Divine Nine Plots Project

Historically African American sororities and fraternities have had a presence on the Indiana University Bloomington campus since 1911, when Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.—the nation’s second-oldest black Greek-letter organization—was founded here. In the 100+ years since then, the nine original black Greek-letter organizations, known as the “Divine Nine,” have established chapters at IU.

• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.–Alpha Chapter, chartered 1911
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.–Tau Chapter, chartered 1922
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.–Gamma Eta Chapter, chartered 1947
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.–Zeta Epsilon Chapter, chartered 1947
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.–Gamma Nu Chapter, chartered 1947
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.–Epsilon Chi Chapter, chartered 1971
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.–Epsilon Iota Chapter, chartered 1972
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.–Delta Epsilon Chapter, chartered 1973
• Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.–Gamma Delta Chapter, chartered 1995

To pay tribute to the Divine Nine, in April 2017 IU placed a row of 10 limestone markers known as “plots” along the sidewalk leading to the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. There is one plot to represent each of the nine chapters; the tenth represents the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a coalition of the Divine Nine sororities and fraternities.

IU chose to honor the Divine Nine with plots because of their historical and cultural significance for African Americans. During the years immediately following the Civil War, formerly enslaved African American farmers were promised 40-acre plots for homestead development. Today the plots serve as a powerful symbolic and physical reminder of the strength and resilience shown by the founders and members of the Divine Nine.