The History of Alpha Phi Alpha

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 Alpha Phi mention. He may be regarded as the precursor of the 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 16 PROFC ALPHA PHI ALPHA PaINrEEs Charles Cardoza Poindexter Precursor of ALPHA PHIALPHA Eugene Kinckle Jones (From the records of Fisk University, wbere the author uwas a member of bis Chapter and a leading spirit in the class in Physical Science) 1910-1911. Founder, Second President of Alpha 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 worthy to bear the designation of Jewels. The Original Seven include "those men who Were members of both the social study club, 1905-1906, and the fraternity, 1906 organizations, 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, to bring thefield realization and who dared to be efforts pioneers in an about untried of student life.These Seven men, the Jewels of the fraternity, are Brother George B. Kelley,who after leaving Cornell became a civil engineer and entered the Serviceofthe CONSOLIDATION THE PERIOD OF 17 Cornell who after leaving Callis, A. Henry govern Brother etute of New York;medicine and was stationed as a physician at the after who of teted the field Charles H. Chapman, Brother Alabama; teach ment hospital, Tuskegee, field of education and was last engaged in Nathaniel A. Loaving Cornell chose the Tallahassee, Florida; Brother College, M. & field of it at the Florida A. at CornelI, entered the School. work graduate and Murray, who did college Armstrong Technical High the at teaching Cornell was education, and Tandy, who after leaving W. Vertner Brother York, and Washington, D.C.; on Broadway. New offices with architect Negro man became a registered distinction of being the first the enjoyed activities first lieu among other receive the commission of and eXamination Brother Robert H. to pass the military York National Guard: New Infantry, 15th had the tenant in the entered the secretarial field and on Ogle. who after leaving Cornell Committee to the office of the attached being of privilege 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 of president constitution, and pins; the first committees on organization, Delta Chapters. He occupies Alpha Chapter, and maker of Beta, Gamma, and the Seventh Jewel, is one of the a dual place in Alpha Phi Alpha history. He is 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.