History of Alpha Kappa Psi

1900s

The story of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity begins at New York University, Washington Square, New York. After the passage of the Certified Public Accountants Act of 1896 in New York State, an increasingly urgent demand arose for adequate education in all branches of higher accountancy. There also developed an important calling known as the profession of administration. To meet this double need for higher commercial education and for a college of accountancy, the Council of New York University decided to establish a school on a broad basis of advanced instruction in political economy, accounting, and commercial law.

On July 28, 1900, the Chancellor of New York University, Dr. Henry Mitchell MacCracken, authorized the opening of the new evening School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance on the same basis as the seven other traditional schools and colleges of the university. The Financial Record for September 12th asserted that "the new school raises accounting from an avocation to a profession and places the accountant on the same plane as the lawyer and the physician." The school's establishment on October 2nd was directly traceable to forceful insistence on the part of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants for university instruction in the sciences immediately connected with practical life. The October 13th issue of the Post (New York) indicated that the setting up of this school is "generally regarded as one of the most significant signs of the times.... It is recognized that a specialized higher education.... is inevitable, because more and more demanded."

The official announcement of the School of Commerce stated its objects, "to elevate the standards of business education and to furnish a complete and thorough course of instruction in the higher professional accountancy." At first there was a roster of 62 matriculants. Study extended over a two year period, with classes held from 8 to 9 and 9 to 10 o'clock Monday through Friday evenings for eight months a year. At the outset it was uncertain whether a university degree would accompany the diploma offered by the school. Then the School of Commerce at New York University became the first to offer a degree in a night school in business.

Prime movers behind the school included Charles Waldo Haskins, senior member of Haskins & Sells and President of the State Society of Certified Public Accountants; Leon Brummer, Secretary of that Society; and Dr. Charles Ezra Sprague, President of the Union Dime Savings Bank. All three men joined the faculty of the school. Haskins was appointed its first dean, but he lived only long enough to see the institution fairly well established on the road to success. At the beginning, the school was burdened with the manifold problems of organization. Fourteen courses were offered to the enrolled students by the faculty of fourteen members. Proper college textbooks as known today had not yet been written.

In the fall of 1902, after the university had awarded the first of the new degrees in business, a stronger basis for instruction was introduced, more faculty members were added, and the curriculum was enlarged and correlated anew. The group which entered in 1902 was the first three year class working toward the Bachelor of Commercial Science degree. Then all students took the same subjects. The first year had demonstrated the need for a strong administrator to concentrate his full time and energy on the development of the school. The man chosen for this position was Joseph French Johnson; previously he had for eight years been Professor of Finance at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. In 1901 he accepted the post of Secretary of the Faculty at the N.Y.U. School, and in 1903 he became its second Dean and Professor of Political Economy and Finance. At this critical time, some members of the Class of 1905 came forward to reassure the new Dean that they had complete faith in his policies and that they would, in every way possible, endeavor to promote the success of the school, to work to make the new degree respected and valued.

These same eager, serious-minded students later were to become the founders and the first elected members of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity. From the start the group had firm support from the Dean; in addition, Cleveland F. Bacon, Professor of Law at the School of Commerce, acted as their attorney and legal advisor. The students occupied the same seats in class five nights a week in the eighth floor classrooms of the new University Building on Washington Square. Since they all worked by day and had school work too, they had little time for any school social activities, but the early members managed to get together on Friday nights and have a social time, spent mostly in talk of the school. It was only natural that, without any apparent design or effort the Four should meet each night after classes to take advantage of the quietness of lower Broadway to walk south for twenty-five minute to City Hall and then across the Brooklyn Bridge to their homes. They talked over their mutual problems. They soon acquired a new name and were widely heralded as the Brooklyn Four.

But too little has been said and not enough generally known about two other outstanding men of the Class of 1905 who likewise exercised and talked over their various problems while walking from class but in the opposite direction, north, toward midtown Manhattan. They were Robert Stuart Douglas and Daniel Vincent Duff.

Perhaps it was in their first year, but surely not later than their second, that Frederic R. Leach suggested the organization of a fraternity. The idea met with unanimous approval. Leach and the other members of the Brooklyn Four, Lane, Bergen, and Jefferson, mulled over the idea of fraternity for some time. In the winter, during the 1903-04 school year, much further spade work was accomplished. At the beginning, several meetings of those students who were the founders of Alpha Kappa Psi were conducted in a somewhat informal manner in conjunction with banquets held at various hotels in Manhattan. By late April plans had assumed definite shape; at the close of the academic year a date was set for a meeting in the Hotel St. Denis.

On June 9,1904, Douglas, Camp, Duff, Wright, Rachmil, Lane, Leach, Bergen, and Jefferson met at this hotel. All the men were strongly in favor of forming a fraternity, and many points thought worthy of being incorporated into a constitution were suggested. The men realized that the B.C.S. degree then was of relatively little or no commercial value in the community. They firmly believed, however, that it could be made to be of as much significance as the C.P.A. and that this change could be accomplished through the united efforts of men of strong character from the school. They were convinced that higher education for businessmen was a vital need in America, and they were willing to dedicate themselves to assist in encouraging such college training.

The group appointed the Brooklyn Four to draft an acceptable constitution to be presented the next time they gathered. After agreeing to meet on an excursion trip during the summer, they parted. The committee conferred several more times, embodying their ideas into a tentative constitution which they were then ready to report on at a meeting held on July 16, 1904, at Sea Cliff, Long Island. The trip there was made by steamer, but owing to several absences from the city because of vacations and other unforeseen events, only five of the men were present: Douglas, Lane, Rachmil, Leach, and Bergen. The constitution as submitted was read, and new plans were also suggested and considered.

Nothing more was accomplished until after school reopened in the fall. The plan of organization, though, was still quite alive, and on October 5, 1904, the charter members met in the Assembly Room, 32 Waverly Place; all ten were there. They decided to set up a professional fraternity at once, along the lines of the constitution which had been presented by the Brooklyn Four Committee, and to choose a president, secretary, and treasurer in accordance therewith, these officers to assume similar positions under the constitution when it was finally adopted. On written ballots, R. S. Douglas was elected President; H. M. Jefferson, Secretary; Nathan Lane, Jr., Treasurer; W.O. Tremaine, Vice-President; and Morris S. Rachmil, Financial Secretary, a choice made unanimous by acclamation. A committee of three, Rachmil, Tremaine, and Camp, was appointed to study the constitution draft, criticize and revise it, and report recommendations as soon as possible. This marked the founding date of the Fraternity, October 5,1904.

A meeting was called on October 21st, when a commendable report was presented by this committee, and the constitution and by-laws presented by it reviewed, clause by clause. With only slight alterations this first constitution was accepted as read. Discussion as to dues and initiation fees followed; annual dues were set at $1, but a decision on initiations was postponed. Lane, Leach, and Bergen were then asked to study the eligibility and desirability of admitting men from the junior class. On November 11th, the committee selected five men as suitable for election from the juniors: Paul H. Hudson, Robert Meyer, George W. Myer, Jr., William B. S. Winans, and Walter S. Witte. Fifteen members were on hand at a meeting a week later; a report of the Membership Committee recommended E. C. Smith and Robert C. Jeffrey, both of whom were unanimously elected to membership. A committee composed of Jefferson and Rachmil was appointed to compose a notice to be posted on the bulletin board revealing the organization of the fraternity. The sense of this instruction was that the announcement should be put up quickly. The committee began to work at once but decided to ask for the official sanction of the Chancellor of New York University before posting such a note. The two men sent this letter to the Chancellor on Saturday morning, accompanied by a statement from Dean Johnson:

New York, November 18, 1904

Sir:
The senior class of the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance have organized a Greek letter Fraternity to be called Phi Psi Kappa. "The object of this Fraternity shall be to foster scientific research in the fields of commerce, accounts, and finance, to educate the public to demand and appreciate higher ideals in these walks of life, and to promote and advance in our great institutions of learning courses leading to the degrees in commercial sciences." This Fraternity is founded in memory of Charles Waldo Haskins, and this chapter is to be known as the "Charles Waldo Haskins Chapter of the Phi Psi Kappa Fraternity of the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance of New York University."

We are especially desirous of having only the very best men in this School of Commerce as members of this Fraternity, and have arranged in pursuance therewith to admit only those whose intention it is to graduate, and have passed their first year examinations successfully, and in addition thereto have at least twenty-four of the requisite Regents' counts or their equivalent.

We hope in some measure to be able to give value to the degree of B.C.S. by reason of our united efforts, and respectfully request that you give us your official sanction at as early a date as possible in order that we may feel fully organized before Thanksgiving Eve, when we are to have our first annual banquet and installation of officers.

