Bloomington in Monroe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Kappa Alpha Psi
(Side One)
Excluded from social events at Indiana University, black male students founded and incorporated Kappa Alpha Nu in 1911. One of the earliest black national social fraternities established in the U.S. One goal was to expand to other schools to help members attain high “intellectual, moral and social worth.” Name changed to Kappa Alpha Psi, 1915.
(Side Two)
In 1961, over 600 members attended the dedication of this building as the Elder Watson Diggs Memorial, to house the fraternitys Alpha (first) Chapter. Fraternity sold house in 2005 to Indiana University Foundation. As of 2008, Alpha chapter is active on this campus and more than 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters have been chartered worldwide.
Erected 2008 by Indiana Historical Bureau and Indiana University. (Marker Number 53.2008.1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 39° 10.74′ N, 86° 30.794′ W. Marker is in Bloomington, Indiana, in Monroe County. It is on E. 17th Street west of N. Jordan Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1469 E 17th St, Bloomington IN 47408, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Original Memorial Stadium (approx. 0.6 miles away); Calabi-Yau Quintic Cross-Section (approx. 0.6 miles away); George Taliaferro Plaza (approx. 0.7 miles away); Melanie S. Walker (approx. 0.7 miles away); Memorial Stadium (approx. Ύ mile away); USS Indiana (approx. Ύ mile away); USS Indiana (BB-58) (approx. Ύ mile away); Class of 1941 (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bloomington.
More about this marker. Marker is located in front of the Indiana University Police Department which now occupies the fraternity house. Outlines of the Kappa Alpha Psi sign are still visible on the front wall between the second and third stories.
Also see . . . IHB Annotations. The Indiana Historical Bureau provides annotations for the text of the marker on their website. (Submitted on June 3, 2014.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,622 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 3, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.





