Founded at Indiana University
Ten determined young men — Elder Watson Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, and eight others — founded Kappa Alpha Psi at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Incorporated as a National Fraternity
Kappa Alpha Psi was formally incorporated as a national fraternity, with its motto established: “Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor.”
Beta Sigma Chapter Chartered
The Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi granted a charter to Beta Sigma Chapter at Delaware State College (now Delaware State University), establishing the first undergraduate chapter in the state. Five of its twenty-three chartering members — 21% — were Lewes residents.
Dover Alumni Chapter Chartered
The Grand Chapter chartered the Dover (DE) Alumni Chapter. Of its nineteen chartering members, eight — 42% — were Lewes residents. From the very inception of a Kappa presence in Delaware, Lewes — and Sussex County as a whole — was instrumental in establishing a culture of achievement in the state.
A First Attempt in Lewes
The late George H.P. Smith endeavored to establish an alumni chapter in Lewes, but the effort was unsuccessful — there was not yet a sufficient number of members residing in Lewes and the surrounding area to sustain a charter.
A New Interest Group Forms
A new interest group organized with the goal of establishing a chapter in Lewes that would serve the entirety of Sussex County, Delaware, and submitted the Lewes Alumni Charter Petition to the Northeastern Province.
Lewes (DE) Alumni Chapter Chartered
The Grand Board of Kappa Alpha Psi approved the charter petition on Monday, September 21, 2026, and the Lewes (DE) Alumni Chapter was officially chartered later that year — the first new alumni chapter charter in Delaware in over 70 years, and a dedicated Kappa alumni presence in every county in the state.
Lewes' Role in the Delaware Kappa Legacy
Lewes' influence on Kappa Alpha Psi in the State of Delaware was present from the very inception. In the spring of 1946, Dr. Idel W. Taylor, a Lewes native who served as Dean of Men and Chaplain at Delaware State College, encouraged seven young men at the college to journey to Lincoln University and become initiated in the Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. Fraternally, Dr. Taylor was an initiate of Epsilon Chapter, the editor of the Scroller Manual, and an Elder Watson Diggs Awardee.
On March 8, 1947, the Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi granted a charter to the Beta Sigma Chapter on the campus of Delaware State College (now University), establishing the first undergraduate chapter in the State of Delaware. Five of the twenty-three (23) chartering members, equating to 21%, were Lewes residents. Further, on March 10, 1956, the Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. granted a charter to the Dover (DE) Alumni Chapter. Of the nineteen (19) chartering members, eight (8) lived in Lewes, equating to 42%. From the very inception of a Kappa presence in Delaware, Lewes in particular — but Sussex County as a whole — was instrumental in establishing a culture of achievement in this state.
In 1993, the late George H.P. Smith endeavored to establish an alumni chapter in Lewes, but was unsuccessful, as there was not a sufficient number of members residing in Lewes and the surrounding areas. In 2024, a new interest group formed with the goal of establishing a chapter in Lewes that would serve the entirety of Sussex County, Delaware. The Lewes Alumni Charter Petition was submitted to the Northeastern Province, and the Grand Board of Kappa Alpha Psi approved the Petition on Monday, September 21, 2026. The Lewes (DE) Alumni Chapter was chartered later that year — representing the first alumni chapter charter in Delaware in over 70 years, and a dedicated Kappa alumni presence in all Delaware counties.
