The Honorable Founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc

The Birth Of Omega Psi Phi

From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity ..

Ernest Everett Just (8/14/1883 - 10/27/1941)
Zoologist, Biologist, Physiologist, Research Scientist.

Ernest Everett Just was born in Charleston, South Carolina to parents Charles Frazier and Mary Matthews Just. He prepared for college at Kimball Hall Academy, New Hampshire, where he completed the four-year course of study in only three years. In the graduating Dartmouth College class of 1907, Ernest Just was the only person to be graduated magna cum laude. He won special honors in botany and history, with honors in botany and sociology. In his freshman year at Dartmouth he received the highest marks in the entire freshmen class in Greek; Ernest was conferred as the Rufus Choate scholar for two years.

In 1907, Dr. Just began to teach at Howard University. Beginning in 1909, he began to conduct research as a research assistant during the summer months for Professor Frank Rattray Lillie, the second director of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. In 1916, Ernest Just received the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy magna cum laude from the University of Chicago in experimental embryology, with a thesis on the mechanics of fertilization.

Contributions on the physiology of development were the legacy of Dr. Just s research. His work on the subjects of fertilization, experimental parthenogenesis, hydration, cell division, dehydration in living cells, the effect of ultra violet rays in increasing chromosome number in animals and in altering the organization of the egg with special reference to polarity.

He was one of the authors of General Cytology, published in 1924. The list of authors includes among other eminent zoologists Dr. Frank R. Lille of the University of Chicago Dr. T.H. Morgan, President of the National Academy of Sciences Dr. M.H. Jacobs, Director of Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts Dr. E.G. Conklin of Princeton University

In 1924 Dr. Just was selected from among the biologists of the world by a group of German biologist to contribute to a monograph on fertilization, one of a series of monographs by specialists working on fundamental problems of the function and structure of the cell. He is a contributor to Volume Two of Dr. Jerome Alexander's three-volume series on Colloid Chemistry. From 1920-1931 Dr. Just was the Julius Rosenwald Fellow in Biology of the National Research Council. Under this grant program he engaged in research as an adjunct researcher of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology, Berlin-Dahlam, working under Professor Max Hartmann department. He also worked at the marine biological laboratories in Naples and in Sicily. In 1930, Dr. Just lectured at the Eleventh International Congress of Zoologists, held at Padua, Italy. The lecture was entitled The Role of Cortical Cytoplasm in Vital Phenomena., which was based on the fifty published papers written by Dr. Ernest Just.

In his scholarly work Dr. Just showed all the traits of a true scholar. He was unostentatious and was modest in his personality. His inherent ability, scientific training, creative imagination, and industry were the basis for success in his field of zoology.

"If we are to judge his accomplishments by standards set up by men of science, it can be said that Dr. Just is an eminent scientist. If we are to judge his value to Negro education by what he has accomplished in the realm of science, it can be said that to Negro youth especially, he demonstrates the possibility of human achievement regardless of race or color. In the language of Dean Kelly Miller in an appreciation of Dr. Just, What boots it that Euclid was a Greek, Newton an Englishman, Marconi an Italian or Guttenburg a German? Their genius has enriched the blood of mankind regardless of place, time, race or nationality."

George R. Arthur. Ernest Just, Biologist., The Crisis, February 1932, p. 46.

Dissertation Title: Studies of Fertilization in Platynereis megalops.

Memberships:

Vice-President, American Zoological Society Recipient of the first Spingarn Medal (1915) for his research in Biology National Research Rosenwald fellow in Biology (1920-1931) Ecological Society Phi Beta Kappa Omega Psi Phi, Founder and faculty advisor, Howard University (November 17, 1911) Editor, Protoplasm an international journal published in Berlin devoted to the work done on the physical chemistry of the cell Collaborator of Cytologia published in Japan. Editor, Physiological Zoology Editor, Biological Zoology official organ of the Marine Biological Advancement of Science Selected Publications Basic Methods for Experiments in Eggs of Marine Animals. Ernest E. Just. (Philadelphia, PA: P. Blaikston's Son & Co.), 1939. 89 pages. QL 58 J88 Middleton Library Biology of the Cell Surface. Ernest E. Just. (Philadelphia, PA: P. Blaikston's Son & Co.), 1939. 329 pages. QH 581 J8 Middleton Library Dr. Ernest E. Just published more than 50 papers between 1912 and 1937.
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Frank Coleman (7/11/1890 - 1967)

At Washington, D.C., on July 11, 1890, there was born a Founder of Omega, Brother Frank Coleman.

In 1908, he graduated with honors from the M Street High School of Washington, now the Dunbar. Upon finishing the high school, he entered Howard University, from which he obtained the degree, Bachelor of Science. His record there was so outstanding that he was at once made an instructor in Physics.

Brother Coleman later took the degree of Master of Science from the University of Chicago. Subsequent graduate work he did at the University of Pennsylvania. He has met all the requirements for his Doctorate except the writing of his thesis.

When America entered the World War, he joined the army, became a first lieutenant, and served honorably overseas.

Aside from carrying on his regular work, Brother Coleman was a member of the Boys' Committee of YMCA, a Mason, an American Legionnaire and a Congregationalist.
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Oscar James Cooper (5/20/1888-1972)

A native son of Washington, D.C., came of God fearing and ambitious parents, who desired their son to control himself and master the arts expected of the fine gentleman. So he was taught by his parents to be punctilious and neat in his dress and distinctly chivalrous in his manners, never flashy or ostentatious, yet fashionable, prim and precise.

