The History of Alpha Phi Alpha PDF

THE HISTORY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA 14 their The objections of demanded originality.aware fellow students of the obstacles that stood in to a had made them q...

THE HISTORY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA 14 their The objections of demanded originality.aware fellow students of the obstacles that stood in to a had made them quite cess, from some of their own group. theirfellowship. They the way of were undaunted. This separation made as ftheiratternsucty rades in study left determined to carry out the project to which they had set them the morcome ÁS Negro college students, they desired that This attitude called for the fraternity tshould heir hands, some racial significance. Negro life for which an acquaintance havethe history and background of none of the with study of the classroom had prepared them. If a framework was reading and it would be the result of serious study and frequent conferences. developed. white Morstudent eovers,. students in the midst of a large body of they were Negro organization Would their action to create a secret be the university authorities assume a hostile misunderstthem? attitude toward ood? Would questions worked themselves into problems as this small group of SiNegromilar students faced the practical issues. They had not yielded to either within or without, they had continued their loyalty to theiropposition of creating a fraternity, and while they labored they were the purpose scious, withthe passing of each meeting, that they were nearer moOre con- the goal of their ambitions. Two days stand out in this period during which the fraternity was in process of formation: October 23, 1906, when the name Alpha Phi Alpha was proposed for the society, and December 4, 1906,when thedecision was made to become a fraternity. If there is to be a birthday for the Alnba PhiAlpha Fraternity, judging from purposes and ideas, December 4 seems to enjoy the preference, for on October 23, the full meaning of the action was not clear and the opponents of the idea of a fraternity were still pres ent and active; moreover, they were still in control of the leadership of the group. But on December 4, the decision was made deliberately and pur posefully to organize a fraternity. It was the unmistakable sign that the group was afraternity. It was in reality Founder's Day. On this date, the vic: tory of the Jewels was certain. Hereafter. there would be no misundersta ing.Alpha Phi Alpha was a fraternity, and the Negro student group had Deu given the nucleus of its first national Greek letter fraternity.  Chapter II The Period of Consolidation the organization, known as O,December 4, 1906, it had been decided that also as the Alpha Phi Alpha Society a social study club during 1905-1906, and fraternity. Two of the original club mem since Qctober 23, 1906, should be a had resigned from the organization bers, Messrs. Poindexter and Tompkins, made to organize a fraternity, and on learning that the decision had been active during the previous year, another, Morgan T. Phillips, who had been school. had not returned to names of the founders Considerable discussion has developed over the have had the desire to secure of the fraternity. Some friends or relatives to them because of some evi nearest honor and a place for those who were with the organization in its dence that these individuals were associated only those individuals who incipiency. The founders of the fraternity can be design even in the initiatedthe fraternal idea and remained steadfast to their encouraged the initiated and days of struggle and conflict. Others may have their continuance, but this group meetings and provided by foresight for the fraternity. It cannot obtain for any individual a place as a founder of group meetings would rather imply that such people were founders of the in them as forerunners and serves to strengthen the interest of the fraternity of the fraternity. special Among this group, the name of C. C. Poindexter deserves mention. He may be regarded as the precursor of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Without his serious and eager leadership, it is probable that the fraternal organization would have advanced more slowly. He wvas the moving spirit in the literary organization, which served as the predeces sor of the fraternity. He acted as the president of the group and continued in office during the formation of the early policies and also through the first initiation in the Alpha Phi Alpha Society. But when it became clear to him that his influence was waning and that it was the purpose of the group to establish a fraternity, in a spirit of self-sacrifice, he ab sented himself from the meeting in which the decision was to be made and later sent in his resignation. The same attitude is representative of Tompkins. One can only express admiration for these men who were loyal tO their personal convictions, whatever the etfects of this action were upon the organization ot afraternity. They may notbe placed among the Jewcls of the traternity, but their direct influence on the origin of the fraternity should not be torgotten whenever Alpha Phi Alpha thinks of its history.  THE HISTORY OF ALPHA 16 PHI ALPHA PROFC PaINrEEs Charles Cardoza Poindexter Precursor of ALPHA PHIALPHA Eugene Kinckle Jones (From the records of Fisk University, Founder, Second President of Alpha wbere the author uwas a member of bis Chapter and a leading spirit in the class in Physical Science) 1910-1911. work of organization. Thesame position may be taken toward the men who site end of the organization, that is, those who came in were at the oppo during the first initi ation in the autumn of 1906. Among these are Gordon Jones and Lemuel Graves. They came into the organization while it was still in the process o tormation and prior to the definite decision to become a fraternily. Moreover, they assisted actively in the oreanization, while at the same tine recognizing others in the organization older than themselves and more wor- thy to bear the designation of Jewels. The Original Seven include "those men who Were members of both organizations, the social study club, 1905-1906, and the fraternity, 1906 1907, who had remained steadfast to the ideal of a Greek letter fraternity during the months of uncertainty through which the club was passing,who did not waver in their of their vision, and who dared to be efforts to bring pioneers in an about thefield untried realization of student life.These Seven men, the Jewels of the fraternity, are Brother George B. Kelley,who after leaving Cornell Serviceofthe became a civil engineer and entered the  CONSOLIDATION 17 THE PERIOD OF Cornell Henry A. Callis, who after leaving Brother govern etute of New York;medicine and was stationed as a physician at the after teted the field of Charles H. Chapman, who Alabama; Brother teach ment hospital, Tuskegee, field of education and was last engaged in Loaving Cornell chose the Nathaniel A. & M. College, Tallahassee, Florida; Brother field of it at the Florida A. graduate work at CornelI, entered the School. and Murray, who did college at the Armstrong Technical