User:Visviva/Guy Levis Grant

Guy Levis Grant in 1914.

Guy Levis Grant (1891–1973) was a prominent dentist in Indianapolis, and president of the charitable foundation of the Indianapolis Recorder from 1937 until his death. He is best known for two important victories against racism in Indiana: co-founding the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Indiana University (IU) in 1911, and mounting a successful legal challenge to the racially discriminatory Indianapolis zoning code in 1926.

Early life and education

Grant received his A.B. from Indiana University in 1915, and went on to obtain his D.D.S. from Indiana Dental College in 1920.

Kappa Alpha Psi

In January 1911, Grant and nine other African-American students organized the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at IU. The organization later grew to more than 70,000 members worldwide.

Gaillard v. Grant

In 1926, Grant contracted to purchase a house from Edward S. Gaillard in a majority-white neighborhood of Indianapolis. However, the Indianapolis zoning code then in force banned African Americans from residing in any majority-white area, so Grant refused to complete the sale and Gaillard sued. The suit was arranged and supported by the NAACP to invalidate the zoning code on constitutional grounds. The City of Indianapolis intervened in the case to have it thrown out, but

Family and professional career

Grant worked as a dentist in Indianapolis for more than 50 years.

In 1929 Grant married Laura Hammond, who subsequently became a podiatrist and worked in that field for more than 30 years.

Legacy

Grant is the namesake of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity's Guy Levis Grant Award for undergraduate excellence.