The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: Origins of the Eastern Region

Although organized in 1932, the history of the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity can be traced to the beginnings of the Fraternity. The region, also known as "AlphaEast," is home to some of the oldest chapters in the fraternity. Founded December 4, 1906, the fraternity’s first chapter, Alpha, is seated in Ithaca, New York at Cornell University. Comprising over 18,500 brothers, the Eastern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has become a shining example of what is known as the "work of Alpha." Chapters within the region have supported community groups, provided scholarships to African American youth, and created non-profit organizations to support the community. The region comprises seven districts that cover eleven states – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia – Washington D.C., and the international areas of Bermuda, Germany, Liberia, South Africa and the United Kingdom (London). The members of the region have founded organizations and universities. They have changed the course of African American history through their work in the Civil Rights movement. Members have made lasting contributions to the fabric of the fraternity and the nation. Brothers like Martin Luther King, Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and Charles Hamilton Houston made great strides in the arena of Civil Rights. Brothers like Brother Lutrelle Fleming Palmer, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, and Samuel Myers, Sr. have made great contributions to the field of education. Through the various chapter foundations which have been established, the brothers and chapters within the region have left their mark on local communities. AlphaEast has truly lived up to its motto, "First of All, Leading the Way." Read more