Signed:

H. M. Jefferson
Morris Rachimil
Committee.

Dr. Henry M. MacCracken
New York University
University Heights, N.Y.
The following letter was received from the Chancellor in reply:

University Heights, N.Y.
November 21, 1904.

Dean Joseph French Johnson
32 Waverly Place
New York, N.Y.

Dear Sir:
Accept my thanks for your letter respecting the new Fraternity in your school. I see no objection to the faculty approving of this organization. I return the paper since it ought to go on record upon the minutes of the faculty.

Sincerely yours,
H. M. MacCracken

Understandably, there was great satisfaction as a result of this permission extended to the fraternity.

At the November 22, 1904 meeting the Secretary was ordered to cast one ballot ratifying the election of Robert S. Douglas, President; William O. Tremaine, Vice-President; Howard M. Jefferson, Recording and Corresponding Secretary; Morris S. Rachimil, Financial Secretary; and Nathan Lane, Jr., Treasurer. The Membership Committee recommended Frederick H. Clark and Harry A. Hopf, juniors, both unanimously elected members. The first Annual Banquet of the group was held in the College Room of the Arena, 31st Street near Broadway, on Thanksgiving Eve, November 23rd, with eighteen members in attendance.

The festivities began with the singing of "The Violet," with everyone standing. Between courses the members sang college songs. After the meal, Douglas asked Jefferson to recount portions of the Fraternity's history. The Constitution and By-Laws were read aloud by Rachimil and then discussed. Certain revisions were suggested but were finally left for more careful scrutiny at another meeting. Tremaine was asked to present ideas for a suitable and dignified initiation; a Committee on Ritual and Initiation, composed of Tremaine, Rachmil, and Hudson, was appointed. An application to incorporate was filed, but when it turned out that another fraternity with a similar name had already been granted a charter, the petition was rejected by the State of New York. A committee of Hopf, Leach, Tremaine, Rachimil , and Jefferson was chosen to settle on a new name and to ready the organization for the process of incorporation.

On behalf of the newer members, Hudson thanked the charter members for the honor shown in allowing juniors into the fraternity. He was grateful for the confidence which had been expressed, but he was also mindful of the heavy responsibilities assumed in thus accepting the invitation to join. He asserted that the juniors would have entrusted to them, to a considerable extent, the selection of suitable candidates from the freshman class. The greatest discretion would have to be exercised in excluding from membership any who failed to appreciate the high ideals of Alpha Kappa Psi.

On January 10, 1905, a meeting was held at which Harry Hopf reported on the Committee for a New Name. He had conferred with Dean Johnson and, following the Deans suggestion, made this motion: "In view of the fact that no name has heretofore appeared in the Constitution as the name of the Fraternity, I move that the name Alpha Kappa Psi be adopted as the name of the society." The motion passed. The name chosen was symbolic, the A, the K, and the {Psi} being the first letters of three Greek words which mean "I honor pure accounts" or "I honor accounts which exactly balance." Progress was reported in setting up a ritual and an initiation procedure. The notice submitted by Rachmil, signed by Jefferson, was posted on the bulletin board on January 19,1905, stating that the Fraternity had been officially sanctioned by the Chancellor, the Dean, and Faculty of the School. On the same evening at midnight the unexpected extinguishing of the lights by the landlord caused a groping exit for all without the formality of an adjournment.

A new committee was appointed on February 9, 1905, consisting of Hopf, Tremaine, Jefferson, Jeffery, and Meyer, for revision of the constitution and the by-laws, to be completed in a month. On March 11th, a Special Banquet and Meeting was held at the Arena, whose primary purpose was to receive the report of the Constitution Committee. Hopf first read the Constitution and By-Laws of the General Fraternity and then those of Alpha Chapter. The first constitution was so carefully constructed that, despite thorough scrutiny, only a minor revision was needed in the instrument; one word was changed, a substitution of "or" for "and." When Hopf read the constitution of Alpha Chapter, it too was accepted after only a few changes. The Secretary was instructed to cast one ballot for the present officers to elect them officers in Alpha Kappa Psi. Now two administrative groups were to direct the affairs of the fraternity. A body of administrators was provided for, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Financial Secretary, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer, to hold office for one year.

The second body, the Board of Governors, was made up of the President, as officiating chairman, the Vice President, the three Secretaries, Treasurer, and six other members, three of whom were to be seniors, to be chosen at annual elections. The Board was to investigate and report on applications for membership, to have a committee of its members audit the accounts of all officers once yearly and to report thereon, and to designate a depository for fraternity funds and for any possible investments.

This constitution radically altered the concept of the government of the Fraternity. The emphasis shifted from the arrangement and supervision of the affairs of one chapter of a local fraternity to a dual provision for the regulation of local affairs together with central control and collective action in the interest of potential brother chapters of Alpha Kappa Psi. To carry out this new double function, two constitutions were accepted at the March 11th dinner, one for the General or National Fraternity, shortly to become a membership corporation, and a second for Alpha Chapter, chartered in turn by the national group. Now the General Fraternity and Alpha Chapter each had its own laws and own officers. Navy blue and gold were adopted as the official fraternity colors, chosen by Paul Hudson. Years later Jefferson explained the significance of these colors, that the blue stands for the ocean over which the commerce of the world passes, and the gold that which is the basis for the financing of the trade. At a Special Meeting, March 17th, a pin with the design of a Phoenician galley outlined on a Greek coin with the letters AK'-P on the sail was selected as the official emblem of the group. The ship, representing the earliest vessels that sailed the seas far from home, is set upon a Greek coin, one of the earliest pieces of money known in the world.

On March 20, 1905, formal application was made to the State of New York for a charter of incorporation, this time for Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity. It was then that Frederick Leach suggested to the juniors who had been of great help that they also sign the petition to become charter members. But Paul Hudson, for the class, generously declined the offer.

The document, in the handwriting of Leach, was signed by each of the ten Founders: Robert S. Douglas, Howard M. Jefferson, Daniel V. Duff, Irving L. Camp, George L. Bergen, Nathan Lane, Jr., Morris S. Rachimil , Herbert M. Wright, Frederic R. Leach, and William O. Tremaine. The application was approved, and the charter of incorporation was officially issued to Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity on May 20, 1905. At the graduation exercises at New York University on June 8, 1905, five of the ten founders received special academic recognition: Camp and Douglas graduated summa cum laude; Leach, magna cum laude; and Bergen and Jefferson, cum laude.

Now the fraternity needed to set up regularly scheduled meetings, particularly professional business get-togethers. A program of activities was mapped out, affording members opportunities to present their favorite research projects. But with no home, the fraternity was handicapped, even forced 5 to hold some outdoor gatherings. On July 29, 1905, a Special Meeting occurred at Rockaway Park, New York, where fifteen members joined on the beach for an afternoon of bathing. At 7 P.M. the business session was called to order; afterwards, the group went to the Park Inn for dinner and then back to the beach. Alpha had been chartered nine weeks earlier, the semester had closed almost at once, and, though many difficult problems had been solved, no suitable home for the fraternity had yet been found. They had no meeting-place in the school where they could be private, and so during the week they used the carpenters workroom, to which they had found a back door, and it was in this room that the new men were interviewed and introduced.

A committee of three, with George W. Myer, Jr. chairman, was appointed to secure a meeting-room near the School of Commerce. An outdoor meeting was held at Midland Beach, Staten Island, on September 16, 1905, when two more men, Orrin R. Judd and Howard B. Cook, were admitted into membership. Only nine brothers were in attendance, one short of a quorum. In the fall of 1905, at last, it was arranged that the chapter could meet at 28 East 11th Street, in the room where Myer, the committee chairman, lived, at a weekly rental of $1. In this manner a meeting place was finally found. With the exception of the first meetings, held in conjunction with banquets or at swimming parties on Sunday afternoons, all business sessions for many years were held on Saturday evenings, usually at 8 o'clock. A night gathering on October 6th elected John Koch, Charles MacDonald, and F. H. Smith members. Later that month a committee was appointed to work for the establishment of the M.C.S. degree in the School of Commerce. In November, Tremaine reported difficulty in framing a suitable ritual which, he said, might take a year to complete.

Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity's second Annual Convention was held in New York, November 17, 1905. Officers elected were Douglas, reelected President; Leach, Vice President; Bergen, Recording Secretary; Camp, Financial Secretary; and Lane, Treasurer. R. G. Jeffery and E. A. Brion were elected as Executive Committee members. Then Howard M. Jefferson presented to the brotherhood a detailed report on the status of commercial education in the United States, using tables and charts taken from various reference sources. The program lasted over an hour, and the audience greatly enjoyed it.

From 1905 to 1908 the Fraternity did not expand territorially, but it did internally, and it was this slow growth, clear-sightedness, keen judgment and careful selection of new members that laid the firm foundation upon which the organization was to grow. Interest was maintained between members by social gathering, dinners, monthly professional meetings, and camp life. These get-togethers cemented friendships that bound them together.

