Continued from page 19
HIS BEST TO ALPHA "Sons of Alpha Phi are we, one in love and charity . . . Courage, Brothers banded we, all through life to eternity." — J. B. Boags & R. H. Ogle
Although thousands of Black professionals credit him with inspiring them to reach for new heights; and his considerable talents have been shared with practically every important institution in our society, a pensive, firm-voiced Charles Wesley this year declared, "I have given Alpha Phi Alpha my best. " Even those Brothers only remotely aware of his extensive and painstaking endeavors in the Fraternity would surely agree. Although he served longer than any other General President, and with great acclaim, he is best k n o w n for his authorship of the Fraternity's history, The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in College Life. Initially published in 1929 and now in its 13th printing, it has chronicled the organization's history and, at the same time, served as an important documentation of the educational development of Americans of African descent. For over five decades Brothers and would-be Brothers have studied it — using it as the principal mode of understanding and transmitting the group's history, traditions and meaning. It is interesting to note that, in developing the Fraternity's history, Wesley succeeded where even a group of the Jewels were unsuccessful. In an earlier attempt to prepare a written history, the personal reminiscences of several of the Founders were collected. However, these, often conflicting, accounts based upon memory convinced the organization that the services of a professional historian of the first rank were needed. Then-General President Raymond C a n n o n was given this charge and he ultimately chose H o w a r d historian Charles H. Wesley for the task. The grass-roots level of Alpha has also been important to him, for there his leadership began. He reminds College Brothers and pledges alike that he 20
remained continuously active with the Fraternity after leaving Yale and taking his first job, stating "In 1913, when I came to H o w a r d University, I immediately joined Beta Chapter, and there has never been a year when I wasn't active." Upon the establishment of Mu Lambda Chapter in 1923, Dr. Wesley joined as a charter member, later to become the chapter's third president. In that capacity, he became president of the Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation, which opened the nation's first Blackowned fraternity house in 1928. His service during the thirties as the Fraternity's top leader was in a period of economic and racial turbulence, which had the most dire consequences for Blacks. Yet, he and others like him persisted in their determination to make America live up to its creed and democratic slogans. During such a time, he led Alpha in breaking new ground — most notably in the areas of civil rights, equal opportunity, and education — which offered significant long-range payoffs for an emerging people.
THE
HISTORY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA A DEVELOPMENT IN NEGRO COLLEGE LIKE
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The title page of the 1st Edition of The History of Alpha Phi Alpha. The book had 294 pages and 58 illustrations. whenever called upon. His strong commitment to duty has often found him cast in such roles as convention speaker (even as a last minute pinchhitter), parliamentary expert, installer of officers, responder to welcomes offered by host city officials, presenter of important resolutions and a w a r d s and, moreover, as participant in numerous local and regional Alpha programs. In addition to the history, he is author of another Fraternityrelated book, Henry Arthur Callis: Life and Legacy.
This shot of a smiling Fraternity legend is familiar to convention-goers. Contributing to his cornerstone position in the House of Alpha is the outstanding service he has so willingly performed in numerous other roles
His vast contributions, combined with his great dignity and easy accessibility, position him as a classic role model and example of Black pride and Alpha greatness. He continues, as he has done over the years, to autograph copies of the history, relate stories out of Alpha's glorious past, offer advice and encouragement to youthful Alphas, respond to their letters (now, sometimes, with two-finger typing), and just mingle and exchange fraternal greetings. He rarely misses a General Convention and continues to serve in the vital role of Fraternity Historian (the only person ever to hold this post). He is, at age 90, the grand patriarch of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Continued on page 23 T h e Sphinx/Fall 1987