About Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black college. On the evening of November 17, 1911, Omega Psi Phi was founded inside the Science Building (later renamed Thirkield Hall) at Howard University located in Washington, D.C. The founders were three undergraduates — Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. Joining them was their faculty adviser, Ernest Everett Just. From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning, “friendship is essential to the soul“, the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. That phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted as Cardinal Principles. Our fraternity has more than 750 chapters with more than 250,000 men initiated in the United States, the District of Columbia, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands and Panama.

Fraternity Founders

Dr. Ernest E. Just (1883-1941)

• Ernest E. Just was born in Charleston, South Carolina.

• Graduated from the Industrial School of the State College, Orangeburg, South Carolina.

• Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire

• Bachelor of Arts Degree, Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa)

• Awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP, 1915

• Doctor of Philosophy Degree, University of Chicago, 1916

• Became the 19th honoree in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage Stamp Series on February 1, 1996.

Professor Frank Coleman (1890-1967)

• Frank Coleman was born in Washington, D.C.

• Graduated from the M Street High School, Washington, D.C.

• Bachelor of Science Degree, Howard University, 1913

• Master of Science Degree, University of Chicago

• Advanced Training, University of Pennsylvania

• Professor and head of the Physics Department, Howard University

• U.S. Army Officer, World War I

Bishop Edgar A. Love (1891-1974)

• Edgar A. Love was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia

• Graduated from the Academy of Morgan College

• Bachelor of Arts Degree, Howard University, 1913

• Bachelor of Divinity Degree, Howard University, 1916

• Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree, Boston University, 1918

• Doctor of Divinity Degree (Honorary), Morgan College, 1935

• U.S. Army Chaplain, World War I

• Bishop, Methodist Church

Dr. Oscar J. Cooper (1888-1972)

• Oscar J. Cooper was born in Washington, D.C.

• Graduated from the M Street High School, Washington, D.C.

• Bachelor of Science Degree, Howard University, 1913 Doctor of Medicine Degree, Howard University, 1917

• Practiced medicine in Philadelphia, PA for 50 years