High education, and was teaching Cornell Brother Vertner W. Tandy, who after leaving Washington, D.C.; York, and architect with offices on Broadway. New became a registered distinction of being the first Negro man activities enjoyed the first lieu among other receive the commission of eXamination and to pass the military New York National Guard: Brother Robert H. tenant in the 15th Infantry, had the entered the secretarial field and Ogle. who after leaving Cornell Committee on privilege of being attached to the office of the unique Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones: ADpropriations of the United States Senate; 1905-1906, was present on December 4, who, although not at Cornell in of fraternity was made. He was a member 1906. when the decision to form a president of constitution, and pins; the first committees on organization, Delta Chapters. He occupies Alpha Chapter, and maker of Beta, Gamma, and Seventh Jewel, is one of the a dual place in Alpha Phi Alpha history. He is the Secretary of the Executive first initiates, and served for long years as National Urban League. dis It appears that this, the seventh place among the Jeweis, has been in pute for some time. Poindexter has been suggested for the place, but as noted above he was not in sympathy with the fraternity plan. Phillips has been suggested, but he was not in schÍol during the period of organization. Morton, while not so active in leadership, was associated with the other founders in the several mneetings during 1905-1906, but he did not perma nently affiliate with the group until the autumn of 1906. According to the records, he was not subjected to the initiation, but his name seems to have been added to the list permanently on this occasion. It is said that he served as headwaiter at the Sage College Dining Room, having white students as waiters under his supervision. Among other things, he advanced his person al funds at times in order to ensure the permanence of the fraternity. However, as a result of the historical evidence available, and the agreement reached by three of the Jewel-Founders, Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones was given place as one of the Original Seven. The results of the eftorts of these pioneers are noted today in the CXtensive national organization known as the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. They had little encouragement and were misunderstood and heir schoolmates who opposed traternities discounted by as a whole and who were not  HISTORY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA THE 16 PROFCG. ExTER Charles Cardoza Poindexter Eugene Kinckle Jones Precursor ofALPHA PHI ALPHA Founder, Second (From the records of Fisk University, President of Chapter and a leading Alpba where the author uas a member of bis work of organization. spirit in the 191O-1911. class in Physical Science) The same position may be taken toward the men who were at the oppo- site end of the organization, that is, those who came in during the first initi- ation inthe autumn of 1906. Among these are Gordon Jones and Lemuel Graves. They came into the organization while it was still in the process of formation and prior to the definite decision to become a fraternity. Moreover, they assisted actively in theorganization, while at the same time recognizing others in the organization older than themselves and more wor. thy to bear the designation of Jewels. The Original Seven include "those men who were members of both organizations, the social study club, 1905-1906, and the fraternity, 1906 1907, who had remained steadfast to the ideal of a Greek letter fraternity during the months of uncertainty through which the club was passing, who did not waver in their efforts to bring about the realization of their visiOn, and who dared to be pioneers in an untried field of student life. These seven men, the Jewels of the fraternitv, are Brother George B. Kelley, wno after leaving Cornell became a civil enineer and entered the service of t  THE PERÍOD OF CONSOLIDATION 17 New York: Brother Henry A. Callis, who after leaving Cornell state of fmedicine and was stationed as a physician at the govern- enteredlthefield of who after h0spital, Tuskegee, Alabama; Brother Charles H. Chapman, ment education and was last engaged in teach- Corhell chose the field of leaving Florida; Brother Nathaniel A. the Florida A. & M. College, Tallahassee, field of college and graduate work at Cornel1, entered the ing at Murray, who did Armstrong Technical High School, cducation, and was teaching at the who after leaving Cornell WAshington, D.C.: Brother Vertner W. Tandy, Broadway, New York, and becamne a registered architect with offices on other activities enjoyed the distinction of being the first Negro man among the military examination and receive the commission of first lieu- to pasS 15th Infantry, New York National Guard; Brother Robert H. tenant in the and had the who after leaving Cornell entered the secretarial field Ogle, of being attached to the office of the Committee on unique privilege Jones: Appropriations of the United States Senate; Brother Eugene Kinckle 4, not at Cornell in 1905-1906, was present on December who, although decision to form a fraternity was made. He was a member of 1906, when the and pins; president of.he first committees on organization, constitution, and maker of Beta, Gamma, and Delta Chapters. He occupies Alpha Chapter, Seventh Jewel, is one of the the a dualplace in Alpha Phi Alpha history. He is Executive Secretary of the frst initiates, and served for long years as National Urban League. been in dis It appears that this, the seventh place among the Jewels,has the place, but as pute for some time. Poindexter has been suggested for Phillips has noted above he was not in sympathy with the fraternity plan.organization. been suggested, but he was not in school during the period of was asSociated with the other Morton, while not so active in leadership, founders in the several meetings during 1905-1906, but he did not perma nently affiliate with the group until the autumn of 1906. According to the records, he was not subjected to the initiation, but his name seems to have been added to the list permanently on this occasion. It is said that he served as headwaiter at the Sage College Dining Room, having white students as waiters under his supervision. Among other things, he advanced his person al funds at times in order to ensure the permanence of the fraternity. However, as a result of the historical evidence available, and the agreement reached by three of the Jewel-Founders, Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones was given place as one of the Original Seven. The results of the efforts of these pioneers are noted today in the extensive national organization known as the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. They had little encouragement and were misunderstood and discounted by their schoolmates who opposed fraternities as a whole and who were not  O: ALPHA THE HISTORY PHI ALPHA 18 e;:Crod Yhole NITIATORY SECOND Cover Design NQVET BA Designed of he Program by Vertner and W.Tandy,menu of October the Second 26, Initiatory 1907. FRATERNITY EB