The first intercollegiate Greek lettered fraternity established for African American college students, was organized at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, in 1906. The seven visionary founders at Cornell – Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle and Vertner Woodson Tandy – labored during a time of severe economic struggle and racial conflict in the United States.

Despite their difficulties of organization in this untried field of student life, the early fraternity pioneers succeeded in laying a firm foundation and remained steadfast in their goals – the espousing of the principles of good character, sound scholarship, fellowship and the uplifting of humanity (especially the struggling African American minority in America).

The fraternity has grown steadily in influence throughout the years. Over 125,000 men have been initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha since its founding in 1906. It has been interracial since 1945. There are now 350 college chapters on campuses and 350 alumni chapters in local communities, located in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Africa.