History

Chartered on May 7th, 1938, the Beta Theta Lambda Chapter strives to fulfill the Fraternity’s aims of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind.  Seated in Durham, NC; the 152nd House of Alpha serves Durham, Orange, and Chapel Hill Counties and continues to serve as advocates of the community.

Some significant events occurred in Durham, North Carolina in May of 1938.

  • Odd fellows Lodge held their annual meeting here at Markham Chapel. 
  • The President of the State Teachers Organization held a meeting at North Carolina College for Negroes with a lecture by Langston Hughes.
  • The first Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Alumnae chapter was founded in Raleigh, NC on May 4.
  • Count Basie came to Durham on May 9th.

From the written archives it was noted in the late 1930s, there was a desire of a few Alpha brothers in Durham to from an alumni chapter. This desire was twofold: There were things that they should be doing in Durham; they were desirous of paving the way for an undergraduate chapter at North Carolina Central University.  With these two reasons at the forefront, and with consideration to the travel distance, Brother John E. Payne, led the effort to establish the alumni chapter in Durham, known today as Beta Theta Lambda, the one hundred and fifty-second seat in the house of Alpha.  During this year as well, our dear Brother Dr. Charles Harris Wesley was the General President.  The Southern Region President was Brother Charles Greene and there were four living founders; Jewels Tandy, Murray, Callis, and Kelly.

The significance of Beta Theta Lambda far exceeds the greater impact that was to come.  Along with Brother Payne, who also served as chairman to establish the undergraduate chapter, the following brothers, who are also revered as the “Pioneers” of Beta Theta Lambda Chapter, led the charge to establish out beloved chapter:

  • Bro. Alfonso Elder – served as second President of NCCU and supervised racial integration of the school
  • Bro. Alphonse Heningburg – initiated into Alpha Nu Lambda Chapter Tuskegee, Alabama 1924
  • Bro. Dr. Lawrence H. Knox – one of only 30 African-Americans to receive a Ph.D. degree in all branches of chemistry since 1916
  • Bro. Robert P. Randolph –initiated into Gamma Chapter Virginia Union University 1928
  • Bro. James M. Schooler, Sr. – Noted Educator and Administrator- *Dean of ANCA , entered the Omega chapter January 1, 2009
  • Bro. James T. Taylor – initiated into Phi Lambda Chapter Raleigh, North Carolina 1927
  • Bro. William J. Walker, Jr. – initiated into Alpha Rho Chapter Morehouse 1930
  • Bro. Carol T. Willis – initiated into Eta Chapter NYU 1928
  • Bro. John E. Payne – initiated into Phi Lambda Raleigh, North Carolina 1929

Later Bro. Charles L. Holmes of Phi Lambda Chapter was also considered to be one of the “Pioneers”.