Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

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Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American Men, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African descendants in this country. The seven visionary founders, known as the “Jewels” of the fraternity, are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.

The fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.

Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were established at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. The first alumni chapter was established in 1911. While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also recognized the need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African Americans. Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through leaders such as W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others. True to its form as the “first of firsts,” Alpha Phi Alpha has been interracial since 1945.

Since its founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Alpha Chapter (Cornell University). Alpha Phi Alpha records, 1910-2010. Cornell University Library
referencedIn National Fraternity Reference Files, 1810- University of Illinois Archives
referencedIn Henderson, Jacob R., 1911-. Jacob R. Henderson oral history interview 1992 July 24. Georgia State University
referencedIn Alpha Phi Alpha records, 1910-2009. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn William A. Clement Papers, 1930-1998 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Taylor, Joseph T., 1913-2000. Joseph T. Taylor papers, 1922-2000. Indiana Historical Society Library
referencedIn National Fraternity Journals, 1880- University of Illinois Archives
referencedIn Eta Sigma Lambda Fraternity Records, 1965-2008, 1970-2000 San José State University. Library
referencedIn Mahoney, Charles H., 1886-1966. Charles H. Mahoney papers, 1907-1965 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Eta Sigma Lambda. Eta Sigma Lambda Fraternity records, 1962-2008. San Jose State University
referencedIn Galvin family papers, 1935-1987. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Pitcher, Alberta, 1903?-1997. [Papers of Alberta Pitcher] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
referencedIn David Dinkins Papers, 1941-2001, [Bulk Dates: 1985-1993]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Lewis, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster), 1897-. Papers, 1874-1986 (bulk 1924-1986). University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
referencedIn Lewis, Andrew Jackson, 1909-1989. Edward Randolph Carter and Andrew Jackson Lewis collection, [ca. 1890-1985]. Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, Central Library
referencedIn Shaw University. Fraternity and sorority records, 1940-1945. Shaw University, James E. Cheek Learning Resources Center
referencedIn Remembering Indiana in the Twentieth Century, 1995-1996 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Kentucky State University. Student Affairs records, 1961-1984. Kentucky State University, Paul G. Blazer Library
referencedIn Logan, Rayford Whittingham, 1897-. Papers, 1916-1982. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Herman T. Jones papers, 1933-1999 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Daniel W. Lewis Papers, 1874-1986 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Jones, Herman T. (Herman Theodric), 1906-1983. [Herman T. Jones papers] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
referencedIn Dinkins, David N. David Dinkins papers, 1941-2001 [Bulk Dates: 1985-1993]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Clement, A. J. (Arthur J.). A. J. Clement papers, 1926-1986. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Callis, Henry Arthur, 1887-1974. Henry A. Callis papers, 1888-1974 (bulk 1905-1974). Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Logan, Rayford Whittingham, 1897-. Papers, ca. 1917-ca. 1980. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
creatorOf Emory University. Fraternity records collection, 1895-1996 Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Dept. of Afro-American Studies. Office of the Chair. UW-Milwaukee Dept. of Afro-American Studies records, 1968-1990. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM Libraries
creatorOf Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1927-1960. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Floyd B. McKissick Papers, 1940s-1980s University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Vaughn, J. W., 1930-. J.W. Vaughn oral history interview, 2002. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Alberta Pitcher papers, 1923-1988 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Alpha Chapter (Cornell University). corporateBody
associatedWith Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.Alpha Chapter (Cornell University). corporateBody
associatedWith Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.Alpha Chapter (Cornell University). corporateBody
associatedWith Callis, Henry Arthur, 1887-1974. person
associatedWith Clement, A. J. (Arthur J.) person
associatedWith Clement, William A., 1912-2001 person
associatedWith Dinkins, David N. person
associatedWith Dinkins, David N. person
associatedWith Emory University. corporateBody
associatedWith Eta Sigma Lambda corporateBody
associatedWith Eta Sigma Lambda. corporateBody
associatedWith Galvin family. family
associatedWith Henderson, Jacob R., 1911- person
associatedWith Howe, Stewart S., 1905-1973 person
associatedWith Howe, Stewart S., 1905-1973 person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
associatedWith Jones, Herman T. (Herman Theodric), 1906-1983. person
associatedWith Jones, Herman T. (Herman Theodric), 1909-1983 person
associatedWith Kentucky State University. corporateBody
associatedWith Lewis, Andrew Jackson, 1909-1989. person
associatedWith Lewis, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster), 1897- person
associatedWith Lewis, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster), 1897-1889 person
associatedWith Logan, Rayford Whittingham, 1897- person
associatedWith Mahoney, Charles H., 1886-1966. person
associatedWith McKissick, Floyd B. (Floyd Bixler), 1922- person
associatedWith Pitcher, Alberta, 1903?-1997. person
associatedWith Shaw University. corporateBody
associatedWith Taylor, Joseph T., 1913-2000. person
associatedWith University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Dept. of Afro-American Studies. Office of the Chair. corporateBody
associatedWith Vaughn, J. W., 1930- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1895

Active 1996

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