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Henry Arthur Callis became a practicing physician, Howard
University Professor of Medicine and prolific contributor
to medical journals. Often regarded as the “philosopher
of the founders,” and a moving force in the Fraternity’s
development, he was the only one of the “Cornell Seven” to
become General President. Prior to moving to Washington,
D.C., he was a medical consultant to the Veterans Hospital
in Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon his death in 1974, at age 87,
the Fraternity entered a time without any living Jewels.
His papers were donated to Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn
Research Center. |
| Charles
Henry Chapman entered higher education and eventually
became Professor of Agriculture at what is now Florida
A&M University. A university funeral was held with
considerable Fraternity participation when he became
the first Jewel to enter Omega Chapter in 1934. Described
as “a Brother beloved in the bonds,” Chapman
was a founder of FAMU’s Beta Nu Chapter. During
the organization stages of Alpha Chapter, he was the
first chairman of the Committees on Initiation and Organization. |
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Eugene
Kinckle Jones became the first Executive Secretary
of the National Urban League. His 20-year tenure with
the Urban League thus far has exceeded those of all his
successors in office. A versatile leader, he organized
the first three Fraternity chapters that branched out
from Cornell—Beta at Howard, Gamma at Virginia
Union and the original Delta at the University of Toronto
in Canada. In addition to becoming Alpha Chapter’s
second President and joining with Callis in creating
the Fraternity name, Jones was a member of the first
Committees on Constitution and Organization and helped
write the Fraternity ritual. Jones also has the distinction
of being one of the first initiates as well as an original
founder. His status as a founder was not finally established
until 1952. He died in 1954. |
| George
Biddle Kelley became the first African American
engineer registered in the state of New York. Not only
was he the strongest proponent of the Fraternity idea
among the organization’s founders, the civil engineering
student also became Alpha Chapter’s first President.
In addition, he served on committees that worked out
the handshake and ritual. Kelley was popular with the
Brotherhood. He resided in Troy, New York and was active
with Beta Pi Lambda Chapter in Albany. He died in 1963. |
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Nathaniel
Allison Murray pursued graduate work after completing
his undergraduate studies at Howard. He later returned
home to Washington, D.C., where he taught in public schools.
Much of his career was spent at Armstrong Vocational
High School in the District of Columbia. He was a member
of Alpha Chapter’s first committee on organization
of the new fraternal group, as well as the Committee
on the Grip. The charter member of Washington’s
Mu Lambda Chapter was a frequent attendee of General
Conventions. He died in 1959. |
| Robert
Harold Ogle entered the career secretarial field
and had the unique privilege of serving as a professional
staff member to the United States Senate Committee on
Appropriations. He was an African American pioneer in
his Capitol Hill position. He proposed the Fraternity’s
colors and was Alpha Chapter’s first secretary.
Ogle joined Kelley in working out the first ritual and
later became a charter member of Washington’s Mu
Lambda Chapter. He died in 1936. |
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Vertner
Woodson Tandy became the state of New York’s
first registered architect, with offices on Broadway
in New York City. The designer of the Fraternity pin
holds the distinction of being the first African American
to pass the military commissioning examination and was
commissioned First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of
the New York State National Guard. He was Alpha Chapter’s
first treasurer and took the initiative to incorporate
the Fraternity. Among the buildings designed by the highly
talented architect is Saint Phillips Episcopal Church
in New York City. He died in 1949, at age 64. |
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