Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., founded 1963 Search this
Morgan State University, American, founded 1867 Search this
Medium:
wood, leather, paint
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 36 × 9 × 1 in. (91.4 × 22.9 × 2.5 cm)
Type:
memorabilia
Place used:
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1963
Description:
A wooden Founders Paddle from the Iota Phi Theta fraternity at Morgan State College. Paddle is not proportioned like a functional paddle. Grip is rounded, and the shaft is extremely short. The blade of the paddle is the majority of the paddle's body. A light brown strip of leather is strung through a hole at the center of the grip and tied in a knot. Text and depictions etched horizontally on the paddle (paddle is meant to be oriented with the grip and shaft at the top, and the blade of the paddle at the bottom). All etched text is painted(?)/colored black. The Iota Phi Theta logo is etched at the top, just below the throat of the paddle, then below reading [I/F/T] written diagonally down towards the right. Below the greek letters reads [BUILDING A TRADITION,/NOT RESTING UPON ONE/ALBERT HICKS/LONNIE C. SPRUILL, JR./CHARLES BRISCOE/CHARLES BROWN/LOUIS HUDNELL/CHARLES GREGOARY/ELIAS DORSEY, JR./MICHAEL WILLIAMS/FRANK COAKLEY/JOHN SLADE/BARON LEWIS/IT TAKES A MAN/MORGAN STATE/COLLEGE/SEPTEMBER 19, 1963]. On the reverse of the paddle, a clear sticker with rounded edges read [Another New Creation By/University Apparel, Inc./Union, New Jersey/903-688-1(illegible)03].
