1906-2006: 100 Years Strong and Going
Monday, December 4th, 2006
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for Black college students, was organized at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, in 1906. The prejudices of the time, even at a relatively liberal institution such as Cornell, placed an extra burden on minority students. The first unit of this national fraternity, organized by college men of African descent, was called “Alpha Chapter.”
The seven visionary founders at Cornell, Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle and Vertner Woodson Tandy, labored in years of severe economic struggle and racial conflict in the United States. Despite their difficulties of organization in this untried field of student life, the early fraternity pioneers succeeded in laying a firm foundation and remained steadfast in their goals.
The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice educationally and socially at Cornell. During those beginning days, the Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity worked to lay a solid foundation based on scholarship, fellowship, good character and the uplifting of humanity.
The Fraternity has grown steadily in influence throughout the years. 125,000 men have been initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha since its founding in 1906. It has been interracial since 1945. There are now 350 college chapters on campuses, and 350 alumni chapters in local communities, located in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Africa.
GOODWILL IS THE MONARCH OF THIS HOUSE, MEN UNACQUAINTED, ENTER, SHAKE HANDS, EXCHANGE GREETINGS AND DEPART FRIENDS. CORDIALITY EXIST AMONG ALL WHO ABIDE WITHIN. I AM THE EMINENT EXPRESSION OF FRIENDSHIP. CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT CHANGE UNDER MY DOMINANT POWER. LIVES ONCE TOUCHED BY ME BECOME TUNED AND ARE THEREAFTER AMIABLE, KINDLY, FRATERNAL.
I INSPIRE THE MUSICIAN TO PLAY NOBLE SENTIMENTS AND ASSIST THE CHEMIST TO CONVERT UNGENEROUS PERSONALITIES INTO INDIVIDUALS OF GREAT WORTH. I DESTROY IGNOBLE IMPULSES. I CONSTANTLY INVOKE PRINCIPLES WHICH MAKE FOR COMMON BROTHERHOOD AND THE ECHO RESOUNDS IN ALL COMMUNITIES AND PRINCELY MEN ARE THEREBY RECOGNIZED. EDUCATION, HEALTH, MUSIC, ENCOURAGEMENT, SYMPATHY, LAUGHTER, ALL THESE ARE SPECIES OF INTEREST GIVEN OF SELF INVESTED CAPITAL.
TIRED MOMENTS FIND ME A DELIGHTFUL TREAT, HOURS OF SORROW, A SHRINE OF UNDERSTANDING, AT ALL TIMES I AM FAITHFUL TO THE CREED OF COMPANIONSHIP, TO A FEW, I AM THE CASTLE OF DREAMS, AMBITIOUS, SUCCESSFUL, HOPEFUL DREAMS. TO MANY, I AM THE POETIC PLACE WHERE HUMAN FEELING IS RHYMED TO CELESTIAL MOTIVES; TO THE GREAT MAJORITY, I AM THE TREASURY OF GOOD FELLOWSHIP.
IN FACT, I AM THE COLLEGE OF FRIENDSHIP; THE UNIVERSITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE; THE SCHOOL FOR THE BETTER MAKING OF MEN.
I AM ALPHA PHI ALPHA
Happy Founders Day Brothers !!!!!!! Happy Birthday Alpha Phi Alpha!!!!!!!