On January 13, 1906, Leach presided at the Annual Banquet at the Hotel Victoria, with thirty-two members present. The committee on Ritual was discharged with thanks; a new group was appointed, consisting of Hopf, Chairman; Tremaine, Hudson, Koch, Hug, and Keep. In May the chapter rented a cottage on Lake Mohegan, near Peekskill, New York, for three months at $15 monthly. Hopf reported that he hoped to have a ritual ready by the Fall. When the Class of 1906 graduated in June, the chapter had to move. The June 13th meeting was at the home of Clare L. Rotzel; a committee of five was appointed to seek a new location for the new semester. Edward C. Smith, chairman of the group, at a Special Meeting in the Fall, proposed the rental of two rooms and bath on the ground floor rear of the Benedict, 80 Washington Square East, at $31.25 a month. This was approved in October, 1906, and the chapter remained there for four years.

The third annual Convention and Banquet, at the Hotel Victoria, November 17, 1906, saw Leach elected President; Myer, Vice President; Bergen, Secretary; and Charles MacDonald, Treasurer. In addition, the Executive Committee of Duff and Hopf was authorized to take appropriate steps for the organization and chartering of a second chapter. On December 1st an amendment to Alpha Chapter's constitution was adopted setting up three standing committees, Membership, House, and Auditing.

In June, 1907, Howard Jefferson received the first M.C.S. degree conferred by New York University. That summer a camp, located between Edgemere and Arverne, Long Island, was leased for chapter use, and a total of 126 people participated in this seasonal activity. The same camp was used in 1908 and again in 1909, but a violent storm, August 16-17, brought the 1909 season to an abrupt close. On August 11, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. John Lane, Sr. invited the fellow members of Nathan Lane, Jr. to their home in Woodmere, Long Island. Outdoor games took up the afternoon, followed by a Special Meeting to consider housing. As a result, the chapter leased two additional rooms at the Benedict for $51.50 a month. Later, on November 16th, Alpha had its Annual Banquet and fourth convention at Healy's Restaurant, Columbus Avenue and 66th Street. Officers were elected: Jefferson, President; Myer, reelected Vice President; Bergen, reelected Secretary; MacDonald, Financial Secretary; and Nathan Lane, Jr., Treasurer. On December 7th Jefferson spoke of the practicality of issuing a journal for the fraternity. The Alpha Diary, edited by E. Marshall Kinsey, R. Franklin Horst, and Howard M. Jefferson, with D. V. Duff business manager, was published on January 1, 1908. In the same month Myer led a conference on accounting. At a professional meeting, April 24, Leach spoke on accounting.

Leach had worked for the previous six months on a thorough revision of the accounting practices of the City of New York. On June 20th, a Special Meeting was called to determine whether the constitution should be amended to permit the establishment of chapters of the fraternity in universities which did not grant a degree for the completion of a commercial course; the vote was against such a change. Later that year, November 16th, Bergen addressed Alpha Chapter on "Budget Making," a talk so popular that on request he gave it again in each of the next two years.

The fifth convention and banquet, November 21, 1908, at Healy's, witnessed the election of Nathan Lane, Jr., President; Hopf, Vice President; R. J. Everett, Secretary; J. H. Sullivan, Treasurer; and Willard Eddy, Financial Secretary. Thirty-six members were present. In December a new Constitutional Committee was appointed, made up of A.C. Upleger, Everett, Bergen, and Lane. Duff reported that The Diary was financially embarrassed but was in no way discouraged; he continued efforts to put the journal on a permanent basis.

Despite crowded conditions in the poorly ventilated rooms at the Benedict, when the lease expired on April 1, 1909, it was renewed for six months. In the same year, the sixth convention and banquet was at the Hotel Victoria, Broadway and 27th Street, November 20th. The scheduled election of officers was postponed, because of the many activities at the banquet, until December 4th. Then elected were Hopf, President; Hudson, Vice President; Horst, Secretary; W. Craemer, Treasurer; and G.F.R. Snowden, Financial Secretary. No action was taken on letters received from the University of Illinois and the University of Pennsylvania relative to establishing chapters because neither institution gave the degree in commerce courses required by the constitution.

1910s

A petition was received in February 1910 from Phi Delta Kappa, a local fraternity at the University of Denver, for admission into Alpha Kappa Psi. Harry Hopf undertook a special trip to that city, where he worked out a plan for the organization and chartering of this group. As a result, on March 19,1910, Beta Chapter was installed. This expansion enabled Alpha Kappa Psi to practice a primary object, to promote and advance in institutions of collegiate rank courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration. A welcome housing change came about when Alpha obtained its first chapter house, 113 Waverly Place, New York, October 24, 1910; it held a gala housewarming party on November 12th.

The seventh convention was at the Alpha house, November 19, 1910. W. B. Johnson was chosen President; A. E. Hamilton, Beta, Vice President; H. M. James, Secretary; W. P. Meyers, Treasurer; P. W. Cowles, Corresponding Secretary; and Horst, reelected Financial Secretary. Hamilton was the first officer who was not a member of Alpha Chapter to be elected. The formation of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity House, Inc. was reported. The yellow chrysanthemum was adopted as the official flower of the fraternity.

The provision in the General Constitution for the extension of the fraternity to other campuses stipulated that any six students at an American university who were working for a degree in commercial science and had passed the first year of examinations could undertake to organize a chapter of the fraternity provided that they first applied to the Executive Committee and secured its approval. The efforts of Charles MacDonald and Harry Hopf in 1907 to establish a chapter at the School of Commerce, University of Pennsylvania, were unsuccessful because the fraternity's requirements were not met. Likewise, in 1909 the application from the University of Illinois had to be rejected. A constitutional amendment was passed February 19, 1910, allowing the Executive Committee, by unanimous vote, to grant to chapters in universities which did not fully comply with these rules the right to apply for membership in the National Fraternity. It was, however, continued in the force as a rigid understanding that any addition to the chapter roll must tend to promote the success of the fraternity.

In October, 1911, Roy C. Kemmerer spoke to Alpha Chapter of his trip to the Pacific coast. The Executive Committee granted its third charter to Gamma Chapter, installed November 4th at the School of Commerce, Northwestern University, Chicago. Though no degree in business was then being conferred by this school, it was specifically understood that this new chapter should undertake to bring about the granting of a degree similar to that of Bachelor of Commercial Science, then given by the University of Denver and New York University.

Alpha Chapter house was the site of the eighth convention, now to be called a national convention, November 18th. W. T. Eddy was elected President; L. E. Ashman, Vice President; L. L. Perrine, Recording Secretary; Myers, reelected Treasurer; R. C. Kemmerer, Corresponding Secretary; and F. H. Smith, Financial Secretary. After business, the group dined at the Banquet Hall of the Broadway Central Hotel. In December it was suggested that The Diary should be made the general organ of all the chapters.

At an Executive Committee meeting, September 30, 1912, the Constitution was amended to have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd vice presidents in place of one Vice President. The University of Pittsburgh was admitted as Delta Chapter on October 29th, a result achieved through the efforts of Eddy and Bacas, who had gone to Pittsburgh and had helped with the correspondence. These first four chapters formed a chain from the Atlantic to the Rockies; Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity had become national in fact as well as in name. Yet for the eleven years after the founding of the fraternity no national constitution was in place. The practice followed during this period was to allow each chapter to write its own constitution which was then studied to see that it did not in its regulations violate any of the rules established by the General Fraternity.

A determination was made to hold a convention to plan for the future. As a result, on November 16, 1912, the first national convention and banquet to have in attendance delegates from two chapters other than Alpha gathered at Alpha Chapter house; Gamma and Delta were there. H. L. Wilson was elected President; R. Thomas, 1st Vice President; A. L. Jeffery, 2nd Vice President; L. L. Perrine, 3rd Vice President; A. E. Harmon, Financial Secretary; C. L. Rotzel, Recording Secretary; W. McL. Murphy, Treasurer; and Kemmerer, reelected Corresponding Secretary. A change in the design of the fraternity pin was recommended. A resolution passed that the management of The Diary should be placed in the hands of the General Fraternity. Beta Chapter wrote that it was unable to send a delegate to the convention. A banquet at Cavanaugh's completed the evening. The Diary, Volume VI, Number 2, January, 1913, was the last number under Alpha Chapter's jurisdiction; this issue included pages which treated of all four chapters. The February number, listed as Volume I, Number 1, had Prior Sinclair as Editor. Thereafter, as other chapters came into the fraternity, the journal had a section on each. Some months later, at the April 29, 1913 meeting of the Executive Committee, it was ruled that thereafter General Fraternity officers should be selected from various chapters rather than from Alpha only. Until 1913, the officers of Alpha Chapter were elected at the Annual Meeting in October and installed at the Annual Banquet in November.

