Alpha History

Who is the current general president?

Lucien J. Metellus Jr.

When was Alpha Phi Alpha Founded?

Tuesday December 4th, 1906

Where was Alpha Phi Alpha founded?

Cornell University in Ithaca, New York

What are the aims of Alpha Phi Alpha?

Manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind

What is the motto of Alpha Phi Alpha?

First of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all

What is the mission statement of Alpha Phi Alpha?

APA fraternity inc develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence while providing service and advocacy for our communities.

What are the colors of Alpha Phi Alpha? What are their meanings?

Black for secrecy and old gold for endurance, enrichment of the mind, and precious metal

What are the objectives (vision) of Alpha Phi Alpha?

• To stimulate ambition of its members

• To prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the case of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual

• To encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood

• and to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic, and intellectual status

What is the purpose of Alpha Phi Alpha?

• To promote a more perfect union among college men

• To aid in and insist upon the personal progress of its members

• To further brotherly love and a fraternal spirit within the organization

• To discountenance evil

• To destroy all prejudices

• To preserve the sanctity of the home, the personification of virtue and the chastity of woman

What does the hand sign of Alpha Phi Alpha represent?

The extended thumb incorporates the American sign language A to represent the first A with the pink being extended to represent the last A. The three clinched middle fingers are to represent the Phi. All 3 together represent the full acronym; the origin and date of adoption relates to an alleged general convention in Hawaii over 60 years ago and its hang loose sign.

How many founders of Alpha Phi Alpha are there? What are they called?

There is 7 known as the The Jewels or 7 Jewels

What are the names of the founder of Alpha Phi Alpha?

Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Knickle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murrary, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy

Name Henry Arthur Callis’ occupation, contribution to Alpha Phi Alpha, and one fact

A physician and he was known as the philosopher of the founders. He was the only one of the Cornell Seven to become general president. He was a medical consultant to the Veteran’s Hospital in Tuskegee, AL

Name Charles Henry Chapman’s occupation, contribution to Alpha Phi Alpha, and one fact

He was a professor of agriculture at FAMU and was described as a brother beloved in the bonds. He was the first chairman of the committees on initiation and organization. He was the first jewel to enter the omega chapter in 1934 and founded FAMU’s beta nu chapter.

Name Eugene Kinckle Jones’ occupation, contribution to Alpha Phi Alpha, and one fact

He was the first executive secretary of the National Urban League and held that position for 20 years. He organized the first 3 fraternity chapters out of Cornell, Beta at Howard, Gamma at Virginia Union, and the original Delta at the University of Toronto (Delta chapter is now Tillotson College). He aided alongside Callis in creating the name and was a member of the first committees on constitution and organization. He also helped right the fraternity ritual.

Name George Biddle Kelley’s occupation, contribution to Alpha Phi Alpha, and one fact

He was the first African American engineer registered in the state of NY and he was the Alpha chapters first president. He served on the committee that worked on the handshake and ritual.

Name Nathaniel Allison Murray’s occupation, contribution to Alpha Phi Alpha, and one fact

He taught in public schools in Washington D.C. primarily Armstrong Vocational High School. He was a member of the Alpha Chapter’s first committee on the organization of the new fraternal group and the committee on the grip. He was a charter member of Washington’s Mu Lambda Chapter.

Name Robert Harold Ogle’s occupation, contribution to Alpha Phi Alpha, and one fact

He worked within the secretarial field and served as a professional staff member to the US senate committee on appropriations. He proposed the fraternity colors and was the Alpha Chapter’s first secretary. He joined Kelley in working on the first ritual and became a charter member of Washington’s Mu Lambda Chapter.

Name Vertner Woodson Tandy’s occupation, contribution to Alpha Phi Alpha, and one fact

He was the first registered black architect in NY and he designed the fraternity pin. He was also the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination. He was the Alpha Chapter’s first treasurer and took initiative to incorporate the fraternity.

What does Men of Distinction mean?

It is a monicker embodying the presence, accomplishments, and the reputation exuded by Alpha brothers.

Why was Alpha Phi Alpha founded?

Originally the organization served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice educationally and socially at Cornell. It later became the first intercollegiate greek letter fraternity in the US established for men of African descent.

What are the principle of Alpha Phi Alpha?

Scholarship, fellowship, good character, and uplifting humanity.

What are the programs of Alpha Phi Alpha? Describe each

• Project Alpha: A collaborative project with the March of Dimes birth defects foundation. This program provides education on the issue of STIs, teen pregnancy, and relationships to young men to aid them in their role in teen pregnancy prevention.

• Brother’s Keeper: This program has the mission of advocating and improving the quality of life for senior brothers, their spouses and widows who are retired, have disabilities or ailments, and vulnerable communities.

• A Voteless People is A Hopeless People: This program was initiated in the 1930s when many African American’s where prevented from voting despite having the right. The program now helps in voter education and registration as well as getting them to the polls on election day.

• Go to High School, Go to College: The program was established in 1922 concentrating on the importance of completing secondary and collegiate education as a means to advancement. The youth are given information on promising professions and taught strategies that facilitate success.

Name some prominent Alpha brothers

WEB Dubois, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Edward Brooke, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Roberson, Julius Chambers, and Maynard Jackson.

What are the special inititatives of Alpha Phi Alpha? Describe them

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America: Implemented in 1990 the two organizations assist each other in working toward the positive development of African American youth and empowering their families and communities. Children are prepared to be responsible and confident adults.

• Boy Scouts of America: Helps youth engage with their communities and develop pride in their heritage. It is meant to empower them and enhance the quality of their lives while also building future leaders and potentially recruiting future Alpha men.

• College life to corporate life initiative (C2C): Created to develop APA human resources and cultivate symbolic relations with corporate partners. This allows for career opportunities and increased diverse talent. This is done through workshops and seminars related to personal and professional development.

• Leadership development institute (LDI): The mission is to develop a generation of leaders by quipping high school students with leadership skills.

• Peace Corps: APA partnered with the US peace corps to send brothers aboard to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Brother work as volunteers to make a sustainable changes to lives and upon their return they bring knowledge and experience.

• World Policy Council: The mission is to address the issues of concern to the brotherhood, the communities, the nation, and around the world. Also to expand the fraternal and public knowledge on such problems and engage in public discussion about them.

What are the foundations of Alpha Phi Alpha? Describe them

• APA Education Foundation: A nonprofit that focuses on scholarship, programs and training and development of the membership.

• APA Charitable Foundation: The mission is to promote scholarship and academic achievement and provide resources, services and advocacy to the global community. Recent efforts have focused on urban education and growing resources and partnerships to lack the lack of innovation, achievement, and preparation in these environments. Current efforts include using technology to to maximize human capital found in inner city school systems and prepare them for academic and corporate success.

• APA Building Foundation: Established as an economic development corporation to promote, preserve, and protect the infrastructure of our community.

• Jewels Heritage Project: A nonprofit corporation whose mission is to reclaim, restore, and revive two historic properties previously neglected which were instrumental in the founding of APA fraternity inc.

  • The Archie and Annie Singleton residence: Ogle rented a room from the couple while in college and the Social Study Club would meet here. Annie Singleton is referred to as the Mother of the Fraternity.

  • C.C. Poindexter Home: Here lives C.C. Poindexter and Mr. Edward Newton and the first meeting of the Social Study Club was held here. C.C Poindexter started the Social Study Club but left the club upon it becoming a fraternity.

    • The Social Study club became a Literary Society before becoming APA