Seven Jewels continued
George Biddle Kelly (8/24/1884-5/5/1962), a New York native was one of the seven founders (“Seven Jewels”), of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, at Cornell University in 1906. He was one of the strongest proponents of the fraternity idea among the founders. He became the Alpha chapter’s first president. Kelly served on committees that worked out the fraternity handshake and ritual. George Kelly was the first African American engineer registered in the state of New York.
Nathaniel Allison Murray was one of the seven founders (“Seven Jewels”) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, at Cornell University in 1906. He was a member of the first committee on organization of the new fraternal group and the fraternity’s Grip. Most of his career was spent in the field of education, mainly at Armstrong National High School in the District of Columbia. Nathaniel Allison Murray entered Omega chapter in 1959.
Robert Harold Ogle was one of the seven founders (“Seven Jewels”) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, at Cornell University in 1906. He was Alpha’s first secretary and proposed the fraternity’s colors. He also assisted George Kelly in working out the first ritual. Robert Olge had a career in the secretarial field and had the unique privilege of serving as a professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. He died in 1936.
Vertner Woodson Tandy (May 17, 1985-November 7, 1949), was one of the seven founders (“Seven Jewels”) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, at Cornell University in 1906. He served as the first Treasurer of Alpha Chapter and the designer of the fraternity Pin. The fraternity became incorporated under his leadership. Tandy was the first black registered architect in New York State. One of his distinct works is the St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in New York City. He holds the distinction of being the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination. He entered Omega Chapter at the age of 64 an 1949.
