US-RPB-ams.1s.2023.004 Guide to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc Alpha Gamma chapter records 1958-1990 Finding aid prepared by Janaya Kizzie Brown University Library

2023

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Business Number: Tel: 401-863-3723 email:hay@brown.edu URL:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-09-18. Description is written in: English, Latin script. Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) John Hay LibraryUniversity Archives and Manuscripts

Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Gamma chapter records Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Alpha Gamma Chapter AMS.1S.2023.004 1 linear foot 58 digital files 1.08 Gigabytes 1958-1990 Records related to the Alpha Gamma chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a fraternity founded by African American men. English Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc Alpha Gamma chapter records Biographical/Historical Note

Alpha Phi Alpha is the first American fraternity founded by African American men. Students at Cornell University established the fraternity in 1906. A group of Black Brown University students, initially gathered as a debate club, proposed a chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. The University administration rejected the proposal on the basis of race. The chapter was founded instead as the city of Providence chapter, Alpha Gamma, on February 2, 1921. Its founding president was Louis L. Redding '23. Brown did not officially acknowledge the Alpha Gamma chapter until 1974.

The activity of the Alpha Gamma chapter has varied over the decades, including a hiatus during the Second World War. The fraternity has created a brotherhood of distinguished students, participated specifically in Black college traditions such as step dancing, and affiliated with other Greek organizations for people of color on campus through the Pan-Hellenic Council (in association with the National Panhellenic Council). In addition to the social and fraternal aspects of Alpha life, the fraternity holds the tenets of academic scholarship and community service. Alphas have held events for alumni of color, encouraged academic excellence for Black students in Providence through competitions and events, and enlisted in Big Brothers of Rhode Island.

In keeping with its Providence base, Alphas been students from colleges and universities other than Brown, such as Johnson and Wales, Providence College, the Rhode Island School of Design, UMass Dartmouth, Bridgewater State University, and the University of Rhode Island. The chapter has also initiated honorary members from the Providence community. Members of the Alpha Gamma chapter have included Fritz Pollard '19, the first African American professional football coach and an entrepeneur; blues music producer and early National Football League player Jay Mayo Williams '21; J. Saunders Redding '28 MA'32, the first Black professor appointed to the Brown University faculty; Griffin Rodgers '76 MMSc'79 MD'79, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and Rodney Robinson '90, who wrote the fraternity's history in 1990.

Records Series 1 "The History of Alpha Gamma" written by M. Rodney Robinson 1990 1 1 Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding Alpha Phi Alpha related records Series 2 Scope and Contents

Physical items are part of the J. Saunders Redding Papers at the John Hay Library, Ms 98.1.

Jay Saunders Redding speech, Alpha Boule Philadelphia Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 13 pages 1963 April 7 genreform: Academic addresses English

Jay Saunders Redding speech, Alpha Boule Philadelphia

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Hanley J. Norment to Redding regarding a panel for National Negro History Week on Alpha Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha stationery Norment, Hanley J. 2 pages 1969 February 5 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Hanley J. Norment to Redding regarding a panel for National Negro History Week on Alpha Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha stationery

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Copy of letter from Redding to Julius Brice of Alpha Phi Alpha regarding payment for a speaking engagement Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 Brice, Julius 1 page 1969 April 5 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Copy of letter from Redding to Julius Brice of Alpha Phi Alpha regarding payment for a speaking engagement

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Hanley J. Norment to Redding sending payment for 1969 speaking engagement sponsored by the Mu Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Mu Norment, Hanley J. 1 page 1969 April 7 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Hanley J. Norment to Redding sending payment for 1969 speaking engagement sponsored by the Mu Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Mu

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Documents: Program for Observance of National Negro History Week presented by Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 5 pages 1969 February 10 genreform: Programs (Publications) English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Documents: Program for Observance of National Negro History Week presented by Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Scope and Contents

Includes panel discussion with Redding and brief Redding biography

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Flyer for "The Black Man's Meaning for America -- Past, Present and Future" panel presented by the Mu Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. 2 pages 1969 genreform: Fliers (Ephemera) English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Flyer for "The Black Man's Meaning for America -- Past, Present and Future" panel presented by the Mu Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Scope and Contents

Includes handwritten note on back

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Memorandum from J. Herbert King, editor-in-chief of Alpha Phi Alpha newsletter, "The Sphynx" to the board of Alpha Phi Alpha regarding a proposal to raise funds for a project centering on African Americas by the National Endowment for the Humanities King, J. Herbert 1 page 1970 February 20 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Memorandum from J. Herbert King, editor-in-chief of Alpha Phi Alpha newsletter, "The Sphynx" to the board of Alpha Phi Alpha regarding a proposal to raise funds for a project centering on African Americas by the National Endowment for the Humanities

