A Brotherhood Advancing Together

The Provinces of Kappa Alpha Psi were officially instituted at the 15th Grand Chapter Meeting in New York in December 1925, though the precise mechanics of their formation have been lost to history. What we know is that seven Provinces were established, with John Miller Marquess named the first Polemarch of the Eastern Province. Originally, the Eastern Province stretched from New York in the north to North Carolina in the south. While its boundaries have shifted over the years, the states of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia have remained at its core.

The Emergence of the East

The story of the Eastern Province truly begins with Jacob Wycliff Keller and Dr. Dudley Weldon Woodward. Keller, a former student of Founder Armstrong, championed the establishment of Kappa on the campus of Howard University despite significant opposition. It was Dr. Woodard—only the second African-American to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics—whose advocacy made Xi a reality. On December 27, 1920, the Xi of Kappa Alpha Psi was chartered, marking the first undergraduate chapter in what would become the Eastern Province.

The First Alumni Chapter: Baltimore (MD) Alumni

At the Tenth Grand Conclave in Philadelphia, Epsilon initiates John H. Alston and George W. Newman, who led the charge to establish the first alumni chapter in Baltimore. Their efforts succeeded on July 15, 1921, creating the first alumni chapter in the Eastern Province.

Expanding into Virginia

The first chapter in Virginia, Alpha Gamma, was established through the efforts of Epsilon men Jesse M. Tinsley, D.D.S., Owen Alphonso Wilson, and Beta initiate Booker T. Bradshaw, Sr. This chapter laid the foundation for Kappa’s presence in the Commonwealth.

Kappa in the Nation’s Capital

In Washington, D.C., the Alumni Chapter was formed through the vision of Dr. Dudley Woodard and James E. Scott, following the success of Xi at Howard University. Chartered on October 15, 1924, this chapter included members like James E. Moore and William Henry “Stud” Greene, as well as two future Grand Polemarchs.

A Time for Growth

Chapter expansion in the Eastern Province progressed steadily during the War years and into the 1960s. The 1970s brought new growth, extending beyond Historically Black Colleges and Universities to majority campuses across Virginia and Maryland. Chapters from this era, celebrating their golden anniversaries in 2025, include:

• Eta Omega – Old Dominion University

• Charlottesville (VA) Alumni Chapter

• Theta Theta – University of Maryland, College Park

• Lynchburg (VA) Alumni Chapter

Today, the Eastern Province is home to 60 chapters across Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Bermuda, continuing a proud legacy of leadership, scholarship, and brotherhood.