Following the founding of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity on the campus of Howard University in 1911, and the founding of chapters on various other campuses, there was a concern on the part of Brothers to continue the fellowship they developed as undergraduate members, and felt they, as an organization could make positive contributions to their communities. In 1920, members of the fraternity founded the first two graduate chapters in other communities. 

In September 1946, four men expressed interest in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. This interest developed into an authorized initiation under the supervision of the Second District Representative, Brother Mifflin T Gibbs – Mu Omega, at the request of Brother Harry T. Penn – the Third District Representative. 

Early in October 1946, James C. Hardcastle (a teacher at Booker T. Washington Jr. High at the time), Wayman Scott (a teacher at Delaware State College High School at the time), and W Richard Wynder (Head of the Agriculture Department at Delaware State College at the time) all became pledgees of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, along with Manly Price. 

Other Charter Members included: Brother William H. Booker (initiated 6-3-1946 – chapter unknown) – Head of the English Department at Delaware State College; Thomas “Tank” Conrad (initiated 6-3-1946 – chapter unknown) – Head Football Coach; LeRoy Easterly (initiated 6-3- 1946 – chapter unknown) – Assistant Coach at Delaware State College; Dr. Thomas Fraser (Pi Omega / 3-23-1940) – Dean of the College at Delaware State College; Dr. Howard D. Gregg (Beta / 12-21-1936) – President of Delaware State College; Douglass Johnson (initiation date and chapter unknown) – a teacher at Booker T. Washington Jr. High School; Eldridge Waters (Pi Chapter– 1951) – Principal at Benjamin Banneker Jr. High School; and Noah Webb (initiation date and chapter unknown) – Head Coach at Willey H. Bates High School (Annapolis, MD). 

Brother Theodore Wells (4/20/1942 – initiation chapter unknown, who later joined Nu Upsilon - currently Omega Chapter) was appointed Neophyte Commandant by the District Representative. Brothers Leroy Easterly, Richard Walker (4/1/1940 – initiation chapter unknown, who served as chair of the DSC Psychology Department) and Eldridge Waters (who later chartered Nu Upsilon Chapter) assisted Brother Wells in the initiation process. Chamberlains for each neophyte was chosen from Mu Chapter in Philadelphia, PA. It should be noted that prior to the day of initiation, due to health reasons, William S. Fountain dropped off the line, and was later initiated into Psi Iota on 12-12-1952. 

The formal initiation of the candidates of Psi Iota Chapter was held on November 4, 1946, in Philadelphia, PA, through the office of the National Executive Secretary, Brother H. Carl Moultrie. On November 16, 1946, the new members along with the other eight Brothers were assigned to the newly chartered graduate chapter, which was originally situated in the Third District of the Fraternity. 

Pi Alpha, Pi Epsilon, Psi Iota, Psi Epsilon, and Nu Upsilon Chapters filed a petition requesting realignment. This request was also supported by the Immediate 2^nd District DR, Brother Mifflin Gibbs, and the Fraternity’s Executive Director, Brother Carl Moultrie. The reason for this geographical change was “the remoteness of these chapters from the center of action in the Third District. Geographical location made visits to those chapters costly and inconvenient.” It was noted in the minutes of the 3^rd District Conference, held April of 1953, in the report given by District Representative James Gills, that “…the brothers in those chapters expressed the attitude that they could work better and feel happier affiliated with Omega men in and around Philadelphia”. Brother George Meares was the District Representative of the Second District at the time. The proposal was approved during the 38^th Grand Conclave, held in Philadelphia, PA, in 1952.

Psi Iota Chapter has since enjoyed the privilege of being instrumental in sponsoring programs that foster achievement, scholarship, community action, and the search for talent. Over the years, it has contributed to various organizations, programs, and schools, which serve as valuable resources to the greater Dover community and the State of Delaware. For over twenty-two years, Psi Iota Chapter and the HOPE Foundation have hosted the Belasco “Jack” Bossard Memorial Golf Tournament, which has provided funds to students going to college. This golf outing was named in recognition of Brother Bossard’s love for the sport and his self-less dedication through his lifetime to helping children pursue an education. In addition, for over 20 years, Psi Iota collaborated with a community partner and mentored over 200 young men who have graduated from high school and attended some of the finest schools in the nation (Brown University, Howard University, Johnson & Wales University, and the University of Chicago Medical School, just to name a few), and have given out over $100,000. Today, the Omega Gents Program is a collaborative effort between the Brothers of Psi Iota and the HOPE Foundation. Due to its geographical location and the character and quality of the chapter Brothers, Psi Iota has played a major role within the Second District. Many of Psi Iota Brothers have served and continue to serve as district level committee appointees. Today, Psi Iota Chapter continues to support the international mandated programs and partakes in several social programs for the benefit of the local community, some of which includes: a campaign promoting men to speak out against domestic violence, sponsoring various health fairs; promoting literacy efforts; providing meals to needy families; and providing sleeping bags to children in homeless shelters. The Second District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (88 chapters located in DE, MD, PA, NJ, and NY) has recognized these activities by selecting Psi Iota Chapter as the Social Action Chapter of the Year. Also, as the world faced challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chapter was recognized as the International Social Actions Chapter of the Year back-to-back years (Small Chapter in 2019; and Large Chapter, 2020).

Psi Iota Chapter continues to look for quality men to assume the fraternal activism and responsibility set forth by our Founding Fathers, capable of upholding the four cardinal principles of the fraternity: MANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, PERSERVERANCE and UPLIFT. 

****The establishment of a chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. on the campus of the Delaware State College was the result of endeavors of the late William H. A. Booker along with the encouragement and assistance of then President of Delaware State College, Dr. Howard Gregg. The charter for Psi Epsilon was issued on December 17, 1946. The initiation for the charter members, initiated through Psi Iota and then transferring into the newly formed chapter, took place in Delaware Hall, on the campus of Delaware State College on 3-27-1947. The fourteen neophyte charter members of Psi Epsilon were: (Henry “Clay” Alridge, John Cottman, James W. Curtis, William M. Freeman, Clifton Harman, James W. Harris, Nathaniel Johnson, Felmon Motley, Malachi A. Raisin, Hampton M. Turner, and Morris Wilson).

Under the leadership of Brother Richard C. Walker who served as the Chapter Advisor to the newly formed chapter, numerous projects and annual activities were established such as scholarship programs, talent hunt, mentoring projects, fundraisers, etc. 

Through the years Psi Iota & Psi Epsilon Chapters have since enjoyed the privilege of being an influential factor throughout the Greater Dover Community. Over 186 (as of 2020) members have entered the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. through initiation into Psi Iota Chapter; and over 400 members have passed through the ranks of Psi Epsilon Chapter at Delaware State University. 

These members have had a noticeable presence in this and other communities, serving as educators, ministers, attorneys, politicians, civil servants, executives, researchers, and social scientists, thus upholding the four cardinal principles of the fraternity: MANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, PERSERVERANCE and UPLIFT