Elder Watson Diggs

Elder Watson Diggs was a quiet, polished, scholarly, and prolific writer. Initially referred to as 'the Father of Kappa,' he became affectionately known as 'the Dreamer' due to his profound vision to create the fraternity. He was born in Christian County, Kentucky, on December 23, 1883, and was the eldest son of three children. He received a one-room school education in Louisville, Kentucky, where he helped teach the younger children. Following graduation from Indiana State Normal School in the spring of 1908, Diggs enrolled at Howard University in 1909. While a student there, he developed a friendship with Byron K. Armstrong. During the summer of that year, Byron Armstrong visited his cousin, Irven Armstrong, at Indiana University. Byron was so impressed that he persuaded Diggs to enroll with him in the fall. Diggs enrolled at Indiana University in the fall of 1910 and was the first African American to graduate with an A.B. degree from Indiana University's School of Education in 1916. He subsequently earned his Master of Education from Indiana University in 1944. Diggs was an educator who held teaching positions and served as principal at public schools throughout Indiana. Diggs was married on three occasions — to Clara Bell Smith, Elizabeth Byrd, and Lylia P. Roberts. Clara Bell and Lyla were teachers, and Diggs assumed Clara Bell's teaching responsibilities once they became married since female teachers were not permitted to teach in the state of Indiana at that time. When the U.S. made its declaration in World War I against Germany, Diggs resigned as principal and entered the nation's first Negroes Officers Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was commissioned a First Lieutenant. After serving in Europe with the 368th Infantry, he rose to the rank of Captain in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps. Diggs was also a past commander of the American Legion. After the war, Diggs was instrumental in having the Indiana Constitution amended to permit Negro enlistment in the Indiana National Guard. Based on the hostile attitude and circumstances facing Black people at Indiana University, Diggs established a fraternity on campus to give African Americans support and sanctuary based on high Christian ideals and the purpose of achievement. Diggs assisted Byron and Irven Armstrong in designing the fraternity's Coat of Arms, assumed responsibility for preparing the initiation ceremonial forms, completed the fraternity's Constitution, and took a course in Greek heraldry and mythology to ensure the fraternity was rooted in authenticity. He was one of two Founders who pawned his watch to pay for the Fraternity's incorporation fee. Diggs wrote the lyrics to the Kappa Hymn and established The Kappa Alpha Nu Journal, the second periodical of any national Black college fraternity. He is the fraternity's longest-serving Grand Polemarch, serving during the first six years of the fraternity's existence. He also established nine of the initial undergraduate chapters in addition to the Indianapolis (IN) Alumni Chapter. The Elder Watson Diggs Award, the second-highest award available to celebrate a member's achievements or service to the fraternity, is dedicated in his name. The Elder W. Diggs Memorial at Indiana University was constructed in his honor in 1962. Diggs died on November 8, 1947, and is laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.