In the Beginning
On September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), 12 visionary students came together to establish what has grown into the nation’s fifth-largest predominately African-American social service fraternity: Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated.
The Honorable Founders of Iota Phi Theta are Albert Hicks, Lonnie Spruill Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John Slade, Barron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Lewis Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey Jr., and Michael Williams.
This remarkable group stood out for several reasons. Many of them were lifelong friends—Spruill, Coakley, Dorsey, and Gregory had known each other since grade school, and Spruill and Coakley’s bond dated back to preschool. Uniquely, a number of the founders were “non-traditional students,” often 3–5 years older than their peers. Gregory, Willis, and Brown were military veterans, while Brown, Hicks, and Briscoe were married with young children. Balancing full-time coursework, several founders also worked full-time jobs, further distinguishing their experiences from the typical college student.
With their maturity, life experiences, and diverse responsibilities, these men brought a unique perspective to the founding of the fraternity. This perspective shaped Iota Phi Theta’s purpose: “The development and perpetuation of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Fidelity, and Brotherhood among Men.” It also inspired the fraternity’s enduring motto: “Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One!”
Our Growth
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. began as a local organization but quickly expanded its reach. In 1967, the first interest groups were established at Hampton Institute (Beta Chapter) and Delaware State College (Gamma Chapter). This growth continued in 1968 with the founding of chapters at Norfolk State College (Delta Chapter) and Jersey City State College (Epsilon Chapter). The fraternity officially became a national organization on November 1, 1968, with its incorporation under the laws of the State of Maryland.
Today, Iota Phi Theta boasts over 300 chapters across 40 states, the District of Columbia, and internationally in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Colombia, South America.
The journey toward national prominence gained momentum in 1974 with the establishment of Upsilon Chapter at Southern Illinois University. Around this time, the fraternity also introduced its first four graduate chapters: Alpha Omega (Baltimore, MD, 1965), Beta Omega (Washington, DC, 1970), Gamma Omega (Hampton, VA, 1973), and Delta Omega (Boston, MA, 1973). These graduate chapters laid the foundation for the fraternity’s growth in the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions.
In 1983, Iota Phi Theta expanded further west with the founding of Alpha Chi (San Francisco State University) and Xi Omega (San Francisco Alumni) chapters in California.
Today, Iota Phi Theta spans coast to coast—from California to New York, Wyoming to Florida, and Wisconsin to its international chapters—continuing its mission and legacy of service, leadership, and brotherhood.