The History of Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek letter fraternity established for black students, was organized at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, December 4, 1906. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was born out of the desire for maintaining close association and unified support for members of this small minority group. The prejudices of the time, even at a relatively liberal institution such as Cornell, placed an extra burden on minority students. Furthermore, Blacks were denied, for the most part, the mutual helpfulness which the majority of the students attending Cornell University regularly enjoyed.

The first unit of the fraternity that was established was called the "Alpha Chapter." The seven visionary founders, or Jewels, of Alpha Phi Alpha are: Jewel Henry A. Callis, M.D., Jewel Charles H. Chapman, Jewel Eugene K. Jones, Jewel George B. Kelley, Jewel Nathanial A. Murray, Jewel Robert H. Ogle, and Jewel Vertner W. Tandy. These men labored in the years of severe economic struggle and racial conflict in the United States. Despite their difficulties of organization, the early fraternity pioneers succeeded in laying a firm foundation and remained steadfast in their goals pointing toward development of the fraternity membership -- that is espousing the principles of good character, sound scholarship, fellowship, and uplifting of humanity, especially in the struggling Black community in the United States.

The fraternity has grown steadily in influence throughout the years. It has been integrated since 1945 and has expanded tremendously to the extent that there are now approximately 800 chapters located throughout the U.S, Caribbean Islands, Africa, West Indies, Europe, and Asia.