Upon finishing the elementary schools of Washington, Brother Cooper entered Howard University, from which he obtained his baccalaureate degree and his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Some of the academic subjects had little interest for him; for his all-absorbing interest in college was Biology. His aptness and proficiency along this line drew him rapidly to Professor Just, who was at that time at Howard University teaching Biology. So accomplished was Brother Cooper in this subject that he was made a laboratory assistant in Biology.

Brother Cooper thus was the link, between our other Founders, all Juniors, in the fall of 1911, and Professor Just, the eminent, young, associate professor, who advised the three young pioneers, Love, Cooper and Coleman.

Brother Cooper early showed that he believed both in pleasure and in work. He liked to socialize; but he also liked to work, to work hard for the achievement of great ends. Accordingly in the founding of Omega, Brother Cooper worked unsparingly along with the other Founders many a night until late in the morning.

Upon completing his medical course, Brother Cooper settled in Philadelphia and worked untiringly and persistently until he built up one of the most lucrative practices to be found among the physicians of Philadelphia.

He had an excellent general library and an excellent medical library. Brother Cooper was known for discovering new techniques in his field and using them efficiently.
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Bishop Edgar Amos Love (9/10/1891 - 5/01/1974)

The son to the late Rev. Julius C. Love and Mrs. Susie C. Love, was born in Harrisburg, Virginia. He received his early training in the public schools of Virginia and Maryland. In 1909, he graduated from the Academy of Morgan College. In 1913, he graduated from Howard University with the honor Cum Laude and the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1916 after three years of additional hard work, he received from Howard University the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. To intensify his training further, he entered Boston University, from which he received in 1918 the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology. Later he spent two sessions in graduate worked at the University of Chicago. Because of his distinguished work in religion as a teacher, pastor and inspired civic worker for the advancement of all humanity, in June, 1935 Morgan College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of divinity.

Rev. Love pastored for fifteen months at Fairmount, Maryland, for four years at Washington, D.C., for three years at Annapolis, Maryland, for three years in Wheeling, West Virginia, and for two years at Baltimore Maryland, directing the great John Wesley M.C. Church. As a pastor, Rev. Love, inspiring and efficient, made the Church, wherever he was, function as a community center for the people of the neighborhood, as well as a temple of worship for the Most High God.

When the call of the United States came for our youth to do service in France, our Founder promptly entered the Officers' Training Camp at Des Moines, Iowa and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant. He was assigned as Chaplain to the 368 Infantry, with which unit he saw service in the Vosges Mountains, and in the Argonne Forest, spending eight days in the great offensive, where he was gassed. While in the army he had supervision over 3,000 men.

Aside from administering to the spiritual needs of the soldiers, he also taught in the army school. He helped to organize a school for illiterates in the 809th Pioneer Infantry, which was developed into a regular school system. The school included in its curriculum subjects ranging from reading and writing to motor mechanics and philosophy. Fourteen teachers were drafted from the ranks and constituted the faculty.

In 1919, after being honorably discharged from the service of the United States Army, Rev. Love became Professor of History and Bible at Morgan College. At the same time he served as Director of Athletics. Here he also served as Principle of the Academy.

As Rev. Love is community-minded believing that religion is life in God and should be the guiding force in all affairs, he has always found time from his religious duties to be active in civic matters. For instance, he was a delegate from the state of Maryland to the First American Legion Convention that was held at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Because of his high attainments, he was appointed by Governor Ritchie of Maryland as a Member of the Maryland Interracial Commission.

He was the first Grand Basileus of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and served in that capacity for three terms.

Accordingly, as Founder of our great Fraternity, as a Soldier, an Educator, and a Minister, Rev. Love has had an unusual career and has endeared himself into the hearts of many thousands.

Bishop Love's Final Greetings (The 1973 St. Louis Conclave)

Brothers,

It is with great pride that I bring you greetings at this 62nd year of our beloved Fraternity. I greet you in the name of all the Founders who seem to have been inspired as they gave the motto of the Fraternity "Friendship is Essential to Life" and the four Cardinal Principals which have been the guiding influence across the years. Manhood, thought in terms of Character. Scholarship in terms of brain. Perseverance and determination to carry on an issue, supporting, regardless of how many might be opposed-ability to stand alone, if necessary, to stand for what is right. Uplift-looking toward the group outside of our sacred body to whom we owe our assistance, teaching us to go out to be activists in relating to those less fortunate than ourselves. I'd be very happy to know that so many of our chapters are involved in community activities making it possible for the underprivileged to have recreation programs and other activities which pertain to character building. The Founders gave it life but so many others in years gone by including yourselves have given great love and service to make it the best college Fraternity in the United States. If my health holds up, I will be with you for the Conclave.

Fraternally,

Edgar A. Love

Every chapter on the web seems to have a page devoted to the founders/founding of Omega Psi Phi. Unfortunately we all see to have cut and pasted the exact same verbiage! While there is plenty of information on Brother Ernest Just, or Bishop Love, I was unsuccessful in finding anything new about Brother Frank Coleman. For this reason, I have resisted putting up a founders page.

While the first few paragraphs can be found on everyone's page, I like to think I got some more specific details as it applies to our beloved founders. Of course I've only collected and re-printed the material so I can't chastize anyone for copying it. Hopefully one day the national office will comission a better reposistiory that we can all link to.

Please contact the Webmaster for more information, or to supply any additions or corrections.