Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Phi Beta Sigma/Abram Langston Taylor
Native Tennessean Abram Langston Taylor, near this spot, 423 Beale Avenue, conceived the idea of establishing an international organization of college and professional men dedicated to “Culture for Service and Service For Humanity”. On January 9, 1914 at Howard University, together with Leonard F. Morse and Charles I Brown, Taylor became the principal founder of the organization that he had envisioned.
In his own words, Taylor related: “One dull summer day in 1910, I paused for a while at Bumpus Beale Avenue Grocery to pick up the latest news from the Squash Center...In conversation with a young man recently graduated from Howard...he dwelt at length on the activities of Greek Letter fraternities there. His talk gave me an idea, and from that day, Phi Beta Sigma was in the making...”
Abram Langston Taylor
1890-1953
The principal Founder of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Upon completing his education at Howe Institute, Howard University and Frelinghuysen University, Taylor operated various insurance and investment companies. He served as the first International President of Phi Beta Sigma, and was primarily responsible for the conception, the early growth and the development of the organization dedicated to the principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. Taylor symbolizes the unbroken link with the past and the living beginning of the organization. His idea of the fraternity, envisioned in 1910 in Memphis, Tennessee, lives around the world today.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1863.
Location. 35° 8.34′ N, 90° 2.845′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. Marker is on Beale Street east of South 4th Street, on the right when traveling east. Located in Robert Church Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 418 Beale St, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mary Church Terrell (a few steps from this marker); Church Park (a few steps from this marker); Sara Roberta Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Church Park Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); This Plaque is Dedicated to Father and Son, Leaders of Their Race (within shouting distance of this marker); Solvent Savings Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beale Street Baptist Church (about 400 feet away); The Memphis Home of W.C. Handy (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,590 times since then and 162 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 15, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.