Elder Watson Diggs
Encyclopedia
Elder Watson Diggs was a principal founder of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Incorporated. He was the fraternity's first Polemarch (chairman), and received the Laurel Wreath, the highest recognition of achievement bestowed by Kappa Alpha Psi.
, on December 23, 1883, the oldest son of Cornelia Diggs. He had one brother and one sister, named Ellis and Essie, respectively. He attended Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana State University
), graduating in spring 1908. In 1909, he enrolled in Howard University
. It was here that, in 1910, he met Byron Kenneth Armstrong
. In the fall of that year, Diggs and Armstrong left Howard University to attend Indiana University.
students. Diggs was one of 10 African-American students enrolled at the university. University life was not particularly kind to African-American students, as they were barred from engaging in activities permitted to white students, such as using entertainment and recreational facilities and engaging in contact sports.
Unhappy with the plight of African-Americans on Indiana University's campus, Diggs met with eight other men with the purpose of discussing issues of common interest and agreed to pursue the creation of a fraternity. On January 5, 1911, Diggs and the other founders of Kappa Alpha Psi officially formed this new fraternity, with Diggs being made the chairman, a position later termed Polemarch. Diggs served as the Grand Polemarch, chairman of the entire fraternity, for the first six years of Kappa Alpha Psi.
In June 1912, after the end of the school year, Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, and Irven Armstrong (Byron K. Armstrong's cousin), the current Grand Keeper of Records, continued to develop the various aspects of the fraternity while working as waiters in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Diggs completed the fraternity's constitution and initiation ceremony, and with the help of the others, completed the fraternity's coat of arms
.
. Smith was a public school teacher in Rising Sun, Indiana
. Because married women were not allowed to teach in Indiana at that time, their marriage was kept a secret.
Diggs returned to the Indiana University shortly thereafter. His wife became seriously ill, and Diggs withdrew from the university to take care of her. In March 1913, Diggs' wife died.
Diggs served as a high school principal at Vincennes, Indiana
, in 1913 and 1914, and continued to work toward expanding the fraternity to other universities. Diggs also worked to improve the academic and cultural opportunities for blacks, engaging in projects such as establishing a permanent debate club which participated in competitions, the profits of which were donated to charity.
Diggs graduated from the Indiana University School of Education in 1916, becoming the first African-American to do so. He married Elizabeth Byrd in the summer of that same year. In 1917, Diggs resigned as principal in order to enter the United State's first Officer's Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, thereby becoming one of the first members of Kappa Alpha Psi to join the armed forces. He served with the 368th Infantry in Europe, after which he became a captain in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps
. In 1924, Diggs, for his incessant efforts to improve and expand the fraternity and commitment to the fraternity's ideals, received the Laurel Wreath, the highest recognition of achievement in Kappa Alpha Psi.
Diggs died at 7 a.m. on November 8, 1947 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
in Indianapolis, Indiana. His widow, Lydia Diggs, died less than thirty days after.
An Indianapolis public school, Elder W. Diggs IPS School#42, was named in Diggs' honor.
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
Fraternity, Incorporated. He was the fraternity's first Polemarch (chairman), and received the Laurel Wreath, the highest recognition of achievement bestowed by Kappa Alpha Psi.
Early life
Diggs was born in Madisonville, KentuckyMadisonville, Kentucky
Madisonville is a city in Hopkins County, Kentucky, United States of the Western Coal Field region, located along US 41 and The Pennyrile Parkway. The population was 19,307 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hopkins County. The city was named in honor of U.S...
, on December 23, 1883, the oldest son of Cornelia Diggs. He had one brother and one sister, named Ellis and Essie, respectively. He attended Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
), graduating in spring 1908. In 1909, he enrolled in Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. It was here that, in 1910, he met Byron Kenneth Armstrong
Byron Kenneth Armstrong
Byron Kenneth Armstrong was a founder of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He served as the fraternity's first Grand Strategus and Grand Historian, and received the Laurel Wreath, the highest recognition of achievement bestowed by Kappa Alpha Psi.-Early life:Armstrong was born in...
. In the fall of that year, Diggs and Armstrong left Howard University to attend Indiana University.
Founding of Kappa Alpha Psi
While Diggs attended Indiana University, the campus was predominantly populated with whiteWhite people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
students. Diggs was one of 10 African-American students enrolled at the university. University life was not particularly kind to African-American students, as they were barred from engaging in activities permitted to white students, such as using entertainment and recreational facilities and engaging in contact sports.
Unhappy with the plight of African-Americans on Indiana University's campus, Diggs met with eight other men with the purpose of discussing issues of common interest and agreed to pursue the creation of a fraternity. On January 5, 1911, Diggs and the other founders of Kappa Alpha Psi officially formed this new fraternity, with Diggs being made the chairman, a position later termed Polemarch. Diggs served as the Grand Polemarch, chairman of the entire fraternity, for the first six years of Kappa Alpha Psi.
In June 1912, after the end of the school year, Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, and Irven Armstrong (Byron K. Armstrong's cousin), the current Grand Keeper of Records, continued to develop the various aspects of the fraternity while working as waiters in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Diggs completed the fraternity's constitution and initiation ceremony, and with the help of the others, completed the fraternity's coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
.
Later life
In summer 1912, Diggs married his childhood sweetheart, Clara Bell Smith, in Lexington, KentuckyLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. Smith was a public school teacher in Rising Sun, Indiana
Rising Sun, Indiana
Rising Sun is a city in Randolph Township, Ohio County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,304 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Ohio County.-History:...
. Because married women were not allowed to teach in Indiana at that time, their marriage was kept a secret.
Diggs returned to the Indiana University shortly thereafter. His wife became seriously ill, and Diggs withdrew from the university to take care of her. In March 1913, Diggs' wife died.
Diggs served as a high school principal at Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
, in 1913 and 1914, and continued to work toward expanding the fraternity to other universities. Diggs also worked to improve the academic and cultural opportunities for blacks, engaging in projects such as establishing a permanent debate club which participated in competitions, the profits of which were donated to charity.
Diggs graduated from the Indiana University School of Education in 1916, becoming the first African-American to do so. He married Elizabeth Byrd in the summer of that same year. In 1917, Diggs resigned as principal in order to enter the United State's first Officer's Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, thereby becoming one of the first members of Kappa Alpha Psi to join the armed forces. He served with the 368th Infantry in Europe, after which he became a captain in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
. In 1924, Diggs, for his incessant efforts to improve and expand the fraternity and commitment to the fraternity's ideals, received the Laurel Wreath, the highest recognition of achievement in Kappa Alpha Psi.
Diggs died at 7 a.m. on November 8, 1947 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
in Indianapolis, Indiana. His widow, Lydia Diggs, died less than thirty days after.
An Indianapolis public school, Elder W. Diggs IPS School#42, was named in Diggs' honor.