The BETA LAMBDA Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

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The effort to organize Beta Lambda Chapter at Kansas City, Missouri began in April 1918.  It was launched in response to the request of the graduate members of the fraternity who were gathered in this city.  Brothers T.C. Brown, W.H. Bruce, L.H. Norwood, Thomas Taylor, J. Oliver Morrison (brother of past General President Moses Alvin Morrison), and Guy Booker made application to the convention of 1918 held in Cleveland Ohio.

Favorable action was taken by the convention and the chapter was established in January 1919.  Beta Lambda Chapter was the second oldest graduate chapter.  The charter members were Brothers: T.J. Taylor, T.C. Brown, E. H. Lee, L.H. Norwood, I.F. Bradley, Jr., C.L. Jones, A.O. Mitchell, J.C. Booker, W.H. Bruce and J. Oliver Morrison.

Since its inception, Beta Lambda, and our BLEI foundation, have shown leadership in service, social justice, education and development of mankind.

We claim the following firsts:

• First graduate chapter West of the Mississippi River
• First graduate chapter to host the National Convention
• First & Only Alpha chapter to host a National Tri-Convention [Twice with AKAs & Kappas]
• First of the NPHC Greeks to own commercial building in Kansas City

• 1920       Hosted Thirteenth Annual Convention
• 1932       Sponsored “Evening with Negro Composers”
• 1935       Formed a Wives Auxiliary known as the “Alphabettes”
• 1940       Hosted Twenty-Eighth Annual Convention 1st Tri-Convention**
• 1945       Won the “McGee Memorial Cup” as Outstanding National Chapter
• 1946       Won the “McGee Memorial Cup” as Outstanding National Chapter
• 1947       Won the “McGee Memorial Cup” as Outstanding National Chapter
• 1950       Hosted Thirty-Sixth Annual Convention 2nd Tri-Convention.
• 1960       Hosted Midwestern Regional Convention
• 1975       Hosted Midwestern Regional Convention
• 1988       Hosted Seventy-Fourth Annual Convention
• 1991        Purchased Property at 2915 Swope Pkwy, KCMO.
• 1991        Established BL Education Foundation 
• 1997       Won National Alumni Chapter of the Year Award
• 1999        Hosted Midwestern Regional Convention
• 2008       Hosted Eighty-Eighth Annual Convention
• 2020       Host Midwestern Regional Convention
• 2022       Host Midwestern Regional Convention

 **Both Tri-Conventions were held in conjunction with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.