Theta Chapter Centennial Historical Blog

Theta Brother Spotlight: Dr. Roscoe C. Giles, Sr.

2009-12-25T20:53:00.000-08:00

Dr. Roscoe C. Giles, Sr. was an accomplished physician, surgeon and influential member of both Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Theta Chapter and the City of Chicago.

Giles was originally from Albany, New York. His father, Francis Giles, was both a minister and a lawyer. He was an outstanding student early in his academic career, winning the B.B. Christ medal and a scholarship to Cornel University. He was a literature major and had an eye towards medicine. He graduated from Cornel in 1911, and was the first African-American to gain admittance into the medical school at Cornel.

Giles was initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha on October 26, 1907. As a member of Alpha Chapter, he served as president of the chapter, and later would be elected the second general president of the fraternity. It was Giles, ironically, how approved the application for the creation of Theta Chapter. Later, he would become a member and president of Theta Chapter, along with being a charter member of Xi Lambda Chapter in Chicago.

Upon his graduation from Cornel, he relocated to Chicago and was accepted on staff at Provident Hospital where we worked under distinguished physicians such as Daniel Hale Williams, George Cleveland Hall (Theta), Ulysses G. Dailey (Theta), and C.G. Roberts.

In 1917, Giles was appointed Supervisor of the Chicago Health Department by then Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson. Following the 1919 race riots in Chicago, Giles was appointed by then Illinois governor Frank Lowden to a 12 person panel (6 white, 6 black) to study the impact on race relations in Illinois.

He remained a popular and important figure in Chicago. In addition to his duties at Provident Hospital, he maintained a private practice until his death. He was known to be a welcoming and personable individual, who deeply cared about the well being of not only his patients, but of any he could assist.

Giles married the former Frances Reeder and together they had three children: Roscoe C. Giles I (who died as a child), Oscar DePriest Giles, and Roscoe C. Giles II.

Giles entered Omega Chapter on February 19, 1970.

Theta Brother Spotlight: Jewel Henry Arthur Callis

2009-12-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Jewel Dr. Henry Arthur Callis, was not only one of the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Seven Jewels), founded December 4, 1906, but also played an integral part in the founding and development of Theta Chapter and Alpha's in Chicago.

In February of 1910, Jewel Callis was a medical student at Rush Medical College, which would later become a part of the medical school at the University of Chicago. It was while living in Chicago that Jewel Callis met and married his second wife, Pauline Parker. They resided at 4356 South Calumet Ave., where Bro. Dr. U.G. Dailey, the second Honorary Theta Member, lived during that same time.

Once applications were made and approved, Jewel Callis was called upon to assist in the creation of Theta Chapter with the initiation of the six founders of Theta: Dr. Thomas Boger, Dr. Alexander C. Browne, Dr. Ormville Coles, Dr. Samuel LeCount Cook, Dr. Gordon Jackson and Dr. Henry Howard Towles.

Jewel Callis would remain heavily involved with Theta Chapter. He served as President of Theta Chapter in 1912, and as the only Jewel who was elected general president of Alpha Phi Alpha, he was elected while a member of Theta Chapter.

During his time in Chicago, Jewel Callis would help shape the direction of both the fraternity and the chapter. He is also a founding member of Xi Lambda Chapter of Chicago, which was founded in 1927, along with several other members of Theta Chapter.

After leaving Chicago, Jewel Callis would go on to become a professor of medicine at Howard University in addition to maintaining a private medical practice.

On his visits to Chicago after his relocation, he was often heard saying to many affirming his affinity for Chicago's first chapter, "I was never initiated into the fraternity, but if I had, it would have been through Theta."

Theta Chapter is proud and honored to have Jewel Callis counted among those who are a part of "Greater Theta." We like to think his passion and dedication to the fraternity is one of the things that have inspired all of us to live up to the example he and the others members of Theta have set by truly being committed to the precepts of our fraternity: "Manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind."

Happy Founders Day and the Theta Legacy Continues

2009-12-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

Today we mark the 103rd Anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. For 103 years, Alpha Phi Alpha has stood as testament to the intellectual, academic and social potential of black men in this country, and our commitment to be a vehicle for the betterment of mankind.

We, the members of Theta Chapter, are eternally grateful for the vision of our founders, Loving known as the Seven Jewels, for their vision and dedication to create a vehicle for "the better making of men."

This day we also pause to recognize a significant date in the formation of Theta Chapter.

On this date in 1909, a recommendation was made and Alpha chapter (Cornel University) approved the application submitted to create a chapter in Chicago, Illinois. This would clear the way for the General Convention to officially and formally approve the application and make way for the creation of Theta Chapter the following February.

Therefore, the brothers of Theta Chapter celebrate two anniversaries this day. The approval of our application 100 years ago, and the formation of our beloved fraternity 103 years ago.

To all of the members of Alpha Phi Alpha, we wish you a very happy Founders Day and encourage each of you to keep holding the light of Alpha high in thought, word and deed!

Coming up: The official approval of the application for Theta Chapter, setting up the creation of Theta, the founding of Theta Chapter, profiles of Theta Brothers.

The Legacy of Theta Began Today!!

2009-11-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

On this day, 100 years ago, Theta Chapter had it's earliest beginnings.

On November 28, 1909, Second General President Roscoe C. Giles received a letter from Bro. George C. Middleton, secretary of Epsilon Chapter at the University of Michigan.

The purpose of this letter was to inform President Giles that an application had been received to establish a chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at the University of Chicago so that they could "draw their members from all schools in Chicago."

This event would lay the foundation for what would become Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. For many years, Theta would serve as the city chapter of Chicago for Alpha, drawing students from colleges and universities in and around the Chicago area. This would include, but not be limited to the above named University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and also the then named Rush Medical College, from which many members of Theta would matriculate (including Jewel Henry A. Callis).

Therefore, on this day, we pause to recognize the genesis of Theta Chapter. The reception of this letter by General President Giles is interesting to members of Theta, as a couple of years later, President Giles would relocate to Chicago and affiliate with Theta Chapter, going on to become president of our august chapter. Little did they know that Theta would go on to initiate more than 1,000 men into our chapter and serve as an important fixture in the lives of not only black Chicago, but Chicago and the state of Illinois itself.

Coming up: The approval of the application for Theta Chapter, setting up the creation of Theta, the founding of Theta Chapter.

Welcome to the Theta Chapter Centennial Historical Blog

2009-11-17T22:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Historical Blog for the Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.

On February 21, 2010, Theta Chapter will celebrate it's 100th anniversary. As the "8th House" of Alpha, save for the first seven chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha and the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., Theta Chapter is older than all other Black Greek Letter Organizations.

Theta Chapter has had a long and illustrious history, with many distinguished and accomplished men who have gone on to serve our chapter, fraternity, community, and country and various ways.

This blog will celebrate the accomplishments of the chapter, our brothers and the impact Theta has had on the city of Chicago, the state of Illinois and the world.

Feel free to check back often!