LOOK BACK KAPPA HISTORY
T
his article is the third of a five-part series entitled “The History of Grand Chapter Meetings.” The series covers the origin and development of the Kappa Alpha Psi Conclaves. In this installment, Grand Historian Kevin P. Scott and Aaron Williams analyze distinctive Grand Chapter Meetings. Archived issues of The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal and historical newspaper articles are the primary resource for these articles.
SPECIAL EVENT CONCLAVES (1933-2021) Century of Progress World’s Fair 23rd Grand Chapter Meeting, Chicago, IL August 27-30, 1933 A Century of Progress International Exposition, also informally known as the Chicago World’s Fair, was an inter- national exhibition held in Chicago, IL, from 1933 to 1934. Anticipating the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, delegates to the 23rd Grand Chapter amended the Con- stitution to permit sessions at any time the Grand Chapter designates. Following this action, the Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter invited the Grand Chapter to meet in the “Windy City” August 27-30, 1933. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority also scheduled its national convention during the same week in
From l to r: 23rd Grand Chapter Meeting ad August 1933, The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal.
Chicago, IL, during the World’s Fair. With the Grand Chapter coordinating its Conclave with the Chicago World’s Fair, the 23rd Grand Chapter Meeting was the first Conclave held in the summer months. Four hundred forty-nine members and their families gathered in Chi- cago to participate in the 23rd Grand Chapter Meeting and to witness the city’s Century of Progress Exposition on the shores of Lake Michigan. But in violation of the American ideal of
democracy, discrimination reared its ugly head. The fraternity politely but firmly refused to attend the World’s Fair because the Exposition manage- ment had not taken appropriate action
20 THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL 2024
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