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“DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY AND OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY ENTERTAINED THE FRATERNITY WITH A SOCIAL AT THE PARADISE AMUSEMENT HALL, WHERE ALL SOCIAL EVENTS OF THE WEEK TOOK PLACE. AN INFORMAL SOIREE SPONSORED BY ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA, ZETA PHI BETA SORORITIES, AND PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY WAS HELD AT THE ELKS REST.”
39th Grand Chapter Meeting Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
his efforts in the interest of civil rights. The Memorial Housing Fund Commission report was tabled, delaying the decision to build a Memorial House at Indiana University for another year. Columbus, OH, was selected to host the 45th Grand Chapter Meeting with a recommendation for the 46th Grand Chapter Meeting to be held in Atlanta. 46th Grand Chapter Meeting Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA December 27-29, 1956 The lodging accommodations for the 46th Grand Chapter Meeting were a significant challenge for out-of-town attendees. In segregationist Atlanta, GA of the 1950s, downtown Atlanta hotels and convention centers pro- hibited the rental of their facilities to Blacks and Black organizations. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority held its 36th Boulé on the campus of neighboring Clark College at the same time Kappa Alpha Psi held its Conclave. In 1956, it
was the first time either organization held its national convention in the Deep South. On-campus dormitories housed numerous attendees to both national conventions. Before the Public Meeting, a recep- tion was held at the Abbey Aldrich Rockefeller Hall on the Spelman College campus. The Public Meeting was a standing-room-only joint meet- ing between Alpha Kappa Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi held at Sisters Chapel on the Spelman College campus, with Morehouse College President Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays as the featured speaker. After the Public Meeting concluded, a joint Alpha Kappa Alpha/ Kappa Alpha Psi open formal dance was held in the main arena of the Municipal Auditorium. The following day, a Pan Hellenic Council formal dance occurred at the same location. Cabaret parties were hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Omega Psi Phi on one night and by Alpha Phi Alpha the following night at
the Auburn Casino. The Closed Banquet was held in the gymnasium of Atlanta’s Booker T. Washington High School. Lawrence C. Jones (Gamma 1914), president of Piney Woods Country Life School, delivered the keynote address at the Closed Banquet. The Closed Grand Ball was held in the Waluhaje Ball Room. Souvenir charm bracelets were given to the ladies at the ball and loving cups were given to the brothers at the closed banquet. The Grand Chapter business meet- ings were held at Morehouse College’s Sale Hall. Sigma Gamma Rho provided coffee each day during the business session breaks. The Links and Phi Delta Kappa provided courtesy trans- portation cars for the guests. Founders Armstrong, Alexander, Irvin, and Lee attended this Conclave. Join us for Part 3 of this series, which focuses on Grand Chapter Meetings that occurred during special events. Part 3 is scheduled for publication in the next issue of The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal . ♦
40 THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2024
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