He called no man master. His comrades called him affectionately “Tandy.” It was during his affiliation with the Fraternity that he designed the beloved Fraternity pin (the first of which was dropped in the snow on the campus of Cornell and lost forever) and served as the first treasurer of Alpha Chapter. Eugene Kinckle Jones became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League. Being men we must put aside childish things and answer the challenge of qualitative worth to meet the times…We therefore must choose, train and encourage the youths of our choice to a more authentic standard of values based upon more universal concepts…Then the ideas of our vision shall have been fulfilled. Three volleys were fired by the guardsmen as the 30 car procession made its way to his final resting place in Hartsdale Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. The 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. I knew a Jew, a man who exercised the right to keep the Negro under his feet if he can. Described as “a Brother beloved in the bonds,” Chapman was a founder of FAMU’s Beta Nu Chapter. We told him that there was no minister living at our house.”, As it turned out Jewel Tandy had gone into the city, “ended up into riotous living and had run out of money.” Not having funds to return to Ithaca, he had gone to the pastor and preached a sermon for him. The minister had lifted a collection for the benefit of his itinerant assistant which enabled Tandy to accomplish his objective. In the book Kentucky’s Prominent Men and Women, the author wrote about Henry Tandy: “Everybody knows and admires the genial, dignified citizen whose life is worthy of emulation… Modest in all his ways, dignified in his manner, Mr. Tandy always makes one feel at home in his presence.”. Tandy, out of gratitude, told the minister “if he ever came to Ithaca to look him up.”. First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All! 2. In his text, he commented on the following: “So at this time, we, the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha… need to fortify our defenses and gird ourselves to the larger significance of our standards. F. and the S.M.T. His candor, outspokenness and bluntness was legendary to those who knew him. Follow us on Instagram Jewel Tandy soon made acquaintance with Richmond, Virginia native, Eugene Kinckle Jones, who became his roommate. In addition, he served on committees that worked out the handshake and ritual. St. Philip’s added a Parrish House Community Center in 1970. The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. Vertner Woodson Tandy. His status as a founder was not finally established until 1952. Carry with you home the thoughts that the founders wish you to continue what we started.”. Architecture program was started in 1892, when Booker T. Washington recruited Robert R. Taylor to develop his Mechanical Industrial Department. He influenced one of the first generations of African-American architects, including his “prize” student, Vertner Tandy, who, in September 1905, transferred to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to continue his architectural education. 7 Vertner Woodson Tandy (1885–1949) Jim Henderson/Picasa. Other works by Tandy’s and his architectural firm on Broadway Avenue in New York, included the popular night club Small’s Paradise, Mother Zion A.M.E. Zion Church (1925) and a $100,000 town house near Striver’s row. The church had attempted to buy a white church in Harlem but was unsuccessful, so they hired Tandy and erected their Gothic structure on West 134th Street. The New York State National Guardsmen also made a tribute. His father, Henry, came to the blue grass area of Kentucky, shortly after the war in 1865. He died in 1963. Vertner lived in New … Vertner Woodson Tandy (1885-1949), who became New York’s first registered black architect, designed the present building, which is the fourth home of the first African American congregation of Protestant Episcopalians in New York City. Like us on Facebook He died in 1959. He proposed the Fraternity’s colors and was Alpha Chapter’s first secretary. Feb 18, 2013 - Vertner Woodson Tandy was the first registered black architect in New York State and the first Afro-American to belong to the prestigious ... More information Vertner Woodson Tandy (May 17, 1885 – November 7, 1949) was one of the seven founders (commonly referred to as The Seven Jewels) of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell University in 1906. Henry Tandy married Emma Brice in June 1875. He 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. 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. 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. -Vertner Woodson Tandy, December 1937. Vertner Woodson Tandy became the state of New York’s first registered architect, with offices on Broadway in New York City. Since its founding, the fraternity has provided leadership and service during the Great Depression, World War II, Civil Rights Movements, and addressed the social issues of apartheid, urban housing, and economic, cultural, and political concerns affecting people of color. Always a visionary, Jewel Tandy once remarked: “We should go to Africa…and make the Prince of Liberia a member”. His father, Henry, came to the blue grass area of Kentucky, shortly after the war in 1865. Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were developed at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. A few years after he graduated from Cornell, Jewel Tandy, an outspoken advocate for Civil Rights, led a demonstration at Sage College in 1912 to have African-American women admitted. He resided in Troy, New York and was active with Beta Pi Lambda Chapter in Albany. 1915 Architectural licensing comes to New York State. However, it was his design of the $250,000, Italianate palace, thirty four room mansion in Irvington on the Hudson river for noted hair preparation millionaire Madam C J. Walker in 1917 that brought him his greatest notoriety. He married the former Sadie Dorsette, and in 1922, they became the parents of one son, Vertner Woodson Tandy, Jr. (Tandy, Jr. was initiated into the Fraternity in 1951 and at last report resided in Monsey, New York). He died in 1949, at age 64. “I went through hell founding this organization and I want something done about these problems. Much of his career was spent at Armstrong Vocational High School in the District of Columbia. Jones also has the distinction of being one of the first initiates as well as an original founder. Though his work kept him extremely busy, Jewel Tandy tried to keep up with fraternal activities, however, he had very little tolerance for some of the Fraternity’s and Eta Chapter antics. Tandy’s son, Vertner Woodson Tandy, went to Cornell University and was a founder of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, whose members later included the Rev. He gave a stirring and rousing fraternal address and talked about the politics in the fraternity: “We have got to do something for Negroes, there is too much politics in this fraternity. Do something constructive so that your sons, your daughters and all who come behind them will be proud of you. I saw a man at a meeting pick up a handful of black balls and said that he was going to black ball until times got better. He enjoyed disregarding customs that ignored fundamental human values.” Tandy found himself with the group of young men who formed the Alpha Phi Alpha Society, ultimately destined to become the first African American Greek letter Fraternity. At the Thirty-third Anniversary Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1947, Jewel Tandy spoke on “Laying the Foundation for a Fraternity”. Follow us on Twitter Shelton Hale Bishop, officiating. George Washington Foster Jr. ... About 1908, Foster encountered Vertner Woodson Tandy (1891-1949). Much of his itinerant assistant which enabled Tandy to an interest in architecture 7 1949... We Shall Transcend All the Housing Authority Abraham Lincoln Houses on 135th Street, shortly the... George Washington Foster Jr.... about 1908, Foster encountered Vertner Woodson Tandy became the Executive... Clerical garb came to Ithaca to look him up.” 1885–1949 ) Jim Henderson/Picasa entered Tuskegee Institute to architecture... 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