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History of Kappa Boulé
Researched and Written by Archon Skip Mason
Pictured here in 1917, are the founding members of the Atlanta Branch. Five of the founders would become charter members of Kappa Boulé three years later. Front row-(l-r)Archon Harry Pace, Archon Dr. Charles Johnson, Dr. Louis T. Wright, and Walter White. Standing (l-r) Peyton Allen, Archon George Towns, Benjamin Davis, Rev. L.H. King, Archon Dr. William Penn, Archon John Hope, David H. Sims.
"Personally in January, 1920, I instituted Kappa Boule at Atlanta, Georgia, with as fine of group of men as any that have ever had the privilege of entering our cherished council."
Grand Sire Archon Harry Pace
The story of Kappa Boulé founding is recounted in the History of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity written by Archon Charles Harris Wesley and first published on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary in 1956.
Sixteen years after Archon Henry Minton espoused the idea of forming a fraternal bond in Philadelphia, where men of like kind would come to know the best of one another, Grand Sire Archon Harry Pace, a native of Covington, a graduate of Atlanta University, a former Insurance Executive, record producer, sought to organize the 10th Boule of the relatively young organization. Having been a charter member of the Delta Boulé in Memphis Tennessee, Grand Sire Archon Pace understood what kind of men he wanted for the Boulé in Atlanta.
There is no newspaper account in the "Atlanta Independent" (as the Atlanta Daily World had not been established) of the chartering of Kappa Boulé. With its usual sense of discreetness and utter secrecy, Grand Sire Archon Pace handpicked 12 of the most distinguished and congenial men in Atlanta?s African-American community to charter Kappa Boule. He stated, "I initiated Kappa Boulé at Atlanta, Georgia, with as fine a group of men as any that have ever had the privilege of entering our cherished council."
Archon Samuel "Big Boy"Archer
Archon John W.E. Bowen
Archon Henry R. Butler, Sr.
Archon Charles C. Cater, Jr.
Archon Leonidas C. Crogman
Archon Truman Kella Gibson
Archon John Hope
Archon Charles H. Johnson
Archon William H. Penn
Archon Thomas Heathe Slater
Archon George Alexander Towns
Archon William J. Trent
Archon Austin T. Walden
- Our Founders
- Archon Samuel Archer, a graduate of Colgate College and a professor at Morehouse College at the time of Kappa?s founding.
- Archon John W.E. Bowen, a graduate of Boston University and the first African-American President of Gammon Theological Seminary at the time of Kappa?s founding.
- Archon Henry Rutherford Butler, Sr., a medical physician in Atlanta.
- Archon Charles C. Cater, Jr., a graduate of Atlanta University and the University of Pennsylvania Medical College. Archon Cater was the Medical Director of Atlanta Life at the time of Kappa's Founding.
- Archon Leonidas C. Crogman, a graduate of Clark University and Temple University Dental School. He operated a dental practice at the time of Kappa's Founding.
- Archon Truman Kella Gibson, a graduate of Atlanta University and Harvard University School of Business. He was a Vice Presdent at Atlanta Life Insurance Company at the time of Kappa Founding.
- Archon John Hope, a graduate of Brown University. He was President at Morehouse College at the time of Kappa founding.
- Archon Charles H. Johnson, a graduate of Claflin College and Meharry Medical College. He was a local physician (who in 1928) would deliver Archon Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Archon William H. Penn
- Archon Thomas Heathe Slater, a graduate of Lincoln University and Meharry Medical College was a local physician at the time of Kappa's founding.
- Archon George Alexander Towns, a graduate of Atlanta University and Harvard University. He was a professor of Pedagogy at Atlanta University and would serve Kappa as a Sire Archon.
- Archon William J. Trent, a graduate of Livingtone College. He was secretary of the YMCA and later President of Livingstone College.
- Archon Austin T. Walden, a graduate of Ft. Valley and University of Michigan Law School. He was practicing law at the time of Kappa's founding.
Since its founding, some of the most prolific men in the history of Atlanta and the African-American experience were members of Kappa including Archon Benjamin Elijah Mays(President of Morehouse College), Archon James P. Brawley(President of Clark College), Brailsford R. Brazeal, William Cannon (Cannolene Hair Cair products), Jesse B. Blayton(First African-American CPA in Atlanta), Eugene M. Martin, Bishop William A Fountain, Sr., William A. Fountain, Jr., Lorimer D. Milton, Clarence A. Bacote, Donald Hollowell(Civil Rights attorney) who wore the Kappa Boulé.
Noted Kappa transfers have included Dr. William Edward Burghart DuBois, Whitney Young, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Samuel Nabrit.
Kappa has given the Grand Boule two Grand Sire Archons(William A. Bell and Calvin O. Pressley), one Grand Grammeteus (Peyton Williams) and countless other officials in the organizational structure. The Social Action Committee of Kappa Boulé has been recognized throughout the Grand Boule for its award winning program "Succeed with Creed."
Read Page 1 Letter from Archon W.E.B. Dubois: Click Here
Read Page 2 Letter from Archon W.E.B. Dubois: Click Here
Meeting places of Kappa Boulé
- Homes of Members
- Paschal's Matador Room and Room 501-503
- Mr. V's Figure Eight on Campbellton Rod. 1980
- The Garden Room, Georgia Plaza Park
- Home of Clark College President (Elias Blake)
- Scholar's Restaurant on the campus of Morris Brown
- (New) Paschals Restaurant
- Atlanta Life Financial Group Building
Topics of papers presented by Kappa Boulé Archons at their initiation
- "Impact of Centralized Care for Sick Newborns." Archon John Hall
- "Impact of Major Court Cases on Black Higher Education" Archon Thomas Sampson
- "Some Aspects of Cancer-Chemoterapy" Archon Clinton Warner
- "An Aid for Widows and Minor Children in Georgia" Archon R.E. Thomas
- "The Black Protest" Robert H. Brisbane
- "Africa and Afro Americans: A Study in Changing Attitudes" Archon Edward A. Jones
- "Running?An Indispensable Way of Life" Archon Philip G. Wiltz
- "Expanding Opportunities for Black Americans in Higher Education: New Opportunities and New Problems" Archon Elias Blake
- "A Proposal for a Model Regional Training Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases" Archon William N. Harper
- "Thumbnail Sketches of Kappa Boulé Clergy" Archon Grant S. Shockley
- "Roots of Protest in the Black Church" Archon William V. Guy
- "Practical Consideration in Achieving Instructional Accountability" Archon Alonzo A. Crim
- "Leadership" Archon Prentiss Q. Yancey, Jr.
- "A Black Dentist in the United States Today" Archon E. Bruce Phillips
View the Timeline of Kappa Boulé: Click Here