Members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity gather in Detroit in 1965 in a scene from “Lost Landscapes of Detroit.” / Prelinger Archives

When San Francisco film collector and historian Richard Prelinger brought his “Lost Landscapes of Detroit” program to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit last year, he was surprised that more than 400 people attended. He was also pleased that so many people responded to his request for more home movie-style footage for use in a future show.

Prelinger returns this weekend with three screenings of motion-picture snapshots of the city. The footage was recorded mostly by amateur filmmakers from 1916 through the late 1970s. The video-projected program comes from mostly one-of-a-kind 8mm and 16mm films that are part of his Prelinger Archives, a collection of historical industrial and home movies.

“Much of this year’s edition came from films I have found recently,” Prelinger said in a phone interview. “The biggest difference from last year is the amount of African-American film footage that has come my way.”

Among the scenes:

• Detroit’s 250th anniversary parade in 1951, including an appearance by Joe Louis.

• Women working at a Chrysler auto plant during World War II.

• The 1965 national meeting of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, with special guest speaker Wilt Chamberlin.

• Detroiters making a pilgrimage to the newly opened Northland Center in 1956.

As with last year’s program, Prelinger will present the footage without sound.

“This isn’t about nostalgia, another chance to mourn the loss of the old Hudson’s building,” he says. “Everyone has their eye on Detroit; they see the possibilities. This is an injection of the past into Detroit’s present to help inform its future.”

The Brothers of Pi Xi

It was the summer of 1977 with the culmination of the years of planning by the likes of Cornel D. Mortimer and shuttle diplomacy of Lester J. Mortimer, Jr., who in concert with brothers Granville C. Bain, John A. Godet, Derek “Ace” Bastian, Cleveland W. Eneas, Jr. and Lowell J. Mortimer who collaborated with other Bahamian men that were Omegas and made application to The Fraternity’s Headquarters for a chapter to be chartered in Nassau, Bahamas.

The Supreme Council of the Fraternity under the leadership of Grand Basileus, Edward J. Braynon, approved the Charter Application on August 17, 1977 which also got support from the wider brotherhood stretching from Florida up through Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Brothers of note included Brother Philip J. Mortimer, Carver Potluck and Samuel Sheppard (Editor-to-the-Oracle).

On August 22, 1977 Bro. Dr. Edward J. Braynon, accompanied by some sixty other visiting brothers and well wishers, personally presented the charter of Pi Xi Chapter to Bro. John A. Godet, Charter Basileus, who accepted on behalf of the other ten proud charter members who consisted of the following: Bros. Cornel D.V. Mortimer (Keeper of Records & Seal), Paul Clare (Vice Basileus), Peter L. Mitchell (Keeper of Finance), Granville C. Bain (Chaplain), Cleveland Eneas, Jr., Gregory Austin, Lowell J. Mortimer, Lester J. Mortimer, Jr., Philip J. Mortimer and Derek G. Bastian.

During the time just weeks prior to the charter presentation the brothers in Nassau suffered the loss of beloved Bro. Derek Glenn Bastian who suffered injury in a fire in which he had re-entered a burning building in efforts to rescue a family member. Bro. Bastian succumbed to those injuries several days later, nevertheless his name was included as a charter member of the chapter and at Ace’s homegoing to Omega Chapter, the brotherhood further rededicated themselves to the causes of Omega in his memory.

The Charter ceremony was held at “GranVilla”, Hibiscus Estates, West Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, the beachfront home of Bro. Dr. Granville Bain. The event was organized by the brothers under the chairmanship of Bro. Lowell J. Mortimer. Other brothers who were also home in Nassau during this time and attended the ceremony included Excellency Bro. Davidson L. Hepburn, Ph.D., and Bros. Vaughn L. Culmer and Dr. Cleveland W. Eneas, Sr.,. O.B.E.

The presidents and members of the other seven black greek letter organizations also attended the affair along with numerous local dignitaries, foremost of which was the Governor General (Head of State) Sir Gerald C. Cash, O.B.E., JP who welcomed the Grand Basileus and visiting brothers and proposed the first toast to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.- Pi Xi Chapter.

Since that day Pi Xi Chapter has been on the move promoting the Fraternity’s programs designed to uplift downtrodden humanity, stimulate the attainment of ideals and ambitions of its’ members, and disseminate those ideals to those in which they have come in contact. The chapter also sought to occupy a progressive, helpful and constructive place in the civic life of the community. Programs pursued via community outreach include the sponsorship of an Omega Psi Phi Chair at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts, the chapter’s Big Brother program at the Boy’s and Girls Industrial School through Junior Achievement and The Gentlemen’s Club, an Annual Essay Contest for college-bound seniors, High School Talent Hunt, The Omega High School Invitational Basketball Tournament, Social Action through canned food/old cloths drives, Fundraising for the Red Cross Society and for College of the Bahamas Scholarships via events such as Da’ Greasy Pit and the renowned Cruise With The Ques.