In 1913 Hopf proposed June dates for future yearly elections of officers. The tenth national convention, in the Hotel La Salle, Chicago, was the first outside of New York City, June 28, 1913. Fifteen delegates from five chapters, including newly-chartered Epsilon, attended. The first non-Alpha member elected president was A. W. T. Ogilvie, Gamma; J. W. Cornwell, J. A. Gallaher, and C. A. Forshee were elected Vice Presidents; P. E. Lobanoff, Recording Secretary; E. 0. Palmer, Corresponding Secretary; H. H. Martindale, Financial Secretary; and P. W. Cowles, Treasurer. A new pin, as submitted by Gamma Chapter, was adopted.

An amendment to Article I of the By-Laws assigning one vote to each chapter at annual conventions was passed, subject to later ratification by all of the chapters. An improved Ritual Committee, composed of the presidents of all the chapters, was appointed. The By-Laws were changed to allow two days for conventions. The Alpha Diary was renamed The Diary of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity. A committee was appointed to revise the constitution and by-laws.

The 11th national convention, the first two-day gathering, was at Alpha Chapter house, June 26-2 7, 1914. Elected were A. L. Jeffrey, President; A. K. Hallett, Vice President; P. E. Lobanoff, reelected Recording Secretary; E. 0. Palmer, reelected Corresponding Secretary; W. McL. Murphy, Financial Secretary; and C. Brewster, Treasurer. Discussions were held concerning the revision of the ritual and the design of the pin. The unit rule of voting had been passed by all chapters. The Committee on Manual and Directory suggested an annual supplement to The Diary to include the history of the fraternity, officers of the General Fraternity since its beginning, and a list of charter members of each chapter. The first national convention held west of the Mississippi River, the twelfth, was at the Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, June 25-26, 1915. D. S. Duncan was elected President; R. E. Gentry, Vice President; W. F. Ervin, Recording Secretary; B. Morris, Corresponding Secretary; R. A. Wood, Financial Secretary; and J. F. Carey, Treasurer. The practice of having three vice presidents was abandoned in favor of one vice president only. A Committee Regarding the Ritual was appointed to consider revision of the ritual. An official pledge button was adopted.

In late Spring, 1916, Schiffer appointed a Ritual Committee made up of Douglas, Jefferson, Lane, Duff, Hudson, Hopf, and Myer. The 13th national convention was at the City Club, Chicago, June 23-24, 1916. Duncan was reelected President; Morris reelected Secretary; M. H. Rose, Financial Secretary; and C. P. Fitzgerald, Treasurer. Discussions were held concerning the wisdom of having two-year terms for national officers. The Creed of Alpha Kappa Psi was in the October, 1916 Diary. The first constitution of Alpha Kappa Psi was adopted and remained in force until 1921. The Handbook of Alpha Kappa Psi, edited by Ralph L. Power for Nu Chapter, was published in 1916. In 1917, at the fourteenth national convention, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, June 29-30, nine chapters were represented. Duncan was elected President for the third time; G. R. Day, Secretary; and C. C. Kurt, Treasurer. A new organizational plan set up four districts, each supervised by a district vice president. The Ritual Committee reported that work had begun but that completion would take more time. The fraternity journal was renamed The Alpha Kappa Psi Diary.

With the onset of World War 1, Alpha Kappa Psi continued, but with problems. The Diary for October, 1917 asserted of that year s convention that it "was held in one of the most critical years in the world's history. That it was a crisis in the affairs of our country and the life of our fraternity was not for a moment forgotten." Still, no chapter was forced to discontinue, and most groups held meetings despite difficulties. Publication of The Diary was suspended between May, 1918 and May, 1919, and the l9l8 convention was omitted.

The fifteenth national convention was in the Shirley Hotel, Denver, June 27-28, 1919. J. T. Madden was elected President; P.O. Dittmar, Vice President; C. R. Porter, Secretary; and C. H. Cahill, Treasurer. The need for a handbook containing the ritual and a history of the fraternity was noted. The idea of having biennial rather than triennial conventions was discussed, but no action ensued. The four district vice president officers were eliminated in favor of a national vice president. The October, 1919 Diary was a convention number. Gleanings of Alpha Kappa Psi was issued in November, 1919.

1920s

The sixteenth national convention was held in the Assembly Room of the Boston City Club, Boston, June 25-26, 1920. Madden was reelected President; R. B. Kester, Vice President; H. F. Langley, Secretary; and G. Myer, Jr., Master of Rituals. A fee of $50 for the issuance of charters was instituted. Biennial conventions were again discussed, along with the election of national officers for two-year terms and employment of a permanent paid secretary. The office of Master of Rituals was' established, and a new ritual was promised for the Fall. Publication of an Alpha Kappa Psi Handbook was discussed. The Diary, October 1920, was a convention number. The seventeenth national convention was at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta, June 23-25, 1921, the first such meeting held in the South and also the first three-day convention. Kester was elected Grand President; Hopf, Grand Vice President; H. G. Thacker, Grand Secretary; and 0. W. George, Grand Treasurer. Legislation providing for the establishment of alumni chapters in the fraternity appeared in Article Six of its Constitution and Statutes ~ Alumni."

The enabling articles stated "Ten (10) or more members in good standing, none of whom are active members of a collegiate chapter, may forward a petition to the Grand President for the issue of a Charter for such Chapter... .Upon 'affirmative vote of three-fourths of the Executive Council such Charter shall issue... .Each Alumni Chapter shall be designated by the name of the city or town where located, and shall be assigned a number seriatim." Two alumni chapters were chartered in 1921, Alumni Chapter No. 1, New York City, and Alumni Chapter No. 2, Atlanta. Major revisions of the Constitution and Statutes were adopted. The Executive Committee was renamed the Grand Executive Council, composed of the Grand Officers and one member from each district. The Diary was expanded; its October, 1921 issue was a convention number.

The eighteenth national convention was at the Sinton Hotel, Cincinnati, June 22-24, 1922. Kester was reelected Grand President; Hopf, reelected Grand Vice President; George, Grand Secretary; and Norris Lasher, Grand Master of Rituals. Anew ritual, adopted by the convention after minor changes, was submitted: a resolution was introduced thanking Rev. Ray Petty, New York, for his invaluable service rendered the General Fraternity in preparing this useful work. The make-up of the new coat of arms was altered slightly, then formally adopted. A Convention Fund was established to defray transportation costs of college chapter delegates to conventions. Biennial conventions were suggested by Grand President Kester. The October, 1922 Diary was a convention number.

At the nineteenth national convention, Hotel McAlpin, New York, June 2 8-30, 1923, E. W. Lord was elected Grand President; S. Daggett, Grand Vice President; and D. F. Bedell, Grand Secretary. Seven districts were set up, and national conventions were voted held biennially, with district conferences in alternate years. The formerly separate offices of Grand Secretary-Treasurer and Editor of the Diary were combined and made appointive, with Bedell chosen for the post. A central office of the fraternity was set up in Indianapolis, with the full-time Secretary-Treasurer in charge. Alpha Kappa Psi, Its Aims and Ideals, 50 pages, was published in 1923. Seven district conferences were held, for the first time, in 1924.

The Radisson Hotel, Minneapolis, was the site of the twentieth national convention, June 19-22,1925. Lord was reelected Grand President; G. W. Dowrie, Grand Vice President; and Bedell, reelected Grand Secretary-Treasurer. The offices of Grand Justice, Grand Auditor, and Deputy Councilor were instituted. Provision was made for a Grand Council (Board of Directors) consisting of the Grand Officers and District Councilors, with an Executive Committee to handle routine matters and supervise the operation of the national headquarters. A revision of the Ritual, compiled by Ralph E. Kimball, Grand Master of Rituals, was published. A Few Alpha Kappa Psi Songs, edited by William H. Koenig, was printed in January, 1925. The October, 1925 Diary was a convention issue.

The twenty-first national convention, at the Palmer House, Chicago, was held June 22-25, 1927. C. W. Collins was elected Grand President; A. W. T. Ogilvie, Grand Vice President; Bedell, reelected Grand Secretary-Treasurer; and R. N. Dedaker, Grand Auditor. The office of Grand Director of Education and Research was created. A new constitution, compiled by Grand Justice John B. Nicklas, was adopted. In April, the Directory of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity, edited by the Grand Secretary-Treasurer Bedell, was issued. A second edition of Songs of Alpha Kappa Psi, 27 pages, was published in June. In July, 1927 Bedell resigned, and Dedaker was appointed Grand Secretary-Treasurer until the vacancy could be filled. The October, 1927 Diary was a convention number.

On January 16, 1928, John D. Sparks, Pi, was appointed Grand Secretary-Treasurer and editor of The Diary. The journal underwent improvements and enlargements during the year. The Creed of Alpha Kappa Psi appeared again in the March, 1928 Diary.

