Rho Chapter, One of Alpha's Greats!! "We, the members of Rho Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity have a heritage. It is not given to us as a permanent gift, bat placed in trust. We must work with it vigorously in order to advance"—J. OTIS SMITH,
1956.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Every brother in Alpha knows that the year 1910 was a beacon light in the expansion of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. This was a period of great change, and some of the brothers thought that the fraternity was not measuring up to its possibilities. In the meantime, Philadelphia was a growing city. A few brothers were coming here from New York and Washington to begin life anew, to study, or examine the city's resources. The General Convention was held here in order to stamp its impression on the city. Three years swept by. Graduates from Columbia, Cornell, and Howard thought that the time was ripe to form a new chapter. Brother (Dr.) Kirksey L. Curd, who had come from Alpha Chapter, along with other brothers from Beta and Eta chapters
talked to the young Philadelphians about the spirit of brotherhood, and its effects on humanity. Thus, in the midst of this, on November 3, 1914, Rho Chapter was born with Brother K. L. Curd as the first president. Rho Chapter grew and made itself felt in the fraternity. In 1916—one of the most dynamic personalities in the fraternity, Brother (Dr.) Walter F. Jerrick was elected president of the chapter. Under his leadership, the Tenth General C o n v e n t i o n was brought to the city in 1917. At this convention, our first president, Brother (Dr.) Kirksey L. Curd was elected General Vice-President. Rho Chapter continued its expansion. Every new brother who came to the city sought out its members, and joined the ranks of those who were helping to make the fraternity stronger. The Twentyfirst General Convention returned to Philadelphia eleven years later, 1928. It found Brother Jerrick still the dynamic president. At Xavier University, December 27,
ALPHA PHI ALPHA, RHO CHAPTER PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER OFFICERS AND ROSTER Mr. J. Otis Smith President Dr. Charles A. Broaddus Vice-President Mr. William Ross, Jr Recording Secretary Mr. Oscar W. Gibbs Corresponding Secretary Dr. Percy 1. Bowser.. Financial Secretary Dr. Robert Henry, Sr Treasurer Dr. Leslie Hayling... Associate Sphinx Editor Rev. John R. Logan, Jr.. Chaplain Rev. Roscoe Williams Assistant Chaplain Dr. O. Wilson Winters... Parliamentarian Mr. Irving Anderson.. Sergeant-at-Arms Dr. N. W. Atkinson Dr. George Carter Dr. W. C. Atkinson Dr. Thomas Chew Dr. Felix Anderson Dr. Allan Durrant Mr. Landis Brown Mr. Edward Davenport Mr. Warren Burton Mr. Prince Edwards Mr. Thomas Burke Dr. Frank Eaverly Dr. Leon Berry Dr. William Fearance Mr. B. Ira Bird Dr. L. P. Fleming Dr. Stansberry Carter Mr. Fred Freeman Dr. Frank Christmas Dr. Leroy Gates Dr. William B. Carter Dr. Thomas Georges, Sr. Mr. Raymond Cox Dr. Thomas W. Georges, Jr. PAGE 88
1937, two Rho Chapter members, Brother (Dr.) O. Wilson Winters, and Brother (Dr.) Walter F. Jerrick became the first life members in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. At that time, Brother Jerrick had been President of Rho Chapter for 21 years. Years passed. Rho was still one of the leading chapters in the Fraternity. Brother (Dr.) Larney E. Hardy, VicePresident, and a prominent dentist in Chester was organizing the West Branch Y.M.C.A. in that city, and gaining recognition for giving unselfish service in the field of social welfare. Brother John R. Logan, Sr. was one of Philadelphia's leaders in the field of religion. Brother (Dr.) Thomas W. Georges, Sr. became one of our greatest leaders in the field of Public Health. Brother R. Allan Durrant became indispensable at the General Convention. Brother (Dr.) Charles A. Broaddus, present Vice-President, attended all conventions, and could always be depended upon for his excellent reports on the social aspects. Brother (Dr.) John H. Brodhead, a
Mr. Walter Gordon Dr. Cornelius Gaither Mr. Cornelius Garlick Mr Oscar Gibbs Dr. Larney Hardy Dr. Custis Howard Dr. Esquire Hawkins Dr. William Gray Dr. E. D. Harris Dr. Charles Harris Dr. Robert Henry, Jr. Mr Joseph Hunt Mr J. Otis Jones Dr. Turner Johnson Dr. Sylvester Johnson Rev. John Logan, Jr. Rev. Thomas Logan Dr. J. B. Lovell Dr. J. L. Martin Mr. Lewis Mentess Dr. A. S. Mason Dr. Edward McDowell Mr. Hervert Nelson Mr. Harold Nelson Mr. Austin Norris Mr. Charles Polk
Mr. James Patterson Dr. Edmund Pressley Mr. Wilbert Purdy Dr. Emile E. Raven Dr. Raymond Rogers Dr. Howard Stratton Dr. W. E. Smith Dr. J. S. Smith Dr. H. L. Small Dr. Harold Taylor Mr. Elbert Wisner Mr. Lloyd Wolf Mr. Robert Williams Dr. Harrison E. Meekins Dr. Steven Simpson Mr. Edwin Richardson Mr. Josiah Robinson Mr. Randolph Rodreques Dr. C. Arthus Scott Dr. J. W. Shirley Dr. S. B. Smith Mr. Postelle Vaughn Rev. Roscoe Williams Dr. U. S. Wiggins Mr. Eugene Woodson Dr. Stephen Stanford Mr. Warren Vann
THE SPHINX