KAPPA NEWS
A Primer on the Provinces of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
T he 10 th Grand Chapter Meet- ing of the fraternity was held in Philadelphia, PA Decem- ber 1920. The delegates elected Grand Keeper of the Exchequer George F. David II as the third Grand Polemarch. It was at this Conclave Grand Polemarch David proposed divid- ing the Fraternity into Districts. The origins of this novel proposal actually came from his father Brother George F. David, the presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) for Kentucky. The suggestion mirrored the regional format that improved the oper- ating of the AME Church. With twelve undergraduate and five alumni chapters chartered and the potential for future growth, an improved organizational structure was needed. From Washing- ton, DC to Kentucky, Detroit to Atlanta, Kappa Alpha Psi was demonstrating educational, professional, political and community leadership across the nation, men of distinction, achievers in every field of human endeavor. In the 1920s, the Fraternity did not have a headquarters or an Executive Director. The Grand Keeper of Records and the Grand Keeper of the Exchequer handled most of the responsibilities now handled by the Executive Director and his staff. This new District approach would enable a Grand Polemarch to keep members aware of programs and would improve the operation of the Fraternity. The delegates accepted the proposal and adopted legislation establishing three districts.
Grand Polemarch David’s grasp of the Fraternity’s organizational needs were learned and analyzed while serving as the Grand Keeper of the Exchequer. His administration would, in part, reflect the thoroughness and uniformity of the Fraternity’s ideals and purpose to the membership. The Grand Polemarch ini- tiated the divisions of the Fraternity into three Districts. Past Grand Polemarch Irven Armstrong was placed in charge of the first; Harrison R. Duke, the second and Harold M. Tyler the third. The District organizational structure would enable a Grand Polemarch to communi- cate information about Fraternity activi- ties and programs to a cadre of brothers, who would disseminate the information about Fraternity activities and programs to a cadre of brothers, who would dis- seminate the information to the chapters and members within his District. By the 12 th Grand Chapter Meeting in Chicago, IL, 1922, the Fraternity had established chapters on 18 campuses and in 12 cities. Among the new Greek Letter un- dergraduate chapters was the second in the South. W. Ellis Stewart was elected Grand Polemarch. Grand Polemarch Stewart increased the number of Dis- tricts to seven and the Districts were now known as Regions. In 1925 at the 15 th Grand Chapter Meeting, the Fraternity experienced another adjustment when the Regions were named Provinces and the Direc- tors were renamed Province Polemarchs. The origin of the word discloses it comes from the Latin word provincere, mean-
ing jurisdiction. Polemarch came from the ancient Greek word polomarchos, meaning war leader or war lord. Over the years, attempts have been made to relate or associate with a present Prov- ince to one of the original Districts or Regions. A search of information dating to the formation of the Districts sug- gests there is not a definitive relation- ship. It appears Province Polemarchs were assigned specific chapters rather than geographic territory. For example, Dr. William Henry “Stud” Greene went to Washington, DC in 1918 to attend Howard University and was a resident of the District of Columbia until his death in 1983. In 1931 Brother Greene was appointed the Southeastern Province Polemarch. Some have postulated the Provinces met each year. While there is informa- tion in The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal and other sources indicating the Province Polemarchs delivered reports at Grand Chapter Meetings, there is no informa- tion confirming that there were annual meetings. In 1956, at the 46 th Grand Chapter Meeting, the delegates ap- proved a revision to the Constitution of Kappa Alpha Psi, which included a provision to have official governing meeting of provinces, using the Ritual. That revision made clear that provinces were geographic territories. Today, the Fraternity has 12 Provinces. Some of the Province chapters are located outside the continental United States, and under assigned Province leadership, designated by Grand Chapter.
Publishing achievement for 105 years
THE JOURNAL SPRING ISSUE | 35
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