At the Silver Anniversary twenty-second national convention, Troutdale- in-the-Pines, Denver, June 19-22, 1929, the official gold badge was adopted. The Diary of Alpha Kappa Psi was made the official journal of the fraternity; alumni dues were instituted; freshman pledging was authorized; annual efficiency ratings for college chapters were established; and the election of district councilors at national conventions was provided for.

October 5th was set as the date to celebrate Founders' Day and May 20th as the anniversary of the incorporation of Alpha Kappa Psi. The Diary Endowment Fund, providing for National Life Memberships, and the District Visitation Fund were established. 0. A. Kirkinan, Jr. was elected Grand President; M. D. Simpson, Grand Vice President.

1930s

The Pledge Training Manual, 1st edition, 20 pages, was published in 1930, the same year in which official ritual robes were made available for all chapters.

The twenty-third national convention, at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, North Carolina, July 2-5,1931, was the first which had no host chapter. The official flower of the fraternity was changed from chrysanthemum to the yellow rose. A bronze and white gold medallion was adopted as the official design of the Alpha Kappa Psi Scholarship Award. The national initiation fee was reduced to $15. A change was made in the design of the recognition pin from the coat of arms to a gold Phoenician galley. For the first time, the Court of Honor was presented at a convention. Kirkinan was reelected Grand President and Simpson reelected Grand Vice President. It was recommended that a handbook be produced.

The twenty-fourth national convention, Chicago, was held in the Knickerbocker Hotel, June 28-30, 1933. Henry Silke, Jr. was elected Grand President and Leach, Grand Vice President. Leach served until October 13, 1935; C. D. Spangler was elected to this post February 11, 1936. The Grand Council was to be made up of the Grand President and the six District Councilors. The Grand Vice President was to be elected by the Grand Council from the District Councilors. A District Conference Fund was created. The District Councilors were to be elected at district conferences. The office of Division Councilor, appointed by the District Councilor, was created. The offices of Grand Master of Rituals, Grand Auditor, Grand Justice, and Grand Director of Education and Research were abolished. The fraternity was redistricted, with six instead of seven districts. Triennial national conventions and triennial district conferences were adopted. The title of Grand Secretary-Treasurer was changed to Executive Secretary-Treasurer. To reward meritorious service to the fraternity, the Alpha Kappa Psi Service Award was established. A general code was printed in the January, 1934 Diary.

The first Handbook of Alpha Kappa Psi, 56 pages, was published as the March, 1934 issue of the Diary, which printed The Creed of Alpha Kappa Psi on its inside front cover page. This had been created by Dr. D. Shaw Duncan, former three-term president of Alpha Kappa Psi, who had included four lines taken from Festus, a long, unrhymed religious poem by Philip James Bailey. All chapters were visited by district or division councilors. In 1934, thirty years after the founding of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity, the fraternity had 57 college chapters, 14 alumni chapters, and a membership of approximately 10,000. On December 1st, The Pledge Manual of Alpha Kappa Psi, seven pages, was issued.

The twenty-fifth national convention, September 3-5, 1936, was held at Lake Wawasee, Indiana, with a detailed report in the November issue of the Diary. W. J. Luby was elected Grand President, and A. R. Johnson Grand Vice President. The coat of arms recognition button was adopted, as was an official fraternity ring. The charter fee for new chapters was reduced to $150.

In 1937, the Court of Honor, a pre-ritual ceremony for Alpha Kappa Psi Chapters, was instituted. The A. K. Psi Alumni News, an annual bulletin, was issued in October. The Handbook of Alpha Kappa Psi, 2nd edition, 80 pages, was published in November. In 1938 triennial district conferences were held. The May 1938 Diary was a vocational issue.

The twenty-sixth national convention, at Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania, September 5-7,1939, enacted legislation permitting chapters to initiate one honorary member a year without payment of the national initiation fee; voted that the Grand Vice President to be elected by majority vote at national conventions, assigning to him the duties of supervising extension activities and directing professional programs; voted to require that student pledges maintain the scholastic average needed for graduation at the school in which the chapter is located; and provided that convention sites be chosen by preferential vote at district conferences. C. D. Spangler was elected Grand President, R. A. Hills, Grand Vice President.

1940s

The Student Loan Fund was set up in 1940. Alpha Kappa Psi , A Brief Outline of the Fraternity's Development, Organization, Activities, and Membership, 32 pages, was printed as a supplement to the Diary, January, 1941, and in 1947, 1948, 1950, and 1952. A new simplified accounting system was installed in all college chapters.

Milwaukee's Schroeder Hotel was the site for the twenty-seventh national convention, September 3-5, 1942. 0. M. Chatburn was elected Grand President, W. L. O'Callaghan, Grand Vice President. Legislation established the requirement that chapters give all pledges standard examinations. The Executive Committee and the Grand Council were granted extraordinary powers for the duration of the war to cope with emergencies. In 1943, a war status plan, adopted for college chapters which might become dormant during the conflict, provided for the appointment of a faculty member or an alumnus as controller to retain records, rituals, and robes, and to have authority to reactivate the chapter when deemed feasible. College chapters declined to 18 in number. In 1944, district conferences were postponed indefinitely. The return of students to the colleges began in 1945, but the national convention and conferences were not held. A Song Number, the March, 1945 issue of the Diary, 37 pages, was published.

The twenty-eighth national convention, Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, September 3-6, 1947, voted to hold district conferences in each of the years between triennial conventions. The Scholarship Award was changed from a medallion to a key, awarded to seniors; annual college membership dues were raised to $8; and alumni chapters were exempted from national dues. R. A. Hills was elected Grand President, and H. C. Carlstead, Grand Vice President. A Special Handbook number, 3rd edition, 104 pages, made up the November, 1948 issue of the Diary.

1950s

The twenty-ninth national convention at Minneapolis, September 5-9, 1950 set annual alumni chapter dues at $50 and increased the number of districts from six to nine. An Alumni Convention and Conference Reserve was established. College membership dues were raised to $10; the national initiation fee was increased to $20; and a monogram pin was adopted. R. G. Woolever was elected Grand President and J. M. Lennard, Jr., Grand Vice President. The fraternity decided to incorporate the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation in the State of Illinois, an action carried out in 1951. In the same year Alpha Kappa Psi became the first professional business fraternity to have its own national headquarters building. The Directory of Business Personnel Available for Employment, published in 1952, was distributed to 2500 business firms in the United States.

The Golden Anniversary thirtieth national convention was in the Commodore Hotel, New York City, September 9-12, 1953. R. G. Woolever was reelected Grand President; W. E. Shroyer, Grand Vice President. Three of the founders, Bergen, Lane, and Wright, were awarded special certificates acknowledging the fraternity's great debt of gratitude to them. Awards were established for faculty members who have taught for twenty-five or more years; for recognition of civic service and achievement; and for service to colleges of business. The charter fee for alumni chapters was raised to $50. A new life membership button was authorized. The January issue of the Diary included "Careers in Business," a series of twenty-three articles.

The thirty-first national convention, Detroit, August 29-September 1,1956, established the office of Grand Vice President-Alumni to oversee alumni activities and authorized subscription to Life Membership by student members at $15. M. C. Townsend was elected Grand President; L. R. Jordan, Grand Vice President; and R. S. Passinore, Grand Vice President-Alumni. The Grand Council was authorized, at its discretion, to transfer the Student Loan Fund, accounting award, marketing award, and the award for service to higher education from the fraternity to the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation. A new edition of the Ritual was published. The Handbook, 4th edition, 128 pages, was in the Winter, 1956 issue of the Diary. Songs of Alpha Kappa Psi, 4th edition, 48 pages, was published. An alumni chapter manual was issued in 1958.

In Seattle, September 2-5, 1959, the thirty-second national convention was held. Elected were L. R. Jordan, President; W. C. Himstreet, Vice President; and L. R. Harrington, Vice President-Alumni. Legislation changed the title of Grand Council to the Board of Directors; Grand President and Grand Vice President to National President and National Vice President; District Councilor to Regional Director; District Conference to Regional Conference; Division Councilor to District Director; Deputy Councilor to Chapter Advisor. The initiation fee was raised to $25.

1960s

Redistricting of the fraternity was to be completed by July 1,1961: the number of regions was increased to twelve; and round trip first class air fare was adopted as the basis for reimbursement of chapter delegates in attendance at national conventions. The Alumni Activity Fund was established, and alumni chapters were authorized to initiate honorary members. On July 1st, the Student Loan Fund was transferred from the fraternity to the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation.

