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“GRAND POLEMARCH J. ERNEST WILKINS, SR., AND THE OTHER NATIONAL PRESIDENTS SPOKE ON THEIR ORGANIZATIONS’ PURPOSES AND SHARED IDEALS ... ”
To signify the event, Ms. Gladys Clagett, an art instructor at Kansas City’s Lincoln High School and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., designed a commemorative badge containing the event’s theme and the official emblems of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, and Kappa Alpha Psi. Delegates from the three organizations received the commemorative badge. Saturday night featured the Joint Artists’ Recital at Edison Hall, followed by the AKA’s Closed Formal. The Alphas and Kappas were guests at the Annual Frogs Christmas Party. Sunday morning, themselves making plans, also, for AKA wives, sisters, sweethearts, and just acquaintances were headed in the same direction—to the Tri- Convention.” - G. James Fleming Former Editor, The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal, February 1941 issue “Kansas City outdid itself ... as it kept everyone of its promises ... as three organizations of “Greeks” showed the world that the things we hold in common are greater than our differences ... as the local hosts cooperated and coordinated without a hitch.” Cooperation in the Heart of America” began before the delegates reached the heart of America. As trains sped towards the west, northwest, south, and east and autos too - brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi and men of Alpha Phi Alpha found themselves making arrangements to travel together; to stop together and the like. Even more frequently, the men on both sides found
the Kappas attended worship service at Paseo Baptist Church, where
the Laurel Wreath was conferred upon long-
time Kappa Alpha Psi Journal Editor Lionel F. Artis. Later that after- noon, a Joint Public Meeting was held at the Municipal Auditorium’s Music
40th Grand Chapter Meeting, December 1950, Tri-Convention Meeting Folder
30th Grand Chapter Meeting Kappa Alpha Psi name badge.
Alpha, and Kappa Alpha Psi national conventions were simultaneously conducted, December 27-31, 1950. The national presidents of each organiza- tion were interviewed over WDAF-TV. Grand Polemarch J. Ernest Wilkins, Sr., and the other national presidents spoke on their organizations’ purposes and shared ideals to benefit people of color. The theme for the 1950 Tri-Convention was “Unity in ’50 at Kansas City.” Never before had there been such an immense outpouring of Black Greek members, perhaps twice as many as ten years earlier. Founders Guy L. Grant and Ezra D. Alexander were present at this Conclave. The Kansas City (MO) Alumni Chapter was the host chapter for this historic Conclave. On December 27, the mayors of Kansas City, KS, and Kansas City, MO, welcomed members of all
Hall. In the evening, the Alphas had a series of open houses about town, where guests socialized. Kappa held another business session on Monday morning and the Memorial Service, followed by two symposiums in the afternoon. Separate Closed Ban- quets were held for each organization on Monday night. Kappa held its final Business Session and Closed Formal Prom saw 400-500 attendees on the final day, December 31. Tri-Conventions 40th Grand Chapter Meeting, Kansas City, MO
December 27-31, 1950 (KA Ψ , AKA, and A Φ A)
In 1950, as in 1940, Kansas City, MO, the Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi
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