[Professor]

Brothers,

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Brother Dr. John Hope Franklin, America's historian, has passed. Brother Franklin, whose scholarship increased the nation’s understanding and knowledge of African Americans in its history, died of congestive heart failure this morning in Durham , North Carolina . Brother Franklin was 94 years of age.

Brother Franklin was a 1932 initiate of Alpha Chi Chapter at Fisk University where he earned his undergraduate degree. He later would earn his masters and his Ph.D degrees from Harvard University . In 1995 he was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Brother Franklin was the historical architect for many of the great legal movements of the NAACP in the 1950s including the landmark “Brown vs. Board of Education” case in 1954. He was the author of many books including From Slavery to Freedom first published in 1947, and continuously updated with more than three million copies sold. He also was professor emeritus of History at Duke University .

It was my personal honor and pleasure to know him and spend time with Brother Franklin over the last 15 years.

The fraternity will announce its plans to celebrate the legacy of Brother Franklin in the near future. Please, also expect an announcement regarding the funeral and Omega Service as they are arranged.

Our prayers are with the Franklin family.





Fraternally,





Brother Skip Mason

General President