Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A small printed poster on heavy paper with black and white photographic portraits of the founders of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. The portraits encircle the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity crest and the poster is framed with a red floral border. The text at the top of poster reads [Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. / (Founded, January 5, 1911)]. There are 10 bust portraits of the men (four in top row, two in middle row, and four in bottom row), all in suits and ties, with their names and life dates below in black type. The top row of photographic captions reads: [Edward G. Irvin / 1893-], [Dr. Byron Kenneth Armstrong / 1890-], [Elder Watson Diggs / 1890-1947], and [Dr. Guy Levis Grant / 1891-1973]. The middle row of photographic captions reads: [Dr. Ezra D. Alexander / 1892-1971] and [Dr. Marcus Peter Blakemore / 1889-1959]. The bottom row of photographic captions reads: [Paul W. Caine / 1891-1922], [Atty. Henry T. Asher / 1890-1963], [John Milton Lee / 1890-1958], and [George Edmunds [sic] / 1890-1962]. An illustration of the fraternity's shield is featured center in red ink. The crest depicts a knight’s helmet with visor above a heraldic shaped shield divided into four sections. The top section has three stars above a wreath with a center bow and a single Greek work. The bottom, left section of the shield depicts two hands clasping. The bottom, center section depicts a scroll with the three Greek letters printed vertically. The bottom, right section depicts an arm holding a bolt. Below the shield, is a banner with Greek text written across the center. Below the crest is the text, [The Founders] written in black. The illustration is entirely by a red solid line. There is an inscription, [GINO], handwritten in red ink in top right hand corner.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: ca. 1979
• Printed by: Unidentified
• Owned by: Terance Turner
• Subject of: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., American, founded 1911
• Subject of: Edward Giles Irvin, American, 1893 - 1982
• Subject of: Byron Kenneth Armstrong PhD., American, 1892 - 1980
• Subject of: Elder Watson Diggs, American, 1883 - 1947
• Subject of: Guy Levis Grant D.D.S., American, 1891 - 1973
• Subject of: Ezra Dee Alexander, American, 1891 - 1971
• Type: posters
• Medium: ink on paper
• Dimensions: H x W: 11 1/16 × 8 1/2 in. (28.1 × 21.6 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Associations and institutions
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Fraternities
• Topic: Men
• Object number: 2014.127.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Taalib Abdullah Al 'Ali (Terance Turner)
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown – Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.