The chapter was founded in the Spring of 1933 by the following charter
members: The late Mrs. L.G. Coleman, Mr. Sinclair Evans, Mr. Claude
Hilliard and Mr. W.D. Sweet. The Chapter was named after the 5th FAMU
President, J.R.E. Lee. The Chapter started with eight members and by
1943 became the largest chapter in the nation. In the meanwhile, the
Chapter began to establish contact and working relationship with the
Governor, Legislators and the Board of Control, today known as the Board
of Regents. During the 50's, FAMC President Dr. Gore realized the
strength and importance of the Chapter, which by now had grown to 1000
Alumni. He sought the Chapter's help and legislative influence to lobby
for the changing of the school's status: FAMC (College) to that of FAMU
(University) by 1957. In the 60's, the Chapter heavily took part in the
Civil Rights Movement locally and statewide, with the help of some 500
strong paid members. From the mid 1960's, to the present, the Chapter
has grown to about 3,500 Alumni locally. In that span of time the
Chapter paid membership reached 1000. But in the past 10 years after the
saturation years of integration, FAMU Alumni has shown very little
interest in becoming paid Alumni Members.
The J.R.E. Lee Chapter has always followed and abided by the Southeast
Region, State and National Alumni Association in pursuing legislative
changes for funding purposes, recruiting academic and athletic students,
to provide social activities locally for Alumni and the community, in
order to maintain and promote the University's Autonomy.
