Attorney Charles H. Calloway was born in Bradley County, Tennessee, on June 16, 1878. He graduated from the public school system in Bradley County and earned a Bachelor of Arts from HBCU Fisk University in Nashville in 1903. After graduation, he pursued legal studies at the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis. Dean William S. Patte and William R. Moore, a respected lawyer within the Minneapolis Bar Association, mentored him. In 1905, after being admitted to practice law in Minnesota, Calloway relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where he began practicing law independently.
Calloway was one of the charter members of the Theta Boulé, the 8th chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Theta Boulé was established on May 22, 1915, with fourteen founding Archons in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Calloway later served as the Grand Sire Archon (International Chairman) of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity from 1921 to 1923. Calloway established several new chapters during his leadership, including Omicron, Pi, and Rho.
Calloway was one of the founders of the National Bar Association in 1925 Des Moines, Iowa, was a significant contribution to the legal community. As one of the 120 African American lawyers who founded this organization, he helped establish the oldest and largest national network of predominantly African American attorneys and judges in the United States. He served as its second president from 1926 to 1927, following George H. Woodson. Calloway was also a prominent member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in both Kansas City and nationally.
Charles H. Calloway played a pivotal role in the early historical development of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and was instrumental in shaping its foundation and mission. His leadership as the Grand Sire Archon allowed him to influence the fraternity’s growth and expansion. Under his guidance, he fostered a network of professional African American men who could support one another in their respective fields. He was dedicated to the ideals of The Boulé.
Attorney Charles H. Calloway, former Grand Sire Archon of The Boulé, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 9, 1943, at the age of 65. Through his contributions, Calloway left a lasting legacy within Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, impacting the lives and careers of many members and setting a precedent for future leadership within the organization.
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The Biography of Kansas City’s Negro Business and Professional Men and The Trip South, https://www.pendergastkc.org/names/kinsler-herman-l;
Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 65, Friday, May 1, 2015, “In Recognition of Theta Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity,” https://www.govinfo.gov;
National Bar Association, “Past Presidents,”
