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In October 1920 the Petition of four Kappa Brothers, Dr. Herbert Wallace, Dr. John Finley, Harold Tyler and Raymond Gee, was accepted by Grand Chapter. The effective date was established as October 15, 1920 thus Cleveland Alumni Chapter was born. In December 1920 the newly formed chapter was called upon to entertain the 11th Grand Chapter meeting in December 1921.The first officers were Polemarch, Dr. Herbert Wallace, Keeper of Records, Harold Tyler and Keeper of Exchequer, Dr. John Finley. The 1920's ended with increased growth in membership of the chapter.
In 1935, Brother Lawrence J. Powell was delegated to organize the first undergraduate chapter with the aide of Brothers William Cooper, William J. Hamilton and Dewey Trigg. The Alpha Omega Chapter Charter was granted at the 25th Grand Chapter meeting in St. Louis, Missouri in December 1935.In December 1937, Cleveland Alumni Chapter entertained the 27th Grand Chapter meeting. It was a significant Grand Chapter meeting because the social programs were held jointly with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity meeting in Cleveland at that time.
The revival of Cleveland Alumni Chapter started again in 1966 with the succession of Brother Moses H. Thompson to the Polemarch's office. Brother Thompson called for the incorporation of Kappa House. The House was incorporated in the summer of 1966 as a non-profit Corporation called Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity House of Cleveland, Ohio. Brother Lawrence O. Scott was elected Polemarch in June 1968. During this same period Brother Louis Stokes was elected as the first Black Congressman from Ohio. The significant feature of Brother Scott's administration was the appreciation Banquet in honor of Brother Congressman Louis Stokes. The affair was held at the Cleveland Sheraton Hotel with Grand Polemarch Ernest Davenport and Grand Historian William Crump in attendance. Also in attendance were the various civic, labor and community leaders from the Cleveland area. Approximately fourteen hundred persons were in attendance. Brother Vernon A. Bell succeeded Brother Lawrence O. Scott in June 1970 and carried the chapter's Guide Right and Social programs forward. During Guide Right, the chapter provided live models of professions with Brothers and other community persons providing mentor training to junior and senior high school students in workshops held in Kappa House.
Cleveland Alumni Chapter with the assistance of Province Polemarch Fred A. Clement effected the transfer of Alpha Omega Chapter from Western Reserve Univ. to Cleveland State Univ. in April 1971. In January 1979, Cleveland Alumni Chapter was successful in Chartering Iota Nu Chapter at Baldwin Wallace University. Brother Lester Stephens, Chairman of the Pledge Commission was very active in this endeavor.
The 1980's opened with a slight increase in membership. Alpha Omega Chapter was returned to full Strength with Brother William H. Smith as advisor. Brother Jonathan Hicks joined the chapter. Brother Hicks was hired by the Plain Dealer Newspaper as a business editor. He was appointed Chapter Advisor for IOTA Nu Chapter at Baldwin Wallace University. In 1985 he was appointed the Editor of The national Kappa Alpha Psi Journal. Brother William H Smith after serving the chapter as Pledge Commission Chairman, Member of Board of Directors became Polemarch in 1983. In December 1983, a reconstituted Kappa Alpha Psi House of Cleveland, Ohio Inc. was reorganized to seek a building through HUD instead of saving for a new Fraternity House. In 1985 Cleveland Alumni Chapter was selected by the National Kappa Alpha Psi Achievement Commission for the Paul W. Caine Alumni Chapter of the Year Award. In 1986 Cleveland Alumni Chapter was awarded funds by HUD to build a seven story building housing ten (10) Handicap Suites and sixty (60) apartments.
Brother Gradmon Boling became the 35th Polemarch of Cleveland Alumni Chapter and continued with the 1980's programs towards building the membership of the Chapter. The Cleveland Alumni Chapter contributed over $30,000.00 to high school seniors, local charities and United Negro College Fund. Former Congressman Louis Stokes was nominated for the Laurel Wreath Award, making him the first brother from Cleveland Alumni to be nominated for the highest award in the Fraternity. Cleveland Alumni also activated the Scholarship Foundation and moved forward with seeking it's tax-exempt status. The Foundation was formed by Cleveland Alumni to raise funds to offer larger scholarships to area students. Rayshawn L. Lowe was elected the 40th Polemarch, his first duty was to pin the Honorable Mayor of Cleveland, Michael R. White with his life membership pin.
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