The thirty-third national convention, at the Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee, August 28-September 1,1962, empowered the National Vice President to act as chairman and director of the Expansion Committee, responsible for the creation of new college chapters. College membership dues were increased to $14. W. C. Hinstreet was elected President; C. G. Huskinson, Vice President; and W. F. Weinheimer, Vice President-Alumni. The Pledge Manual, revised edition, 24 pages, was issued in 1963. The Handbook, 5th edition, 144 pages, was in the Autumn issue of the Diary.

The thirty-fourth national convention, Hilton Hotel, Denver, August 29-September 1,1965, transferred the Student Loan Fund from the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation to the national fraternity, increased Life Membership fees for students to $20 and for alumni to $35, and authorized the initiation of one faculty member each year without payment of the national initiation fee. Elected were W. F. Weinheimer, President; J. D. Cahill, Vice President; and J. C. Wilson, Vice President-Alumni. In 1965 the J. D. Sparks Fellows Program was instituted.

The thirty-fifth national convention, Robert Meyer Motor Inn, Orlando, August 2 1-24, 1968, increased annual alumni chapter dues to $75 and allotted $0.50 out of each $5 paid in national alumni dues to the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation. J. D. Cahill was elected President; Wilson, Vice President; and P. J. Burns, Vice President-Alumni. Burns resigned that position in November 1969 and was succeeded by A. P. Duli. On July 1, 1969, John D. Sparks, Executive Secretary and Editor of the Diary since 1928, retired. Frank J. Brye was appointed his successor as Executive Secretary-Treasurer.

1970s

In 1970, the first Alpha Kappa Psi filmstrip, "Gateway to Success," illustrating historical scenes and chapter activities, was distributed to chapters. The Alpha Kappa Psi Alumni Chapter Manual, 4th edition, was issued. The Handbook of Alpha Kappa Psi, 6th edition, 168 pages, edited by John D. Sparks, was published in January, 1971.

The thirty-sixth national convention was at the Stardust Hotel, Las Vegas, August 23-26, 1971. Legislation included a change from two vice presidents, a vice president and a vice president-alumni, to three vice presidents. It also separated the Southeast Region into two regions. The Southeast region consisted of Florida and Georgia; the Southern Region consisted of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The title of Executive Secretary-Treasurer was changed to Executive Director, and Frank J. Brye was appointed to serve in that capacity by the Executive Committee. Triennial conventions were changed to biennial ones; national alumni dues were increased to $10. J. C. Wilson was elected President; Donald R. Johansson, Richard H. Rais, and William D. Reeves, Vice Presidents.

On March 1,1972, the Alpha Kappa Psi group life insurance program was instituted. In June, Title IX of the "Education Amendments Act of 1972" prohibited sex discrimination in federally assisted educational programs and amended parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Professional fraternities were included in Title IX. The Ritual of Alpha Kappa Psi was issued in January, 1973.

The thirty-seventh national convention was in the Sheraton-Peabody Hotel, Memphis, August 13-16, 1973. J. C. Wilson was reelected President; C. E. Gerretson, Richard H. Rais, and William D. Reeves became vice presidents. The state of South Carolina was moved from the Mideast Region to the South east Region. Life Memberships increased to $25 for student members and to $50 for those out of school for more than one year. The Spring-Summer 1973 issue of the Alpha Kappa Psi Alumni News was distributed to alumni.

In December, a complaint was filed with the Department of Health, Educations ,and Welfare against thirteen colleges and universities which recognized chapters of a professional business fraternity. In 1973, the Fraternity Alliance for Inalienable Rights, a seventeen member organization which included Alpha Kappa Psi, was formed to oppose Title IX as it applied to professional fraternities.

The thirty-eighth national convention was in the Radisson South Hotel, Minneapolis, August 20-24, 1975. Elected President was R. H. Rais; J. Mark Miller, Arnold L. Stengel were elected Vice Presidents, and W. D. Reeves reelected Vice President. The 1975 National Convention Song Book, edited by Richard M. Slavett, was issued. An Alumni Activities Handbook was published.

In October, Alpha Kappa Psi initiated a fund drive to combat Title IX. A write-in campaign to attempt to sway legislators was also begun. At the convention, the Committee on Female Membership moved that the fraternity should bar women, advocating a continuance of the struggle to secure exemptive legislation. Such a law was introduced in Congress in May, but it was roundly defeated. The convention voted the Board of Directors the authority to change Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution by deletion of the words "must be men and." When it became apparent that exceptive legislation would not be approved, the Board voted, August 7,1976, to admit women into the fraternity.

The thirty-ninth national convention, Atlanta, August 17-21, 1977, elected A. L. Stengel President; Thomas J. Bastasz, Jerry C. Higginson, and J. M. Miller, Vice Presidents. Air fare reimbursement for delegates to conventions was changed from round trip first class to round trip coach fare. Annual alumni chapter dues were increased to $125. During this period the fraternity initiated its 100,000th member.

The Diamond Jubilee fortieth national convention was held at the Biltmore Hotel, New York City, August 22-26, 1979. J. M. Miller was elected President; T. J. Bastasz reelected Vice President; Mark R. Malone and Thomas B. Sells, Vice Presidents. It was voted that one vice president should be designated vice president-alumni, beginning in 1981. The Finance Committee recommended implementation of a standardized accounting system for college chapters; voted to increase semi-annual national college dues to $17.50 and the national initiation fee to $30. The Regional and National Organization Committee requested that all college and alumni chapters establish permanent mailing addresses.

1980s

A revised ritual was issued in April, 1981.

The forty-first national convention was at the Shamrock Hilton Hotel, Houston, August 19-23, 1981. J. M. Miller was reelected President; D. Randal Orr and Allen J. Simonson, Vice Presidents; and James E. Donahue, Vice President-Alumni. Second and Third presentations of the Distinguished Service Awards, bronze and silver, were established. It was recommended that new brothers should be informed as to the importance, purpose, aims, and ideals of alumni chapters. Annual national dues for alumni chapters were set at not less than $150 or more than $500.

The Ritual, 5th edition, was published in 1982.

The forty-second national convention was in the Book Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, August 23-27, 1983. John D. Cahill was elected President; D. R. Orr, reelected Vice President; George R. Carnahan, Vice President; and J. E. Donahue, reelected Vice President-Alumni. Life membership for student members and those out of school for less than a year was raised to $40, and for those members out of school for more than a year to $80. It was voted that the minimum pledge period should be five weeks, except for freshmen, whose pledge period was also to be three months unless the regional director saw fit to shorten it because of special local conditions. Twenty-five year awards were authorized for meritorious service rendered to the fraternity and, in addition, also fifty year awards, these to be conferred for the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation by a chapter on members in the fraternity for that period. The Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity Alumni Directory, 1984, 80th Anniversary Edition, 660 pages, was published.

The forty-third national convention was in the Clarion Hotel, St. Louis, August 20-24, 1985. J. D. Cahill was reelected President; G. R. Carnahan and Carol R. Carter, Vice Presidents; and J. E. Donahue, reelected Vice President-Alumni, succeeded by H. Vaughn Harper, June 30, 1986. Ms. Carter was the first woman elected a national officer of Alpha Kappa Psi. National alumni dues were raised $5 a year. During this period the national headquarters became fully computerized.

The forty-fourth national convention was in the Hotel Fort Des Moines, Des Moines, August 11-15, 1987. G. R. Carnahan was elected President; Steve B. Warneke, Vice President; C. R. Carter, reelected Vice President; and Donald W. Berglund, Vice President-Alumni, succeeded by Alan M. Green, August 31,1988. The National Alumni Newsletter resumed publication. The Committee on Credentials recommended that organizers of conventions secure corporate sponsorship to help cover convention costs. The Committee on Finance recommended that an inflow-outflow statement be included with the reports prepared by the independent auditors and made generally available. It was voted that henceforth candidates for national vice presidential posts indicate which office they were seeking; the National President would no longer assign areas to vice presidents. A rush video, called "Ask An Alpha Kappa Psi," was issued. On January 1,1988, Douglas E. Croft was appointed Director of Membership Services! Development.

The forty-fifth national convention was in the Grand Hotel, Milwaukee, August 15-19, 1989. J. Elliott Cunningham was elected President; Stanley E. Pyndus and Wayne R. Miller, Vice Presidents; and A. M. Green, Vice President-Alumni. The initiation fee was increased to $35 and college membership dues to $22 per semester. Life Membership fees were raised to $45 and $85 respectively, to include a life membership pin. It was voted that members of the Executive Committee, exclusive of the National President, should not serve for more than two full consecutive terms. The Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity Alumni Directory, 1989, 85th Anniversary Edition, 374 pages, was published. Professional Enhancement Programs, involved with planning and management of projects or money-raising events in Alpha Kappa Psi or on the job, were instituted. Chapter management workshops were held to help chapter officers perform their duties. Professional consultants in business, general promotion, and conventions were engaged by the fraternity to enhance its quality of services and corporate image. A new logo was designed. The National Fraternity assumed the management of the John D. Sparks Fellows Program.

