OUR HISTORY

Since its founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has served as a powerful voice and visionary force in the ongoing struggle for justice and equality for African Americans and people of color worldwide.

Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans, founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, by seven pioneering college men who recognized the urgent need for unity and brotherhood among students of African descent. These visionary founders, revered 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.

Initially formed as a study and support group for minority students facing severe racial discrimination at Cornell—both academically and socially—the Fraternity laid a strong foundation rooted in scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.

Following its establishment, Alpha Phi Alpha expanded to other colleges and universities, including many historically Black institutions. In 1911, the Fraternity chartered its first Alumni Chapter, further extending its reach and impact. While maintaining a strong emphasis on academic excellence, Alpha also committed itself to addressing the educational, economic, political, and social injustices confronting African Americans.

Alpha Phi Alpha has consistently stood at the forefront of the civil rights movement, with distinguished members such as W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, and Paul Robeson leading the charge for change. True to its pioneering spirit, Alpha Phi Alpha became interracial in 1945, affirming its commitment to inclusivity and progress.

The Founding Jewels were extraordinary achievers whose legacy defied the racial norms of their time. As Henry Arthur Callis noted, the African American students enrolled at Cornell in 1904–1905 did not return the following year, prompting the incoming class of 1905–1906 to unite in brotherhood to ensure their survival in a racially hostile environment. Their bold initiative predated programs like Affirmative Action and Upward Bound by decades, and their example of scholarship, leadership, and tenacity laid the groundwork for future civil rights organizations, including the NAACP.

OUR JEWELS

HENRY ARTHUR CALLIS

1887-1974

  • Callis became a practicing physician, a Howard University Professor of Medicine, and a 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. Before 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

1870-1934

  • 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

1885-1954

  • 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 University, 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 a founder. His status as a founder was not finally established until 1952.

GEORGE BIDDLE KELLEY

1884-1962

  • 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.

NATHANIEL ALLISON MURRAY

1884-1954

  • 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.

    While a charter member of Washington’s Mu Lambda Chapter, Murray was a frequent attendee of general conventions.

ROBERT HAROLD OLGE

1886-1936

  • 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.

VERTNER WOODSON TANDY

1885-1949

  • 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 as a 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 Phillip’s Episcopal Church in New York City.