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Amigo R. Wade inviting Redding to speak at an exhibition of the works of James Van Der See presented by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Wade, Amigo R. 1 page 1983 January 31 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Amigo R. Wade inviting Redding to speak at an exhibition of the works of James Van Der See presented by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: letter from Amigo R. Wade to Redding speaking engagement date for the "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York Wade, Amigo R. 1 page 1983 February 9 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: letter from Amigo R. Wade to Redding speaking engagement date for the "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: copy of letter from Redding to Amigo R. Wade accepting the invitation to speak at "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" in Ithaca, New York Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 1 page 1983 February 10 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: copy of letter from Redding to Amigo R. Wade accepting the invitation to speak at "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" in Ithaca, New York

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: letter from Amigo R. Wade to Redding speaking engagement schedule for the "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 Wade, Amigo R. 1 page 1983 March 15 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: letter from Amigo R. Wade to Redding speaking engagement schedule for the "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York

Scope and Contents

Includes manuscript notes

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: copy of letter from Redding to Amigo R. Wade regarding the title of his lecture "Social Forces: The Harlem Renaissance" at "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York 1 page 1983 April 1 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: copy of letter from Redding to Amigo R. Wade regarding the title of his lecture "Social Forces: The Harlem Renaissance" at "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: copy of letter from Redding to Amigo R. Wade withdrawing his lecture from "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 1 page 1983 March 18 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, speaking engagements and invitations: copy of letter from Redding to Amigo R. Wade withdrawing his lecture from "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" exhibition in Ithaca, New York

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding Papers, Manuscripts: Draft of "Social Forces of the Harlem Renaissance" lecture sponsored by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at the James Van Der See exhibition: "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)", Cornell University Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 12 pages 1983 genreform: Academic addresses English

Jay Saunders Redding Papers, Manuscripts: Draft of "Social Forces of the Harlem Renaissance" lecture sponsored by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at the James Van Der See exhibition: "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)", Cornell University

Scope and Contents

Includes manuscript notes

Scope and Contents

Includes typed notes

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Documents: Invitation to exhibition of the works of James Van Der See entitled "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929) sponsored by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha 1 page 1983 genreform: exhibition announcements English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Documents: Invitation to exhibition of the works of James Van Der See entitled "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929) sponsored by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Robert F. Smith announcing an exhibition of the works of James Van Der See entitled "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" and a lecture by Redding at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art in Ithaca, New York presented by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha 1 page 1983 genreform: Business correspondence English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Professional Affiliations: Letter from Robert F. Smith announcing an exhibition of the works of James Van Der See entitled "Reflections of a Renaissance: A Photographic Revitalization of The Harlem Renaissance (1919-1929)" and a lecture by Redding at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art in Ithaca, New York presented by the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Jay Saunders Redding papers, Documents: Printed copy of photograph "The Alpha Basketball Team, c. 1926" by James Van Der Zee Van Der Zee, James, 1886-1983 2 pages 1983 genreform: photograph English

Jay Saunders Redding papers, Documents: Printed copy of photograph "The Alpha Basketball Team, c. 1926" by James Van Der Zee

Scope and Contents

Back includes Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Chapter logo

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Fritz Pollard Alpha Phi Alpha records Series 3 Scope and Contents

Part of Brown University Certificates and Diplomas Collections, AMS.1I.1

Fritz Pollard certificate of membership in Alpha Phi Alpha 1958 February 18 2-SIZE Scope and Contents

Part of Brown University Certificates and Diplomas Collections, AMS.1I.1

Collection information Scope and Contents

This collection includes records related to Alpha Phi Alpha and its Providence chapter, Alpha Gamma, particularly in its relationship to Brown alumni. The collection also contains some general Alpha Phi Alpha and other Alpha Phi Alpha chapters materials.

Conditions Governing Use

Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them

Preferred Citation

Alpha Phi Alpha records, AMS.1S.2023.004, Brown University Library

Arrangement

Organized in three series. Materials from other collections (Redding and Pollard) are listed in their own series. Arranged chronologically within series.

Series 1. Records Series 2. Jay Saunders Redding Alpha Phi Alpha related records Series 3. Fritz Pollard Alpha Phi Alpha Records Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

Administrative information Processing Information

The History of Alpha Phi Alpha by M. Rodney Robinson was transferred from the Brown University Library Classified Files in 2023. This collection also includes items in other John Hay Library collections. In the case of digital items, the digitized records are part of the Alpha Phi Alpha Records, while the physical items are part of their original collection. Items from other collections are noted in their descriptions.

Additional information Related Materials

J. Saunders Redding Papers; Ms 98.1; Brown University Certificates and Diplomas Collections, AMS.1I.1

Existence and Location of Originals

J. Saunders Redding Papers; Ms 98.1

Names Redding, J. Saunders (Jay Saunders), 1906-1988 Robinson, M. Rodney Norment, Hanley J. Brice, Julius King, J. Herbert Wade, Amigo R.