Delta Lambda Chapter was born during a particularly active period in American history, which saw African Americans increasingly active in the struggle for civil rights. The black middle class saw their fortunes slowly rise even in the face of extreme racism and prejudice. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was beginning to connect brothers who finished college but wanted to remain active with their fraternity; they joined what became known as graduate chapters (now alumni chapters).It was in the spirit of fraternity that Delta ...
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Delta Lambda Chapter was born during a particularly active period in American history, which saw African Americans increasingly active in the struggle for civil rights. The black middle class saw their fortunes slowly rise even in the face of extreme racism and prejudice. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was beginning to connect brothers who finished college but wanted to remain active with their fraternity; they joined what became known as graduate chapters (now alumni chapters).It was in the spirit of fraternity that Delta Lambda chapter was born on May 23, 1919. The charter members chose to form a chapter to build a closer bond between brothers in the city. With the motto, "Watch Us Grow," in their statement to the fraternity, the men announced that they felt "the 'call' of closer union" and wanted to develop a "better understanding and organization" amongst the brothers in the city. The trailblazers of Delta Lambda were Brothers William Norman Bishop, Simeon Saunders Booker, Heyward Elbert Caldwell, Raymond Tunstall Carpenter, Reverend Beal Elliott, Walter Benjamin Garvin, James Henry Hilburn, James "Jay" Garland McRae, Carl James Murphy, Louis Hezekiah Russell, and Joseph Lincoln Shelton.For two consecutive years, 1999 - 2000, Delta Lambda was chosen as the Eastern Region's Chapter of the Year and represented the Eastern Region at both the Dallas and Atlanta General Conventions. The Chapter won the Atlanta competition in 2000, thus being named the Millennium Alumni Chapter of the Year. Today, the roster of Delta Lambda is equally star-studded. Among our ranks are physicians, ministers, public servants, school teachers and administrators, lawyers, dentists, entrepreneurs, college professors and administrators, and retired personnel from many areas of community life. This volume of the fraternal history of Alpha Phi Alpha delves into the history Delta Lambda Chapter of and the biographies of its charter members and, presidents and noteworthy members.
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