Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, [AΦA] the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of Brotherhood among African descendants in this country.  Since its founding on December 4th, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied a voice and vision to the struggle of African-Americans and people of color around the world. 

 

Alpha Phi Alpha has grown steadily in influence throughout the years. It integrated its racial membership in 1945 and it has expanded mightily to the extent that there are now over 700 chapters with over 100,000 members located throughout the United States, Caribbean Islands, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the West Indies.

 

The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha's principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.

The seven visionary founders, known as the “Jewels” of the fraternity, are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.

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Who are the Jewels?

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Jewel Henry Arthur Callis became a practicing physician, Howard University Professor of Medicine and prolific contributor to medical journals. Callis was the only founding member to become General President (6th), and longest living Jewel. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., he was a medical consultant to the Veterans Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama.

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Jewel Charles Henry Chapman entered higher education and eventually became Professor of Agriculture at what is now Florida A&M University. Chapman was a founder of FAMU’s Beta Nu Chapter. During the organization stages of Alpha Chapter, he was the first chairman of the Committees on Initiation and Organization.

 

Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones became the first executive secretary of the National Urban League. His 20-year tenure with the Urban League thus far has exceeded those of all his successors in office. Jones also organized the first three fraternity chapters that branched out from Cornell—Beta at Howard, Gamma at Virginia Union University, and the original Delta at the University of Toronto in Canada.

 

Jewel George Biddle Kelley became the first African-American engineer registered in the state of New York and also became Alpha Chapter’s first president.

 

Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray after attending Howard University returned home to Washington DC where he served as a public school teacher for Armstrong Vocational High School, and is one of the charter members of Mu Lambda Chapter.

 

Jewel Robert Harold Ogle entered the career secretarial field and had the unique privilege of serving as a professional staff member to the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations, and also is a charter member of Mu Lambda Chapter.

 

Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy became the state of New York’s first registered black architect, with offices on Broadway in New York City. Tandy was the designer of the fraternity pin, and holds the distinction of being the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination, and was commissioned first lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard. He was Alpha Chapter’s first treasurer and took the initiative to incorporate the fraternity. Among the buildings designed by the highly talented architect is Saint Phillips Episcopal Church in New York City.

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For more information on Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. please visit our National Website

For more information on Alpha East, please visit our Eastern Region Website.

For more information on the New York Association for Chapter of Alpha, please visit our the NYACOA Website.