Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1986, pg. 244)

Alpha Kappa Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1989, pg. 272)

Alpha Kappa Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1991, pg. 313)

Alpha Kappa Alpha participating in Homecoming parade (UCO Photograph Collection)

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2011 Greek Fair

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2012

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2012 Greek Fair

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2012 Greek Luau

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2013 Greek Fair

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2013 Homecoming

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2015

Alpha Kappa Alpha, 2019

Alpha Phi Alpha - Intramural Champs (The Vista: April 10, 1973, pg. 4)

Alpha Phi Alpha Stanley Davis auctions off Alpha Angel Diane Hughes during the fraternity's Slave Sale (UCO Photograph Collection)

Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Angels (The Bronze Book: 1977, pg. 121)

Alpha Phi Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1978, pg. 336)

Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Angels (The Bronze Book: 1980, pg. 127)

Alpha Phi Alpha (The Bronze Book: 1984, pg. 245)

Alpha Angels (The Bronze Book: 1984, pg. 244)

Alpha Phi Alpha pledges finish ritual march to Alpha Land (The Vista, December 9, 1986, pg. 5)

Alpha Phi Alpha (The Bronze Book: 2003, pg. 103)

Alpha Phi Alpha pledges Diontrey Thompson “Phirst Aid” and Arthur Polly “Black Thought” are unveiled during the fraternity's centennial celebration (The Vista, December 7, 2006, pg. 12)

Alpha Phi Alpha, 2011 Greek Fair

Alpha Phi Alpha , 2012 Greek Concert

Alpha Phi Alpha, 2021 (Photo provided by chapter president Evan Bostic)

Black Greek Alliance (The Bronze Book: 1984, pg. 158)

Delta Sigma Theta (The Bronze Book: 1973, pg. 266)

Delta Sigma Theta pledges put on a "street show" in 1973 (The Vista, March 12, 1981, pg. 5)

Delta Sigma Theta (The Bronze Book: 1974, pg. 259)

Delta Sigma Theta members pick out songs on the juke box in the Student Union (The Bronze Book: 1977, pg. 139)

Delta Sigma Theta (The Bronze Book: 1978, pg. 348)

Delta Sigma Theta member Marshetta Berry takes money at the door for a sorority dance
(The Bronze Book: 1978, pg. 348)

Delta Sigma Theta (The Bronze Book: 1980, pg. 119)

Delta Sigma Theta (The Bronze Book: 1981, pg. 124)

Delta Sigma Theta members crown Shawn Atkinson during the Sir Debonaire Pageant in 1982 (The Bronze Book: 1982, pg. 133)

Delta Sigma Theta pledges (The Bronze Book: 1983, pg. 200)

Delta Sigma Theta (The Bronze Book: 1983, pg. 201)

Jay Negusse and Linnea Carr display their plaques from Delta Sigma Theta for outstanding achievement
(The Vista, April 29, 1993, pg. 12)

Delta Sigma Theta (The Bronze Book: 2002)

Delta Sigma Theta, 2012 Greek Fair

Delta Sigma Theta, 2013 Greek Fair

Delta Sigma Theta, 2013 Homecoming

Epsilon Gamma Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi charter members, 1963 (UCO Photograph Collection)

Kappa Alpha Psi members washing a fire truck (The Bronze Book: 1966, pg. 164)

Kappa Alpha Psi pledges playing leap frog, 1968 (UCO Photograph Collection)

Kappa Alpha Psi members proudly look over the trophy presented by IFC for their outstanding scholastic record
(The Bronze Book: 1968, pg.240)

Kappa Alpha Psi (The Bronze Book: 1971)

Kappa Alpha Psi pledges march to class (The Bronze Book: 1973, pg. 281)

Kappa Alpha Psi (The Bronze Book: 1974, pg. 280)

Acquisitions librarian Clemma McCawley accepts a book donation from Kappa Alpha Psi officers (The Vista, October 5, 1976, pg. 6)

"Jaggers," member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, having lunch in the cafeteria, 1976 (UCO Photograph Collection)

Kappa Alpha Psi (The Bronze Book: 1977, pg. 140)

Kappa Alpha Psi members registering to vote (The Bronze Book: 1978)

Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternal bond (The Bronze Book: 1980, pg. 133)

Kappa Alpha Psi (The Bronze Book: 1985, pg. 255)

Havon McLeod, James Senter, and Harold Beatty display the Coat of Arms (The Bronze Book: 1971, pg. 168)

Kappa Alpha Psi (The Bronze Book: 1986, pg. 254)

Kappa Alpha Psi (The Bronze Book: 1986, pg. 255)

Kappa Alpha Psi members perform a stomp dance (The Bronze Book: 1988, pg. 293)

Kappa Alpha Psi, 2011 Greek Fair

Kappa Alpha Psi, 2012 Greek Fair

UCO National Pan-Hellenic Council chapter members, 2012

UCO National Pan-Hellenic Council chapter members, 2013

UCO National Pan-Hellenic Council 2021 (Photo provided by NPHC President Alexis Harris)

Omega Psi Phi members Carl McElroy, James Brown, Havon McLeod, and James Senter (The Bronze Book: 1971, pg. 168)

A plaque is presented to Central's President Dr. Bill Lillard by Raymond Hayes, Jr., Omega Psi Phi representative (The Vista, September 9, 1976, pg. 5)

Omega Psi Phi (The Bronze Book: 1977, pg. 122)

Omega Psi Phi members Steven Sitole and Darrell Alfred (The Bronze Book: 1978, pg. 358)

Omega Pearls (The Bronze Book: 1978: pg. 359)

Omega Psi Phi (The Bronze Book: 1979, pg. 115)

Omega Psi Phi members Michael White, Anthony Byrd, Arthurray Johnson, Jarrett Evans and Trevor Gordon (The Vista, February, 3, 2005, pg. 1)

Omega Psi Phi, 2021 (Photo provided by chapter president Kaelin Murray)

Phi Beta Sigma President Cornelious Barnett shows off his t-shirt business to a fellow student (The Vista, November 6, 1979, pg. 3)

Phi Beta Sigma Founders Day Celebration, 1980 (The Bronze Book: 1980, pg. 142)

Football game, ca. 1980 (UCO Photograph Collection)

Phi Beta Sigma campus clean-up, ca. 1980 (UCO Photo Collection)

Phi Beta Sigma members Marshall Goff and Steve Tate prepare to solicit donations for the March of Dimes (The Vista, January 29, 1980, pg. 6)

Phi Beta Sigma (The Bronze Book: 1984, pg. 256)

Phi Beta Sigma pledges Melvin Hardman and Ronald Demerson are determined not to break their self-imposed code of silence (The Bronze Book: 1987, pg. 102)