1990s

The 1990 Annual Report in the Winter 1990-91 Diary had articles by each national officer and the Executive Director, an audit, and a column about the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation. The Alumni Chapter Expansion Manual detailed methods for generating new alumni chapters. An Alpha Kappa Psi Placement Office was approved. The Alumni Marketing Plan was distributed. The College Chapter Expansion Manual specified how new chapters could be attracted into Alpha Kappa Psi. A Pledge Manual, which covered aspects of fraternity life, including history, traditions, customs, awards, and parliamentary procedures; and a Rush Kit, to help chapters bring in new members, were issued. A Volunteer Officer Policy and Procedure Manual, a guide for national and regional officers; and the Speakers Resource Handbook were distributed. The Performance Evaluation Report was replaced by the Management Action Plan for College Chapters.

On January 1,1991 Alpha Kappa Psi took possession of a new location which was dedicated as the John D. Sparks Headquarters Building. In addition to this move to a new location, the national office added support services of a national convention planner, an advertising agency, computer consultants, a managing editor and publisher for the Diary, and a marketing and telemarketing group to assist with alumni dues billing. At midyear, the 1991 Annual Report was published with articles by all National Officers and the Executive Director.

The forty-sixth national convention was at the Sheraton Denver Tech Hotel, Denver, August13-17,1991. J. E. Cunningham was reelected President; D. Glenn Newell was elected Vice President - College Chapters and Expansion; Kenneth B. Hastey was elected Vice President - Administration and Finance; and Allen J. Simonson was elected Vice President - Alumni. Student initiation fees were increased to $45, student membership dues to $54. National life membership fees were raised to $80 through the second year following graduation and to $150 after the second year following graduation. National chapter charter fees were set at $5 per petitioner, minimum of $150, payable in advance of installation. National alumni dues base was retained at $150 minimum with a maximum of $750 per year. Annual national alumni dues were increased to $25. It was voted that the budget for the General Fund must be in balance. The Officers Manual was adopted as the official guide for operation of college chapters. It was designated that the month of April become "Alumni Awareness Month."

Frank J. Brye served as Executive Director of Alpha Kappa Psi from 1969 to 1992. He resigned from that post on September 1, 1992, and accepted the newly-created position of Executive Development Director for the Fraternity and the Foundation, to raise funds for both organizations. Brye gave up the Fraternity post on December 31, 1993, but continued to serve the Foundation until March, 1994. Gary L. Epperson, CAE, was appointed Executive Director of the Fraternity on September 3, 1992, the fourth full-time chief executive the Fraternity has had in its history. In August 1993 the Handbook of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity, 68 pages, was published.

The 47th Convention and Banquet was at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, August 17-21, 1993. K. B. Hastey was elected President; R. A. Spansky and L. M. Muller, Vice Presidents; and J. C. Fournier, Vice President-Alumni. An amendment that the A. K. Psi Constitution and Statutory By-Laws be revised was passed. It was voted to transfer the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the East-Central Region and to transfer the North-Central's portion of Wisconsin to the Midwest Region, contingent upon the transfer of the State of Nebraska to the North-Central Region. Since New York State no longer required a Director-at-Large of the corporation, an amendment that the post be removed from the Constitution was passed; these amendments were to take effect at the 1995 National Convention. By amendment, the Board of Directors was to consist of the National President, the three National Vice Presidents, and the five at-large directors, none of whom was to hold office in any other capacity in the fraternity, a change to take place at the 1993 convention. For an orderly transition from one Board to the next, it was suggested that the newly-elected National Officers and the Regional Directors at this convention elect the five at-large directors for two-year terms. The duly elected leadership could select the Board of Directors for the interim period before the next convention, when the National Chapter could elect a full Board of Directors. The John D. Sparks Fellows Award was to include a certificate and a pin to be given at each national convention. The pledge fee was set at $20 and the initiation fee at $50, effective September 1, 1993. The 90th Anniversary Edition of the Alumni Directory of Alpha Kappa Psi, 458 pages, was published in l994.

The 48th Convention and Banquet was at the Capital Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C., August 14-19, 1995. Hastey was reelected President; Spansky, reelected Vice President, R. McVay elected Vice President, and Fournier, reelected Vice President-Alumni. A resolution was voted to amend the Constitution and Statutory Code to implement the recommendation of the Regional and National Organization Committee to establish a separate Board of Directors and a National Management Team, to consist of the National President, the National Vice Presidents, and the thirteen Regional Directors. Members of the National Management Team were to meet annually for planning purposes and, as member delegates, elect the Board of Directors of the Fraternity. These Directors are to be nine in number, and the Board will also serve as the Board of Directors of the Alpha Kappa Psi Corporation in accordance with New York State law. They will elect a Chairman and such other corporate officers as are deemed necessary, to be elected annually from among their own members. The Board will also appoint three of its members as the Executive Council Committee.

The first elected Board of Directors will consist of three directors serving a one-year term, three serving a two-year term, and three serving a three-year term. The number of terms a member may serve is restricted only by the vote of the National Management Team. The Chairman of the Board and the other elected officers are to serve one-year terms in the office they hold. Executive Committee members also serve for one-year terms.

The first election of the Board of Directors by the National Management Team was at the 1995 National Convention. Once nine candidates were elected, a drawing to determine the terms of office was held. The candidates' last names were arranged in alphabetical order. Nine slips of paper, three labeled "one-year term," three labeled "two-year term," and three labeled "three-year term" were placed in a hat. The first slip drawn was linked to the first name on the list, and so on until all names had been given a term of office. In subsequent e1ections in each year, three seats will be up for election, with a three-year term of office. Elections are held at national conventions or, in non-convention years, at the National Management Team's annual planning sessions. The Board of Directors serves as the supreme executive, legislative, and judicial body of the Fraternity between meetings of the National Chapter.

The 49th Convention and Banquet was at the Pointe Hilton Hotel at Squaw Peak, Phoenix, Arizona, July 29-August 2, 1997. R. A. Davenport was elected President; M. Fenton elected Vice President; McVay, reelected Vice President; and G. B. Dudley, Vice President-Alumni. The Alpha Kappa Psi Official Song Book, National Convention, Phoenix, was issued in 1997, col-lg-3 pages. A new Constitution and Statutory Code, that of Alpha Kappa Psi-Indiana, Inc., was passed. It is a corporation pursuant to the provisions of the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act of 1991, as amended. It was voted that the Fraternity should not be bound by any legislation to host a National Convention or a National Chapter Meeting in New York City in observance of the organization's 100th Anniversary. It was decided that the Fraternity would observe this Anniversary in a time, place, and fashion deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, based upon recommendations of the National Management Team. Articles of Incorporation of Alpha Kappa Psi-Indiana, Inc., were filed in 1997. Some reasons for moving the legal location of A. K. Psi were: to be closer to its legal counsel, its accountants and financial advisors, to take advantage of Indiana's favorable laws for non-profit organizations, and to have its legal residence in the same location as its physical residence.

Initiation fees were increased from $50 to $55 and pledge fees from $25 to $30. It was voted that the Board of Directors acquire general liability insurance for student and alumni chapters and assess them for its cost. The life membership fee structure for members who pay two years or more after graduation was dropped from $150 to $100 in conjunction with a supportive marketing effort for a two-year testing period beginning January 1, 1998. The term "Regional Leadership Conference" was replaced by the term "Regional Meeting." It was voted that the National Chapter would waive an amount equal to one fall registration fee for each college and alumni chapter in good standing for attendance at each regular National Chapter meeting. A new pledge manual was issued in January, 1999, 17 pages.

The 50th Convention and Banquet was at the Hilton Hotel at Walt Disney World Village, Orlando, Florida, August 3-8, 1999. Davenport was reelected President; J. T. Rouse, M. C. Moore, and M. L. Balicasmaya elected Vice Presidents, and M. L. Fenton elected Vice President/Foundation Director. The title of Executive Director of the Fraternity was changed to CEO.

As recommended by the Regional and National Organization Committee, all responsibility for alumni programming was voted moved from the Fraternity to the Foundation, with an implementation date of July 1, 2000. The Foundation established a special program to recognize donors who reach a cumulative giving level of $500 that replaced the life membership program.

As of the first Diary published after July 1, 2000, its publication, together with associated costs, is transferred to the Foundation, including publication and distribution of the journal. Distribution will include all current annual donors and life members, whether grandfathered in as of July 1st or recognized thereafter, as well as anyone who has purchased a lifetime subscription.

