Description
Records in this collection document the structure, finances, history, culture, and charitable contributions of the Alpha Phi
Alpha alumni chapter Eta Sigma Lambda, which is based in San José, California.
Background
On December 4, 1906 at the campus of Cornell University, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity earned the distinct honor of being
the first Greek letter college fraternity to be founded by African American men. Nearly 60 years later, eight African-American
men founded the Eta Sigma Lambda (ESL) chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in Palo Alto, California. The founders of
the Eta Sigma Lambda chapter laid the foundation to what would become a socially and charitably vibrant chapter of the Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity. The fraternity's vision statement best summarizes the purpose and spirit of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity:
Extent
10.0 boxes
(8.34 linear feet)
Restrictions
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items
and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Availability
The collection is open for research with the exception of box four. Explicit permission is required to view the contents of
box four.