The History of GAMMA

Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was chartered on Monday, December 30, 1907 by Eugene Kinckle Jones and seven college men on the campus of Virginia Union University. In 1907 Gamma and Beta Chapter were the pioneering expansion efforts of Alpha Phi Alpha before other Black fraternities and sororities were established on college campuses.

Jones, the only Alpha to be designated as a Jewel and among the first initiates into the organization, played an enormous role in the expansion efforts of the Fraternity. He helped to establish not only Gamma but also Beta at Howard University and the original Delta chapters at the University of Toronto.

Though the fraternity was embraced on the campus, the years ahead would prove to be quite tumultuous and the chapter would fall into a short interlude of inactivity, the fraternity, chapter, and the university forged ahead to make sure that GAMMA was and remained a leading force to follow.

Not only is Gamma Chapter the 3rd oldest Chapter but Gamma has hosted the Ninth Annual Convention on the campus of Virginia Union on December 27-30, 1916.

After its early establishment in 1907, a time of mixed reviews amongst the student body about what Greek life entailed, the chapter fell into inactivity due to membership woes. Before the Chapter was fully reinstated as GAMMA Chapter in April of 1913 by C.G. Curley of Beta Chapter, a group of
9 student men operating under the name of Phi Beta Phi became the second charter line. of the Chapter. Since then, the chapter was recreated stronger than ever and has continued the work of Alpha consistently without anymore interruptions and since been proven to be stronger than ever.

GAMMA Chapter is the home chapter of not one General President but two General Presidents: Lucius L. McGhee and Simeon S. Booker, who was General President to serve for 3 terms and to date is the only General President to do so. The first Eastern Region Vice-President was also a GAMMA Brother, Thomas H. Henderson, also former president of Virginia Union University.

Gamma Chapter is also the home chapter of 3 Generations of Jones men. Eugene Kinckle Jones, Joseph E. Jones, honorary member of Gamma Chapter, and Eugene Kinckle Jones, Jr.

Brother Joseph E. Jones, professor of Egyptology at Virginia Union is the integrator of Egyptian Iconography into the Fraternity's insignia and symbols.

The first Sphinx Club was organized on the campus of VUU in the Fall of 1924.

It is the aim of Gamma Chapter to remain a viable and studious chapter; promoting academic excellence at Virginia Union University.

The story doesn’t end. It only continues… We can only give you but so much, but know that GAMMA has and continues to make history every day as it aims to initiate leaders and scholars.