Every two years a National President is to be elected by the National Chapter. There are to be four Vice Presidents, elected by the National Chapter, to supervise particular regions rather than to perform specific tasks. Regional directors will, every two years, be elected by their regions at their respective Success Institutes. District Directors are to be eliminated, and every chapter will have a chapter advisor. Regional Managers will be appointed to cover designated areas of expertise: finance, membership, technology, expansion, chapter relations, and alumni. Chapter Advisors, Sectional Directors, and Managers, who are to be appointed, will report to the Regional Directors, who will report to the Vice Presidents. In turn they will report to the President, who submits reports to the Chief Executive Officer. He will report to the Board of Directors.

Recognition by the Foundation as an alumni chapter member requires only an annual contribution by the alumnus. For this contribution no services or goods are received; the contribution would, however, aid in the funding of regular communication with Foundation donors. No restrictions are placed on alumni chapters or organized collegiate booster groups in assessing local dues to participating or voting members.

2000s

At the March, 2000 meeting of the Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity Board of Directors, an expansion of the organization into the United Kingdom was approved. And in May, 2001, the 14th region of the Fraternity was officially established in the United Kingdom. New chapters were installed at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University. CEO G. L. Epperson; Chairman of the Board, D. P. Wendroff; National President, M.C. Moore; Foundation Vice President, R.K. Lee and five other brothers traveled to the United Kingdom to help with the installation.

The 51st Convention and banquet was held at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans, LA on August 15-19, 2001. M.C. Moore, previously National Vice President, was elected National President. G. A. Chavez, P. M. Gallagher, N. A. Huebner and C. D. Steffens were elected as National Vice Presidents.

Brother Carol R. Carter was awarded the Gold Distinguished Service Award at the Grand Banquet in recognition of her years of service as Regional Director, National Vice-President and Executive Committee Member. Brother Carter was the first female National Officer of the Fraternity and the first female recipient of the Gold DSA.

The new logo and corporate identity program for the Fraternity was unveiled to the National Chapter. The new Volunteer Recognition Program was initiated and Brothers Wendroff and Davenport presented the jewelry to past and current volunteers.

Comprehensive legislation to update the Constitution and Statutory Code focused on:
1. Giving authority to the Regional Management Teams in making decisions regarding termination of members for financial delinquency among members;
2. Providing clear understanding and procedures for the removal of chapter officers for any reason within a college chapter;
3. Providing an official step-by-step road map for all areas of member discipline so to alleviate much confusion, disparity and uncertainty between the Constitution and Statutory Code, Chapter Bylaws and the Board of Directors Statement of Policy and;
4. Allowing the best possible training, planning, continuity, and successful leadership for the Board of Directors through the establishment of a succession plan for the Chairman position.

The Fraternity commenced celebrating its 100th year at the 52nd Convention and banquet at the Chicago Hilton and Towers in Chicago, IL on August 7-10, 2003. The new Centennial logo was unveiled. D. Stubblefield was elected National President. A. Nemeth, A. Neuman, A. Sultan and G. Chavez were elected National Vice Presidents.

For the first time since 1997, the National Chapter voted to increase fees. Pledge Fees were changed to $39, Initiation Fees to $60, and College Chapter Dues to $45. The fee increase was designed to provide financial assistance in support of specific areas determined by the Board of Director's strategic plan. These areas focused on training programs for volunteers, developing a comprehensive Web site and enhanced technological services, and increasing alumni support and programming through the funding a full-time director of alumni services. The National Chapter also voted to move the election of Fraternity directors from the National Management Team to the National Chapter.
Brother Wayne R. Miller was awarded the Gold Distinguished Service Award at the Grand Banquet in recognition of his service as the first Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fraternity, National Vice-President and Regional Director.

History of the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Alpha Kappa Psi is its heraldic insigne; it possesses secret significance, and is used on stationery, programs, membership certificates, charters, awards, articles of jewelry, clothing and fraternity publications. It is one of the few coats of arms of professional fraternities included in the authoritative work, "College Fraternity Heraldry," published by the Banta Publishing Company. The present coat of arms was officially adopted in 1930 and replaced the former one which was not in accord with the rules of heraldry.

BLAZON. The heraldic description or blazon of the coat of arms of Alpha Kappa Psi is:

Per pall (orper pairle), reversed; or, sable and azure; in dexter chief an azure coin bag tied and lined gules, proper; in sinister chief a pair of balances palewise of the fourth; in base a Phoenician galley with sails and ten oars all of the first. On an esquire's helmet the crest: resting on a chain of four links a radiant estoile of ten or; upon the latter a human eye, sable. Motto, Alpha Kappa Psi in Greek upper and lower case.

SIGNIFICANCE. The estoile, the chain of four links, the coin bag, the pair of balances, the Phoenician galley, and the motto are peculiar to Alpha Kappa Psi; they possess a secret significance with relation to the Fraternity and are exemplified only in the Ritual.

Per pall, means in the manner of a pall. A pall was an heraldic emblem formed by an inverted chevron and an upright piece making an object the contour of which is similar to the letter Y. To state that the shield is per pall indicates that it is in three divisions of this type. Since it is reversed, it is understood to be divided into three parts but in the reverse form of the pall - like the upside down Y.

Or, is the term used for gold. It is deemed a metal and as such may be placed on color or vice versa. It is sometimes shown by the pigment yellow and in monotone drawings is indicated by equidistant dots on a plain surface. It was the color assigned to the sun and symbolizes power and majesty.

Sable, is black. It is considered a fur and accordingly may be placed on color or on metal or vice versa. In monotone drawings it is indicated either by a solidly colored surface or by horizontal and vertical lines cross hatched. Sable symbolizes secrecy and solidity. It is the emblem of the earth and of the night.

Azure, is blue, the color that symbolizes integrity and truth. It is indicated in monotone drawings by horizontal lines.

Dexter, is the right-hand side of a shield when it is being carried. This makes it the left-hand side of the observer.

Chief, this is the term applied to the upper portion of the shield, formed from the word chef or head because it was the portion of the shield that was nearest the warrior's head. Dexter chief is accordingly the upper left-hand side of a shield as you look at it.

Gules, is red, and is indicated by perpendicular parallel lines. It is emblematic of courage and valor.

Proper, is the phrase used to express a symbol or emblem being drawn in its natural form and contour, with shading, etc.

Sinister, is the left-hand side of the shield when worn, hence the observer's right.

Palewise, in the direction of a pale. A pale was an emblem formed by making a portion of the shield different in tincture. This portion was formed by two perpendicular lines. This pale represented the upright parts of a palisade or fort. An emblem placed palewise is therefore put in a perpendicular position.

Of the fourth, the science of heraldry hated repetition, particularly of a tincture. Accordingly, they repeated a color by mentioning numerical placement. Fourth in this instance is gules.
Of the first, similarly this is of gold.

HELMET. It was customary to place a helmet or similar device above the shield. This probably came about from a simple habit. When the knight came home from a fray and entered his hall, sometimes mounted on his steed, it is said, his shield was first taken from him and hung away, perhaps on the wall of the room. Then, in the same way that we hang our hats on top of our coats, his helmet was hung on top of his shield. During the centuries the various styles of helmets became simplified, as used in heraldry, until now the best authorities list four kinds. That of the esquire's is shown facing dexter, and is of steel with visor closed. It makes an excellent symbol of secrecy.

TORSE. Above the helmet is a representation of twisted silk or ribbon. This is shown in six folds in dexter lines of division. It is usually shown in the dominant metal and color of the shield. Its exact origin is not known, some believing it to be a memory of the ribbons or colors which a lady gave to her knight when he went forth to tournament or combat.

CREST. When a leader went into a combat encased in a coat of mail even to his helmet, it was difficult for his men to recognize him. To make himself evident to those who followed he affixed some emblem to the top of his helmet-a feather, a paw of an animal, or some shapen object. This was called the crest. It is always placed on a torse and most authorities maintain that it must be placed on a helmet (or helmet's substitute, as a bishop's mitre) unless the instance is such that the existence of the helmet is clearly understood. Sometimes the crest on its torse was shown apart from the rest of the heraldic achievement.

MANTLEING. The decorations that flow out from the top of the helmet and from below the torse are called mantleings. These are given various origins. Likely they were scarves worn about the helmet as an added protection from storm and weather. It is shown in the colors of the torse; the scrolls, etc., represent the tears and tatters of usage.

MOTTO. This may have been originated by the war cry, but likely was just an apt phrase assumed. It was not necessarily hereditary. It usually appeared on a ribbon or scroll beneath the shield unless the phrase had some peculiar application to the crest, when it was placed above the design.

CONCERNING THE CREST. Radiant is a term used to denote that rays of light are indicated as shining from the emblem mentioned. Estoile is a star of more than five points. When it has more than six points the number has to be indicated in the manner here used as, of eight, of ten, etc.

CONCERNING THE MOTTO. The motto of Alpha Kappa Psi is written in upper and lower case Greek letters as is shown on the scroll beneath the shield. These letters have a secret meaning which is explained to members when they are affiliated.