Dr. Oscar James Cooper (1888–1972) was a

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

and

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

cultural leader. He is known for cofounding

Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. () is a historically African-American fraternity. The fraternity was founded on November 17, 1911, by three Howard University juniors Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman, and their faculty advi ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, the first fraternity founded by students at a

historically black college Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. Mo ...

. In

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, he was a charter member of the Pyramid Club.

Life and career

Cooper was born in

in 1888 and attended

Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a private, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and accredited by the Middle States Commissi ...

, receiving a

Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in 1913 and a

Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin language, Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a profes ...

in 1917. Cooper majored in biology and was a lab assistant for biologist

Ernest Everett Just Ernest Everett Just (August 14, 1883 – October 27, 1941) was a pioneering African-American biologist, academic and science writer. Just's primary legacy is his recognition of the fundamental role of the cell surface in the development of organis ...

. On November 17, 1911, he cofounded Omega Psi Phi, a historically African-American fraternity, along with

Edgar Amos Love Edgar Amos Love (September 10, 1891 – May 1, 1974) was an American educator, minister, and activist. Early life Edgar Amos Love was born September 10, 1891, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. His father, the Rev. Julius C. Love, was a widely respec ...

and Frank Coleman under the mentorship of Just. Discussion of the idea initially began between Love and Cooper, who were later joined by Coleman. Cooper was elected as the first secretary of the organization. Omega Psi Phi was the first black fraternity whose founders were at a historically black college or university, and eventually grew to over 750 chapters. After medical school, Cooper moved to Philadelphia, where he practiced medicine. He was closely involved with the founding and early years of the Pyramid Club on Girard Avenue in Cecil B. Moore,

North Philadelphia North Philadelphia, nicknamed North Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is immediately north of Center City. Though the full extent of the region is somewhat vague, "North Philadelphia" is regarded as everything north of either ...

, which provided events and cultural engagement for African-American professionals in Philadelphia; at the time,

racial segregation in the United States In the United States, racial segregation is the systematic separation of facilities and services such as Housing in the United States, housing, Healthcare in the United States, healthcare, Education in the United States, education, Employment in ...

often barred professionals from access to other clubs. Cooper practiced medicine for 50 years prior to his death in 1972.

Legacy and recognition

Dr. Cooper was honored by the

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage. The commission cares for ...

on October 2, 2021, with a

historical marker A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, or in other places referred to as a historical marker, historic marker, or historic plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other ...

at the site of his home and office in Cecil B. Moore. The marker was approved along with two other markers in

Philadelphia County Philadelphia County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the most populous county in Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, Philadelphia County had a population of 1,603,797. The county is the second smallest county in Pennsyl ...

, honoring

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson Anna Elizabeth Dickinson (October 28, 1842October 22, 1932) was an American orator and lecturer. An advocate for the abolition of slavery and for women's rights, Dickinson was the first woman to give a political address before the United States Co ...

and the Wyck House and Rose Garden; it was one of 23 markers approved out of 39 applications across the state, officially announced on March 10, 2021. The text of the marker reads:

Dr. Oscar James Cooper (1888–1972) One of the founders of Omega Psi Phi (OPP) at Howard University, the nation's first fraternity established at a historically Black college or university. Following graduation, Cooper became a physician and settled in Philadelphia where he spent his entire career. He continued his role as a founder of many influential organizations including the Philadelphia Chapter of OPP, was a charter member of the Pyramid Club, and supported many Black charities.

In addition to the marker, at the unveiling ceremony, the block of Jefferson Street between 16th and 17th was renamed to Dr. Oscar J. Cooper Way.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Oscar James 1888 births 1972 deaths African-American academics Howard University alumni African-American physicians 20th-century African-American people Omega Psi Phi founders

Life and career

Legacy and recognition

See also

References