The 7even jewels
 

The founders of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., known as the Jewels of Alpha Phi Alpha and fondly referred to as the "Cornell Seven", were no ordinary achievers. Given racial attitudes in 1906, their accomplishments were monumental. As founder Henry Arthur Callis euphemistically stated—because the half-dozen African American students at Cornell University during the school year 1904-05 did not return to campus the following year, the incoming students in 1905-06, in founding Alpha Phi Alpha, were determined to bind themselves together to ensure that each would survive in the racially hostile environment. In coming together with this simple act, they preceded by decades the emergence of such on-campus programs as affirmative action, upward bound and remedial assistance. The students set outstanding examples of scholarship, leadership and success—preceding the efforts even of the NAACP and similar civil rights organizations.

 

Jewel Henry Arthur Callis, was born January 14, 1887. He attended Cornel University in the fall of 1905, where he worked part-time as a janitor and a waiter. Due to financial difficulties, he was forced to drop out of school in 1907 but returned the following year. After graduating in 1909, he went on to Rush Medical School and became a practicing physician, Howard University Professor of Medicine and prolific contributor to medical journals. He founded Theta Chapter in 1910 and was a charter member of Xi Lambda Chapter in 1925, both in Chicago. 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 of Alpha Phi Alpha. Prior to moving to Washington D.C., he was a medical consultant to the Veterans Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama. Jewel Henry Arthur Callis passed away on November 12, 1974 at which point the Fraternity entered a time without any living Jewels. His papers were donated to Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.
 
 
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman was born in 1876 and before attending Cornell University, he was a student at Howard University. After graduation, he entered higher education and eventually became Professor of Agriculture at what is now Florida A&M University (FAMU). Jewel Chapman who is remembered as "a Brother beloved in the bonds", 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. He was the first Jewel to enter Omega Chapter in 1934, and was given a university funeral at FAMU with considerable Fraternity participation.
 
   
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones was born July 30, 1885 and entered the Cornell Graduate School of Sociology in 1906; after obtaining a B.A from Virginia Union University. A versatile leader, he organized the first three Fraternity chapters that branched out from Alpha Chapter - Beta Chapter at Howard, Gamma Chapter at Virginia Union and the original Delta Chapter here in Toronto, at the University of Toronto. Not only was he the second president of Alpha Chapter, he was also member of the first Committees on Constitution and Organization and helped write the Fraternity ritual. Jewel Jones also has the distinction of being one of the first initiates as well as an original founder, he also joined Jewel Callis in creating the Fraternity name. He later became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League, and his 20-year tenure with the Urban League far exceeded those of all his successors in office. His status as a founder was not finally established until 1952. He died in 1954.
   
   
Jewel George Biddle Kelley was born in 1884 and earned the distinction of being the first African American engineer registered in the state of New York. He worked for many years for the New York State Barge Canal, and showed his versatility by later going on to become a very successful tax consultant. Jewel Kelley became Alpha Chapter’s first President in addition to serving on committees that worked out the handshake and ritual. He resided in Troy, New York and was active with Beta Pi Lambda Chapter in Albany. He died in 1963.
   
 
Nathaniel Allison Murray completed his undergraduate work at Howard University and pursued graduate work, later returning 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. Jewel Murray, a 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.
   
   
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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