Province History
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the Grand Chapter city, December 30, 1920, to January 1, 1921, with the Lambda and Epsilon Chapters as host. George F. David II, Grand Keeper of the Exchequer, became the first Grand Polemarch who had not been nurtured by the Alpha Chapter under the influence of the Founders. David’s election was crucial. His administration would, in part, reflect the thoroughness with which the Fraternity’s ideals had been transmitted. However, there was no need to worry. The Grand Polemarch’s grasp of the organization’s needs was manifest in his initial steps to satisfy them. Legislation to divide the Fraternity into supervisory districts was to result from David’s proposal, an idea given him by his father, then a presiding Elder of the A.M.E. Church, and a member of the Fraternity.
This laid the groundwork for the creation of the Southwestern Province. Columbia University was the seat of the Fifteenth Grand Chapter, December 26-30, 1925. In his address to the convention, Grand Polemarch Earl B. Dickerson stressed that Kappa Alpha Psi was no longer a provincial organization of a few ambitious, callow youths within a single community; it was a national society of members who ‘walked the high road’ in many cities and towns throughout the nation. Delegates passed resolutions reflecting the Grand Polemarch’s point of view. One resolution indicated that college fraternities must be active agents in helping to create better understanding among the nations and races of the world. Another resolution was passed favoring the extension of Kappa Alpha Psi into southern colleges. The designations ‘Region’ and ‘Regional Director’ were officially changed to ‘Province’ and ‘Province Polemarch’
Detroit, Michigan was where the delegates assembled for the Seventeenth Grand Chapter on December 25, 1927. Archie A. Alexander succeeded Earl B. Dickerson as Grand Polemarch and retained that office for three years to December of 1930. In accepting the office of Grand Polemarch, Alexander committed the Administration to the appointment of Province Polemarchs who would put energy into their work and thereby extend the program of Kappa Alpha Psi. The Northeastern and Southwestern Provinces were new editions for 1930, which brought the total number of Provinces to ten. The new Province Polemarchs was Dr. Oliver W. Phillips, a charter member of the Kappa Chapter at Meharry Medical College in 1919 and served on the Guide Right Commission. Phillips was also the chartering Polemarch of the Marshall (TX) Alumni Chapter. Dr. Phillips was a dentist and graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1921. He was a part of the dental staff of the T&P Railroad Company and held a private practice.