Eleven years after its founding, Pi Xi Chapter came of age successfully initiating seven men as a part of its first line during September 1988. They came to be known as “The Seven Surviving Aces” name quite appropriately after Bro. Derek “Ace” Bastian.

By Peter L. Mitchell

The Brothers of Alpha Delta Xi

Ottawa, ON (Canada)
Facebook Page | email: AlphaDeltaXi@oppf.org  
Brother Christopher Infantry
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The Brothers of Lambda Xi

Over the past 32 years, the Men of Lambda Xi have proudly served with distinction on the Korean Peninsula. We fully embrace our responsibilities in the Korean/US community. Whether assisting the less fortunate or uplifting those striving for academic excellence, the wide range of talents and expertise amongst the brotherhood enable us to routinely take on tasks that most deem too difficult to accomplish.

Theta Rho History

Theta Rho International Chapter, “Home of the European Ques”, was chartered in Frankfurt, Germany on August 15, 1962 by fifteen chartered members: Brothers Ernest W. Armstrong, Wilbur L. Beck, Gilbert Kleckley, Henry L. Gibson, Roy L. Goines, Johnnie C. Greer, Samuel R. Harris, Samuel B. Houston, Evander L. Humphrey, Aaron M. Jones, Nathaniel L. Keeling, Russell A. Powell, Robert L. Smith, Dudley L. Tademy, and Joseph E. Washington.  These men with extraordinary vision led the first chartering of any Greek lettered Pan-Hellenic organization in Europe.  The chapter was inactivated in 1972 and reactivated April 13, 1973 with nine members.  The most famous of these Brothers was Major General Matthew Zimmerman who became the U.S. Army’s first African-American Chief of Chaplains.

On July 29, 1988 in Wuerzburg, Germany, local area brothers formed our sister Chapter Phi Gamma Gamma, to eliminate the travel and logistics requirements brothers incurred trying to make fraternity meetings.   Phi Gamma Gamma was inactivated in the summer of 2000 and reactivated 2007 with her Charter in Kuwait.

In the early 1990s, the collapse of the “Iron Curtain” and the falling of the Berlin Wall brought about German reunification and a reduction of U.S. Armed Forces in Europe due to the reduced Soviet threat.  “Downsizing” of U.S. Forces in Europe coupled with Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC) significantly reduced the number of brothers serving in Europe and affected predominately active Omega areas of Nuremberg, Hanau, Wuerzburg, Berlin and Frankfurt. Today, the “Hub” of Theta Rho now centers around two major cities, Kaiserslautern and Stuttgart.

Theta Rho International Chapter employs an area concept by designating “Area Coordinators” who serve as members of the Executive Council, disseminators and coordinate efforts of area brothers due to our geographical dispersion.  Germany is divided into five areas: Gafenwoehr / Vilseck / Honofels / Schweinfurt; Heidelberg / Mannheim, Kaiserslautern / Baumholder; Stuttgart, Wiesbaden; and most recently the United Kingdom.  The Chapter is truly international in every sense of the word with financial Brothers in Belgium, Djibouti, Germany, Italy, Liberia, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, as well as those deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.   The chapter leverages technology to remain connected to its Brotherhood in various countries.

The foundation of Theta Rho International Chapter sits firmly on its community service and social action activities, engagements and initiatives that have touched so many communities around the world. These include donations to “Haiti Relief”, Coat Drive for the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, Clothes Drive for the underprivileged, Toy Drive for children in a Women’s Refuge, Partnership with Army Community Service launching their Domestic Violence Campaign, awarding $13,500.00 is scholarships, monthly donations to a Battered Women Shelter just to name a few.  Theta Rho International Chapter has expanded its community service initiatives and nationally mandated programs to Liberia and the United Kingdom demonstrating its extraordinary vision and ingenuity to reach the broader community where its membership resides.  This expansion includes but not limited to Social Action Programs, Scholarships and Talent Hunt.  The Chapter also supports its scholarship program for the Department of the Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) students through numerous fundraising events: Mardi Gras, Boat Ride, 70’s Jam, New Year’s Eve Ball, etc.  The Chapter also raises funds through its advertisement campaign to support its Talent Hunt & Scholarship Program.

On November 20^th, 2010, Theta Rho International Chapter made history by initiating Brother Shane W. Gillings, the first Omega Man to be made in the United Kingdom.  On June 17th, 2011, history was again made when Brother W. Joshua Hallam became the first Omega Man to be initiated on UK soil.  Theta Rho continues to shape the annals of Omega history with its preparation to establish the first undergraduate chapter in the United Kingdom and the first Greek collegiate Chapter in all Europe. In the year of our Centennial, this firmly lays the foundation for European expansion.