National 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, on Tuesday, 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. It started as a small social study club that originally met at 421 North Albany Street, Ithaca, NY. The prejudices of the time, even at a relatively liberal institution such as Cornell, placed an extra burden on black students. Furthermore, Blacks were denied, the mutual helpfulness, which a majority of the students attending Cornell University regularly enjoyed. The first unit of the Fraternity that was established was called Alpha Chapter.From Alpha Chapter the Fraternity spread to other college campuses. The Fraternity was incorporated on January 29, 1908.      With an infinite vision of an organization encompassing the ideals of scholarship, manly deeds, and love for all mankind, our seven founders, whom we respectfully call the "Jewels,"aspired to bring forth a fraternity dedicated to social purpose and social action. Currently, Alpha Phi Alpha continues to grow and push for these ideals with such nationally mandated programs as "Project Alpha," "Go to High School, Go to College," "A Voteless People is a Hopeless People," and others, which are maintained on both the undergraduate and graduate level as well. The Seven visionary founders, or "Jewels", of Alpha Phi Alpha are:
			Jewel Henry Arthur Callis MD-Medical Doctor, Tuskeegee Alabama Jewel Charles Henry Chapman-Teacher, Florida A&M University Jewel Eugene Kinkle Jones-Executive Secretary of the National Urban League Jewel George Biddle Kelley-Civil Engineer, State of New York Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray-Teacher, Armstrong Technical High School Jewel Robert Harold Ogle-US Senate Committee of Appropriations Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy-First registered black architect of the State of New York. These men labored in the years of severe economic times 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 interracial since 1945 and has expanded tremendously to the extent that there are now approximately 750 chapters located throughout the United States, Caribbean Islands, Africa, West Indies, Europe, and Asia.
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