DIVINE NINE
DIVINE NINE
WHAT IS DIVINE NINE?
The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (NPHC) is an umbrella
organization for nine historically black, international Greek
lettered fraternities and sororities. Each of the nine NPHC
organizations evolved during a period when African-Americans
were being denied essential rights and privileges afforded other
college students. NPHC was formed as a permanent organization
on May 10, 1930 on the campus of Howard University, in
Washington, D.C. NPHC was incorporated under the laws of the
State of Illinois in 1937. Omega, Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha
Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Zeta Phi Beta were the 5
founding members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
in 1930. The council's membership expanded as Alpha Phi Alpha
(1931), Phi Beta Sigma (1931), Sigma Gamma Rho (1937), and
Iota Phi Theta (1996) joined the NPHC. The council promotes
interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the
exchange of information and engages in cooperative programming
and initiatives through various activities and functions.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first
intercollegiate Greek letter fraternity established for
African-Americans, was founded on Dec. 4, 1906 at
Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven
college men who recognized the need for a strong
bond of Brotherhood among African descendants in
this country.
ALPHA PHI ALPHA
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., was founded on
January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University
by twenty outstanding college women. It is the oldest
Greek letter organization established by black college
women. The sorority is dedicated to cultivating high
scholastics and ethical standards. We are dedicated to
promoting unity and friendship among college women,
and keeping alive within graduates an interest in
college life. None the least, we are committed to
service to all mankind.
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., In 1911,
three young men, Edgar A. Love, Oscar J.
Cooper and Frank Coleman, with the
assistance of their faculty adviser,
Professor Ernest E. Just gave birth to the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Manhood,
scholarship, perseverance and uplift were
adopted as there cardinal principles.
OMEGA PSI PHI
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., was founded
on January 13, 1913 at Howard University in
Washington D.C., by 22 vibrant college women
with a zest for education, service to their
community, women's rights, and religious
enrichment. Through their dedication to
becoming servants of the world and to their
communities, a certificate of incorporation was
granted on February 13, 1913, and was born
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
DELTA SIGMA THETA
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. was founded
September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College
(now Morgan State University), 12 students
founded what is now the nation's fifth largest,
predominately African-American social service
fraternity: The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity,
Incorporated.
IOTA PHI THETA
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., was founded
on January 5, 1911 on the campus of Indiana
University. In the midst of racial and economic
tensions in the southern town of Bloomington,
ten young college students recognized a need
for their fellow black classmates to have a
unifying dream amongst them. This dream,
which still survives today in the lives of over
100,000 members of Kappa Alpha Psi.
KAPPA ALPHA PSI
Zeta Phi Beta
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., was founded January 16,
1920 on the campus of Howard University in
Washington, D.C. by five coeds. These women dared
to depart from the traditional coalitions for Black
women and sought to establish a new organization
predicated on the precepts of Scholarship, Service,
Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood. For seventynine years, the trail blazed by the founders has been
traversed by thousands of women dedicated to the
emulation of the objectives and ideals of Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority Incorporated.
ZETA PHI BETA
Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., was founded
January 9, 1914 by the Most Honorable
Brothers A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F.
Morse, and Charles I. Brown at Howard
University in Washington D.C. Being founded
upon the motto "Culture for Service and
Service for Humanity" Phi Beta Sigma strives to
be a positive example in the community.
PHI BETA SIGMA
Sigma Gamma Rho
Sigma Gamma Rho, in the year of our Lord 1922,
seven ladies had come together with minds as one.
These seven educators had taken the finest ideals of
workmanship, their dedication to the community and
the sheer integrity of true womanhood and embodied
it in three Greek letters: SGR. In a time when blacks
and whites were segregated, these women formed a
sorority in predominately white setting at Butler
University in Indianapolis, Indiana. These illustrious
women created an entity to be reckoned with for
generations to come.
SIGMA GAMMA RHO
AKA’S
DELTA’S
ALPHA’S, AKA’S, KAPPA’S
DELTA’S, ALPHA’S, KAPPA
KAPPA’S AND OMEGA’S
DELTA’S AND AKA’S
IOTA, ZETA AND ALPHA’S
OMEGA, ALPHA’S, AND AKA’S
ALPHA’S AND AKA’S
SIGMA’S, ALPHA, ZETA’s
DELTA, OMEGA, AKA’S
DELTA’S AND KAPPA’S
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA
KAPPA, ALPHA’S, AKA AND
SIGMA
AKA AND OMEGA’S