Delta Psi Lambda Chapter History
Due to the circumstances of the early years of the twentieth century, there were twenty-six college fraternities with more than 66,000 members…..None of which were Black or African-American. Social interaction was non-existent on most college campuses between the black and white students. By 1906, this number had increased to more than thirty-two colleges with over a thousand chapters. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first of the African-American Greek Organizations with its seven members, was founded on December 4, 1906
This number by 1922 had increased to sixty-six college fraternities with 2,000 active chapters and an enrollment of more than 500,000 members. This number included Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. located in Denver, Colorado. The chapter was intended to include the students at the University of Colorado and Denver University. The alumni of the city and state were also to be regarded as members.
The August 9th chartering of the Undergraduate (Now College) Chapter, Alpha Iota, was accomplished through the efforts of John A. Waller and Aristide G. Chapman. The brothers who conducted the initiation ceremonies were Brothers Jones of Kansas City, Harold Brown of Nu Chapter of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, Wayman Ward of Xi Chapter of Chicago, IL, and Harry Rahming.
The charter members of Alpha Iota chapter were John A. Walker, Theodore Von Dickerson, William Fountain, Valaurez Spratlin, Uceril, Morgan Maxwell, Charles Taylor, George Graham, James D. Hines, Aristide Grant Chapman and Charles L. Howard.
This Chapter is mentioned because it was the embryonic beginning of Delta Psi Lambda Chapter that was chartered in 1949. Two of its members became charter members of the newly chartered Graduate (now Alumni) chapter. Harold Brown and Harry Rahming joined with nine other students to start the Chapter. These initiates were Gilbert Alexander*, Earl West*, Judson Hart*, Oglesivie (Sonny) Lawson*, C. Lester Nelson*, Paul J. Oliver*, Wendell A. Peters*, Gilbert Cruter* and Elvin R. Caldwell. (*Deceased)
These charter members, like many other Alpha-men, were leaders in their professions in the early days of the expanding and migrating African-American Community.
Harold S. Brown held the position as an Actuary with the American Woodmen, an Early Insurance Company for African-Americans, and later served as a Financial Analyst with the City and County of Denver. Harry Rahming became an Episcopalian Priest and served at The Church of the Holy Redeemer on 26th Avenue. Gilbert A. Alexander was an Attorney, who later in his life served on the bench as a District Judge. Earl West, who was an excellent Real Estate Broker, became a Banker and established The Equity Loan and Savings Company. Judson Hart retired as an Official with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
To continue, you should know that Oglesivie (Sonny) Lawson was a Pharmacist, who was politically astute to the degree that he called the shots to guide the elected representatives of the predominantly African-American Five Points Precinct. C. Lester Nelson was a Certified Public Accountant with the State of Colorado and Paul J. Oliver was a well-known Dentist. Wendell Peters was an Attorney, who was politically motivated to run for the House of Representatives in a predominately Caucasian Legislature.
Gilbert Cruter, who besides being a University of Colorado and Olympic high jump athlete, was an educator with the Denver Public School System. And, the Honorable Elvin R. Caldwell Sr., who was a dedicated Politician, and the first African-American to serve as Councilman in the governing of the City and County of Denver. After serving twelve years on the City Council, Brother Caldwell was elected as President.
