Did any Greek organization founders become famous?

[Senusret I]

Eugene Kinckle Jones, one of the Jewels of Alpha Phi Alpha, was also the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League and was also a member of FDR's "Black Cabinet" -- the Federal Council of Negro Affairs.

Not "famous" but certainly well known among African Americans on a national scale in the first half of the 1900s.

[oldu]

I have been researching the founders of several fraternities. Two observations -- most were from well-off families and many died young. Neither should be surprising in that at the time many of the fraternities were born only the fairly wealthy could afford college, plus the number of folks who died young was substantial. Another interesting fact is how many went on to become preachers and teachers! All six of the Phi Delta Theta founders were of those professions.

Sigma Phi was founded in New York in 1827 by four young men from the south. Sigma Phi was exclusively northeastern before more than 125 years after its birth it finally placed a chapter in the south. One of its founders, Thomas F. Bowie, was from Maryland and later became a U. S. Congressman from that state. He was from a very prominent family and it is likely that Bowie State University and the town in which it is located were named either for him or another member of his family.

One of the founders of Delta Upsilon in 1834 was Stephen J. Field, who eventually became a justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. A large number of the Delta Upsilon also became ministers.

[CamiloDU]

Originally Posted by oldu

One of the founders of Delta Upsilon in 1834 was Stephen J. Field, who eventually became a justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. A large number of the Delta Upsilon also became ministers.

Beat me to it

[DeltAlum]

I suppose it depends on the era and what you consider "famous."

William R. Cunningham, was 25 and only a freshman at the time Delta Tau Delta was formed. Because he was older and had become a Mason he exerted much influence in the group. Cunningham was probably responsible for much of the early language in both the Constitution and Ritual. He served as President of the Karnea in 1883. He was also a minister and held public office in the state of Washington.

John L.N. Hunt was the scholar of the group. After graduating from Bethany, he became the valedictorian of his class at New York University’s School of Law. He then served for several years as New York’s Commissioner of Education.


Jacob Lowe hosted the first meetings of the group in his quarters in a rooming house that has now become a shrine for the Fraternity. Lowe, who became a professor and later a college president, helped facilitate the initial bonds of brotherhood.


Eugene Tarr, a "local boy" whose home was only six miles from Bethany, stayed in West Virginia after college. A strong proponent of strengthening his community, he became a noted speaker, lawyer and editor of a newspaper.


John C. Johnson was a native West Virginian (although at that time the area was still a part of Virginia). He became a lawyer and politician and was the political advisor to John W. Davis, the Democratic nominee for President in 1924. He outlived the other founders by eight years.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Eugene Kinckle Jones, one of the Jewels of Alpha Phi Alpha, was also the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League and was also a member of FDR's "Black Cabinet" -- the Federal Council of Negro Affairs.

Not "famous" but certainly well known among African Americans on a national scale in the first half of the 1900s.

Quite a few of the NPHC founders are well known beyond founding the organization. I guess it also goes back to whose "famous" we're looking at and whether mainstream gives a damn about stuff like the NUL and the "Black Cabinet." I know that I do and your Jewel was "famous" in his own right in the early 1900s.

Delta Founder Osceola Macarthy Adams was one of the first black actresses on Broadway among other career highlights.

On another note, tne founder that many people know of in terms of American history and black history is Ernest E. Just. That's a name that sticks out for a lot of people even if they don't know he is an Omega founder (or if they don't know what Omega is).

[OleMissRebel]

Noble Leslie Devotie, one of the eight founders of SAE, was the first soldier from Alabama to die in the Civil War.