Black Professional Fraternities and Sororities

Gamma Xi Phi · #1 04-02-2013, 09:18 AM

In an effort to share an accurate history of Black Professional GLOs with our pledges, we have created a list of all known BPGLOs. We define a BPGLO (Black Professional Greek Letter Organization) as a Greek letter fraternity or sorority established mainly by African Americans around a particular course of study and/or professional discipline.

If you have any additions to this list, please post them.

General
Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (The Boule), May 15, 1904, Philadelphia, PA

Arts
Lambda Phi Lambda Fine Arts Fraternity, October 31, 1990, University of the District of Columbia
Tau Rho Beta Consortium, Inc., December 18, 2002, Chicago, IL
Nu Rho Sigma Eta Beta Mu Fine Arts Fraternity, Inc., 2005, Alabama A&M, Normal, AL
Delta Omicron Omega Performing Arts Fraternity, Inc., April 13, 2007, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi
Gamma Xi Phi Professional Arts Fraternity, Inc., October 7, 2010, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ

Cosmetology
Alpha Chi Pi Omega Fraternity and Sorority, Inc., October 27, 1945, Washington, District of Columbia

Business
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., June 1, 1929, Chicago, IL
Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc., January 19, 1937, New York, NY
Tau Gamma Delta Sorority, Inc., 1942, Lewis College of Business, Detroit, Michigan
Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., October 1942, Lewis College of Business, Detroit, MI
Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc., February 28, 1943, Lewis College of Business, Detroit, MI
Beta Pi Sigma Sorority, Inc., February 1945, Los Angeles, California

Dance
Delta Phi Delta Dance Fraternity, Inc., January 18, 2000, University Park, IL
Delta Iota Mu Professional Dance Fraternity, December 8, 2008, Central State University, Wilberforce, OH
Phi Iota Phi Dance Fraternity, Inc., October 5, 2009, Benedict College, Columbia, SC

Education
National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., April 23, 1923, Jersey City, NJ

Law
Tau Delta Sigma Fraternity, 1916, Howard University, Washington, DC
Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Inc., November 4, 1920, Howard University, Washington, DC

Literature
Sigma Theta Lambda Literary Sorority, Inc., November 25, 2009, Greensboro, NC

Medical/Health
Chi Delta Mu Fraternity, 1913, Howard University, Washington, DC
Rho Psi Phi Sorority, January 1922, Howard University, Washington, DC
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., October 16, 1932, Freedmen’s Hospital, Washington, DC
Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority, Inc., 1930, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
Kappa Psi Psi Healthcare Sorority, Inc., July 13, 2006, Florida A&M, Tallahassee, FL

Military
Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Inc., April 4, 2011, Pembroke Pines, Florida
Kappa Lambda Chi Military Fraternity, Inc., July 4, 2013, Clinton, North Carolina

Mortuary Science
Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity, Inc., June 1942 , Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago, IL

Science/Technology/Engineering
Epsilon Gamma Iota, Inc., November 19, 1985, Prairie View A&M, Prairie View, Texas
Eta Kappa Tau Engineering and Technology Fraternity, Inc., March 2000, Alabama A&M, Huntsville, Alabama

Gamma Xi Phi · #2 04-02-2013, 10:04 AM

For those interested in delving a little deeper, here are some facts/tidbits:

The first black professional fraternity (Sigma Pi Phi) is also the first black Greek letter organization overall. The founder of Sigma Pi Phi later became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. Other notable members of Sigma Pi Phi include WEB DuBois, Martin Luther King, Arthur Ashe, and Congressman John Lewis.

Lambda Phi Lambda is the oldest black arts fraternity we could discover. One of the founders is the band director at Ballou High School, which was the subject of a documentary which is available for free on Hulu: http://www.balloumovie.com/

The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., is not related (as far as we can find) to Phi Delta Kappa International, the professional association of educators.

Several organizations on the list may be inactive.

NinjaPoodle · #3 04-02-2013, 04:30 PM

Thanks for compiling this list.

NinjaPoodle · #4 04-02-2013, 04:40 PM

Gamma Phi Delta Sorority and Iota Phi lambda had UG chapters out here in SF but both are inactive. At my church, we have a few Boule members and a a few members of Phi Delta Kappa.

Gamma Xi Phi · #5 04-02-2013, 05:08 PM

Keeping undergrad chapters of BPGLOs up and running is hard work.

mama3delta · #6 04-03-2013, 09:45 PM

Great thread! I hope we can add to this. I checked out the sororities founded prior to my lifetime (YOB 1979) as women's fraternities of all kinds except communities are a big interest of mine!!! Looks like only Rho Psi Phi sorority is no longer active. Lambda Kappa Mu's website says the sorority is actively recruiting new members.