The
founders of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. were no ordinary achievers.
Given racial attitudes in 1906, their accomplishments were monumental.
As founder Henry Arthur Callis euphemistically stated—because the
half-dozen African American students at Cornell University during the
school year 1904-05 did not return to campus the following year, the
incoming students in 1905-06, in founding Alpha Phi Alpha, were
determined to bind themselves together to ensure that each would survive
in the racially hostile environment. In coming together with this simple
act, they preceded by decades the emergence of such on-campus programs
as affirmative action, upward bound and remedial assistance. The
students set outstanding examples of scholarship, leadership and
success—preceding the efforts even of the NAACP and similar civil rights
organizations.
Henry Arthur
Callis became a practicing physician, Howard University Professor of
Medicine and prolific contributor to medical journals. Often regarded as
the “philosopher of the founders,” and a moving force in the
Fraternity’s development, he was the only one of the “Cornell Seven” to
become General President. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., he was a
medical consultant to the Veterans Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon
his death in 1974, at age 87, the Fraternity entered a time without any
living Jewels. His papers were donated to Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn
Research Center.
Charles
Henry Chapman entered higher education and eventually became
Professor of Agriculture at what is now Florida A&M University. A
university funeral was held with considerable Fraternity participation
when he became the first Jewel to enter Omega Chapter in 1934. Described
as “a Brother beloved in the bonds,” 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.
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. A versatile leader, he
organized the first three Fraternity chapters that branched out from
Cornell—Beta at Howard, Gamma at Virginia Union and the original Delta
at the University of Toronto in Canada. In addition to becoming Alpha
Chapter’s second President and joining with Callis in creating the
Fraternity name, Jones was a member of the first Committees on
Constitution and Organization and helped write the Fraternity ritual.
Jones also has the distinction of being one of the first initiates as
well as an original founder. His status as a founder was not finally
established until 1952. He died in 1954.
George
Biddle Kelley became the first African American engineer registered
in the state of New York. Not only was he the strongest proponent of the
Fraternity idea among the organization’s founders, the civil engineering
student also became Alpha Chapter’s first President. In addition, he
served on committees that worked out the handshake and ritual. Kelley
was popular with the Brotherhood. He resided in Troy, New York and was
active with Beta Pi Lambda Chapter in Albany. He died in 1963.
Nathaniel
Allison Murray pursued graduate work after completing his
undergraduate studies at Howard. He later returned home to Washington,
D.C., where he taught in public schools. Much of his career was spent at
Armstrong Vocational High School in the District of Columbia. He was a
member of Alpha Chapter’s first committee on organization of the new
fraternal group, as well as the Committee on the Grip. The charter
member of Washington’s Mu Lambda Chapter was a frequent attendee of
General Conventions. He died in 1959.
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. He was an African American pioneer
in his Capitol Hill position. He proposed the Fraternity’s colors and
was Alpha Chapter’s first secretary. Ogle joined Kelley in working out
the first ritual and later became a charter member of Washington’s Mu
Lambda Chapter. He died in 1936.
Vertner
Woodson Tandy became the state of New York’s first registered
architect, with offices on Broadway in New York City. The designer of
the Fraternity pin 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. He died in 1949, at age 64. |