HONORARY MEMBERS

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Bro. Carey was Theta’s first honorary member, initiated in 1912. He was the pastor Quinn Chapel and Bethel A.M.E. Church before being assigned to Institutional A.M.E. Church in 1909.

Bro. Carey was one of the most prominent members of the clergy in Chicago, having gained respect of not only the black residents, but white government officials as well.

In 1920, he was elected as Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church where he served until he entered into Omega Chapter on March 23, 1931.

His son, Rev. Dr. Archibald Carey, Jr., who was also a member of the clergy, along with being a Chicago alderman and later a judge, also become a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, initiated into Theta Chapter as well.

Bro. Alexander L. Jackson II was born in Englewood, New Jersey in 1891. He graduated from Harvard University in 1914 moved to Chicago shortly after his graduation and became Executive Secretary of the Wabash Street YMCA in 1915.

He was the former Education Secretary of the National Urban League. He also was the co-Charter Brother of Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). – with Carter G. Woodson, Theta Member George C. Hall and James E. Stamps. The association published The Journal of Negro History.

From 1921 to 1936 he served as president of the Board of Trustees at Provident Hospital, and from there he went on to be the president-treasurer of Manhasset Plandome and Montauk building Corp. for 50 years until his retirement.

Bro. Jackson entered Omega Chapter in November of 1973.

George Cleveland Hall was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1882, he entered Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) as an undergraduate with the intention of studying medicine. He graduated with high honors in 1886 and entered Bennett Medical College.

After his graduation from Bennett, he chose to start his practice in Chicago, Illinois.

He became one of the first attending physicians and surgeons at the historic Provident Hospital and Training School, located on the South Side of Chicago, the first hospital in Chicago devoted to servicing the black population there. There, he became acquainted with and worked under Dr. Daniel Hale Williams and served as Medical Director at Provident under Dr. Williams

On May 2, 1919, Hall was initiated as the 3rd Honorary member of Theta Chapter.

In 1926, Hall was appointed Chief of Staff of Provident Hospital, following the departure of Dr. Williams. It was during this time, Dr. Hall became the personal physician for Booker T. Washington, among other dignitaries, whenever Mr. Washington was in Chicago.

Dr. Hall was a co-Charter Brother of Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). – with Carter G. Woodson, Theta Member Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps. The association published The Journal of Negro History.

In addition to his medical accomplishments, Dr. Hall, a Republican, was appointed by then Mayor William Dever to serve on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Public Library, where he would serve alongside the likes of Carter G. Woodson. On January 18, 1932, in recognition to his service to the library and his commitment to the education of blacks, the George C. Hall Public Library was opened at 4801 S. Michigan, where it still stands today.

At his death, Dr. Hall was married to Mrs. Theodosia Hall, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Along with his membership in Alpha Phi Alpha, Hall was also a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the Prince Hall Masonic organization, and the Appomattox Club, along with being instrumental in the formation of the South Side Branch of the NAACP and the Chicago Urban League.

Ulysses Grant Dailey (1885–1961), sometimes called “The Father of Negro Hospitals,” was an American surgeon, writer, and teacher. He was one of the first African Americans recognized in the field of medicine in the United States. In 1949, the House of Delegates of the National Medical Association awarded him with the Distinguished Service Award.

He was initiated as the 4th Honorary member of Theta chapter along with Bro. Dr. George Hall on May 2, 1919.

Dailey was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. He obtained his degree in Medicine from Northwestern University in 1906. He established the Dailey Hospital and Sanitarium in 1926. He became a senior attending surgeon at Provident Hospital in Chicago from 1933 to 1952. He received assignments from the Department Statement and was assigned to India, Sri Lanka and Africa from 1952 to 1953. From 1915 to 1916, he was a fellow of the International College of Surgeons and president of the National Medical Association.

He entered Omega Chapter in 1961.

Jesse Binga was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1865. He moved to Chicago to start a bank in 1908. The bank was made primarily for African Americans, since during that time many banks would not allow African-Americans in. The Great Migration came, and Binga State Bank grew more popular. In addition to the bank, Binga owned several buildings in the Bronzeville neighborhood where he would rent space to black business.

Many of the cities doctors’ offices, insurance companies and other professional businesses were housed in what was called the Binga Arcade, an area on 35th street from what is now King Drive going west to Indiana.

It should be noted that for a time, the National Headquarters of Alpha Phi Alpha was located in the Binga Arcade before relocating to 4432 S. Parkway Blvd (King Drive).

Jesse Binga grew to be a rich man and eventually he and his wife bought a house at 5922 South Park Avenue, which is now known as King Drive, which was a strictly white neighborhood, and his house was bombed five different times by racist neighbors.

During the Great Depression, Binga was accused running his bank illegally and was charged with bank fraud and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Binga lived the rest of his life working as a janitor for St. Anslem’s Catholic School until he entered Omega Chapter in June of 1950.

It should be noted that Binga is the only member of the fraternity who was initiated without ever having attended college.

He was the 5th and final honorary member for Theta Chapter, initiated in 1921.