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Fifth chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity for African American college students. Epsilon Chapter was established at the University of Michigan in April 1909. Various photographs, including a photo of a group of Black men and women posed on the front porch steps of the Alpha Phi Alpha House (1017 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, Michigan).

The physical photographs are arranged in two folders. Photographs taken at the University of Michigan depict African American men and women posing in front of the East Catherine Street house as well as an informal group photo in the university's chemical laboratory. The collection's other various photographs primarily depict unidentified African American men and children.

University of Michigan chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity for Black college students. The Epsilon chapter was founded in April 1909. History, administrative records, topical files, reports, and photographs largely relating to the chapter and activities of African American students at the University of Michigan. Also included is some material related to the chapter's 2009 centennial celebration.

The records of the Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha include correspondence, minutes, photographic material, publications, reports, and topical files.

The records—which document the activities and experiences of African Americans at the University of Michigan— provide a rich source of information about the history, activities, and administration of the Epsilon Chapter, particularly during the 1920's, 1980's, and 1990's. Specifically, the collection includes rich information from the chapter's founding in 1909 through the 1920s. The collection also contains the materials of several presidents, including Ronald Jackson (1994-1995) and Sean Franklin (1995-1996). In addition, researchers will find materials related to the chapter's centennial celebration in 2009.

Dr. Richard E. Smith is a Black University of Michigan alum, member of the Epsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically Black fraternity, and an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) who worked to enhance prenatal care for teenage and young mothers. He was also involved in efforts to commemorate the role that Detroit and its institutions played in the Underground Railroad. Includes award information, biographical and genealogical material, correspondence, publications, a scrapbook, and topical files.

The Richard E. Smith papers document Smith's personal and professional activities, particularly his involvement in the Epsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, professional career as an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), and efforts to commemorate the role that Detroit and its institutions played in the Underground Railroad. Material is dated from 1969-2022 and includes award information, biographical and genealogical material about his family, historical material about St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, correspondence relating to his professional career and activities, publications, an Alpha Phi Alpha scrapbook, and topical files.

Richard Hill, Jr. a Black American lawyer and 1911 law graduate of University of Michigan. This collection includes photographic material and digitized images.

This collection documents the academic and personal life of Richard Hill, Jr., primarily as a law student at the University of Michigan. The images include campus events, candid photos of classmates, Alpha Phi Alpha activities including dating and courtship, and athletic games, 1909-1911.

Included with the photos are postcards and other ephemera including Hill's initiation certificate or "shingle," a program for the first annual banquet in 1910, and a program for a 1911 house party. A program for the April 1910 anniversary lists Hill's toast to the seniors entitled, "Survival of the Fittest." The back of the program contains the words to a fraternity song specific to Michigan, including the phrase, "Three in one and one in three, Epsilon and Michigan and our fraternity."

Many of the candid images were taken in and around the off-campus boarding house where he resided at 1017 Catherine Street in Ann Arbor with six other Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members. These candid images are thought to be some of the earliest known images of informal off-campus life for Black students. Formal photographs document the 1910 banquet that marked the first anniversary of the Epsilon chapter's founding, and the 1911 house party, both taken by Ann Arbor studio photographer Alford S. Lyndon with fraternity members and their dates. The collection also includes the Michigan Law Class of 1911 photo, and a "Cup Debaters" of Michigan Law group photo that includes Hill.

Family photographs taken at Woodland Park, MI, circa 1926. Woodland Park is a historic resort located in Manistee National Forest in northwest Newaygo County; during the era of Jim Crow segregation, it was identified as "Bitely". Photos feature Richard Hill Jr., family, and friends, including Mrs. Frances Hill, Mrs. Marie (Johnson) Moore, Mrs. Helen Abbott (wife of Roger Abbot), Herman E. Moore (1893-1980; second African American to serve as U.S. District Judge for the Virgin Islands), and Robert Sengstacke Abbott (founder of Chicago Defender newspaper). Digitized and restored digital images.