Guide to the Alpha Phi Alpha Records,
1910-2010.

Collection Number: 37-4-2509

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Petrina Jackson
Date completed:
September 2006
EAD encoding:
Ariel Joy Conant, September 2006
Date modified:
Jude Corina, February 2013

© 2006 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Alpha Phi Alpha records, 1910-2010.
Collection Number:
37-4-2509
Creator:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.Alpha Chapter (Cornell University).
Quantity:
1.3 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, Publications, Memorabilia, Financial Records
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Files regarding Alpha Phi Alpha and its history, particularly the cornell chapter.
Language:
Collection material in English

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

Fraternity established at Cornell University, 1906; first black fraternity at Cornell, founded by Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Includes correspondence between Cornell Alumni News editor John Marcham and Mrs. Donald B. Saunders, September 30, 1968 and October 11, 1968; photographs of Robert H. Ogle, Vertner W. Tandy, George B. Kelley, and Henry A. Callis (chapter officers), and of meeting places and ceremonies; clippings and articles; and posters, handbills, brochures, and other miscellaneous items of Alpha Phi Alpha at Cornell University. Includes Round-Up Banquet programs. Early records from 1910-1929 include minutes of meetings, Annual Convention Reports, committee reports, scrapbook, and correspondence.
Contains materials related to the fraternity's Cornell pilgrimage (2005) and centennial celebration (2006), including a November 19, 2005 album signed by past presidents and members who attended the event and a poster signed by brothers who were present at the December 4, 2006 meeting of the New York Association of Chapters of Alpha.
Complete digitized set of the Sphinx Magazine available on a hard drive.
Master/raw video footage filmed by Rubicon Production, Inc. related to the production of the centennial documentary film entitled Alpha Phi Alpha: A Century of Leadership. Includes 95 Betacam SP Videocassette tapes; 4 DVM 60 Mini digital videocassette tapes; and 4 hard disk drives. The footage includes extensive interviews with many Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers, as well as non-fraternity members; professionally staged re-enactments of historical moments and scenes from the Fraternity's history; and footage from events and activities at the General Conventions in Detroit and Philadelphia. Also an MP3 file containing an interview conducted with brother Dr. Donald Graham.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Callis, Henry Arthur, 1887-1974.
Kelley, George B.
Ogle, Robert H.
Tandy, Vertner W., 1885-1949.
Alpha Phi Alpha--Centennial celebrations, etc..
Cornell University--Societies, etc.
Cornell University--Students.

Subjects:
Afro-American college students.
Greek letter societies.

Form and Genre Terms:
Photographs.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:
Box 2 is restricted to current members of Alpha Chapter, Iota Iota Lambda Chapter, Alpha Chapter Alumni, and the National Historian, with current fraternity ID card. All other members of the fraternity require permission from the aforementioned individuals, either in person or by signed letter, with current fraternity ID card. Fraternity also provides list of members.
Cite As:
Alpha Phi Alpha records, #37-4-2509. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIAL

View the online exhibition on Alpha Phi Alpha here: http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/alpha
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
n.d.
The Jewels Project
 Box 1 Folder 1
1927-1928
Correspondence from Fraternity National Officers, other Chapters, and Vendors
Box 1 Folder 2
1968
Correspondence and News Clippings
 Box 1 Folder 3
1981
Correspondence Relating to 75th Anniversary and Alpha House
 Box 1 Folder 4
1979-1983
Dr. G. Alx Galvin News Clippings
 Box 1 Folder 5
1988-2003
News Clippings
 Box 1 Folder 6
1977-1985, (Bulk 1984)
Invitations, Programs, and Tickets
 Box 1 Folder 7
1981-1985
Brochures and Programs
 Box 1 Folder 8
1983- ca. 1986
Round- Up and Party Flyers, Broadsides
 Box 1 Folder 9
1996
Fifteenth Annual Round-Up Program
 Box 1 Folder 10
1980-2003
Broadsides
 Box 1 Folder 11
1986-1988
Program Related Materials
 Box 1 Folder 12
1983
Rayfer Mainor Materials
 Box 1 Folder 13
1987
Charles Harris Wesley Memorial Service Program
 Box 1 Folder 14
Charles Harris Wesley Memorial Service Program
 Box 1 Folder 15
2006
Centennial celebration newspaper clipping.
 Box 1 Folder 16
2009
The Monthly Jewel Newsletters
 Box 1 Folder 17
Order of Initiation
 Box 2 Folder 1
1910
Delegate's Report- 3rd Annual Convention
 Box 2 Folder 2
1910
Chapter Report to the General Convention
 Box 2 Folder 3
1910
Oath of Secrecy- Oath of Allegiance
 Box 2 Folder 4
1910-1916
Committee Reports
 Box 2 Folder 5
1911
Delegate's Report-4th Annual Convention- Ann Arbor, Michigan
 Box 2 Folder 6
1912
Delegate's Report-5th Annual Convention- Columbus, Ohio
 Box 2 Folder 7
1913
Essays-Read during the year
 Box 2 Folder 8
1913
Delegate's Report-6th Annual Convention at Beta Chapter
 Box 2 Folder 9
1914-1917
Ritual Committee Reports
 Box 2 Folder 10
1915
Minutes- 8th Annual Convention
 Box 2 Folder 11
1915
Delegate's Report- 8th Annual Convention
 Box 2 Folder 12
1915-1918
Prelim Questions- Vet, Chemistry
 Box 2 Folder 13
1916
Essays
 Box 2 Folder 14
1916
Delegate's Report- 9th Annual Convention- Richmond, VA
 Box 2 Folder 15
1916
Committee on Student Affairs Report and Directories
 Box 2 Folder 16
1916-1917
Committee Reports
 Box 2 Folder 17
1917
Delegate's Report- 10th Annual Convention- Rho
 Box 2 Folder 18
1917
Treasurer's Reports
 Box 2 Folder 19
1919-1920
Communications
 Box 2 Folder 20
1920
Order of Business- Recommendations
 Box 2 Folder 21
1922
Minutes- 15th Convention
 Box 2 Folder 22
1923
Minutes- 16th Convention
 Box 2 Folder 23
1925
Minutes 18th Convention- Detroit ,Michigan Delegate's Report
 Box 2 Folder 24
1917-1920s
Correspondence (Some World War I related Correspondence)
 Box 2 Folder 25
1925-1926
Correspondence
 Box 2 Folder 26
1924-1927 (Bulk 1927)
Correspondence
 Box 2 Folder 27
1929
22nd Convention Program
Box 2 Folder 28
The Sphinx- Publication
 Box 2 Folder 29
1915-1925
Certificates and Programs
 Box 2 Folder 30
1910-1954
Constitution and By- laws
 Box 2 Folder 31
1907-1920 (Bulk 1913-1916)
Correspondence
 Box 2 Folder 32
1941
Ivy Leaf- Publication
 Box 2 Folder 33
Copperplate Print Block
 Box 2 Folder 34
2003
Undergraduate Round- Up XVIII
 Box 3 Folder 1
February 2004
News Clipping
 Box 3 Folder 2
Spring 2004
Ithakids Journal (Alpha Chapter Sponsored)
 Box 3 Folder 3
November 2005
Centennial Pilgrimage Programs
 Box 3 Folder 4
2006
Cornell Reunion Event/ Centennial Program
 Box 3 Folder 5
Portraits of the Seven Jewels
 Box 3
November 2005
Centennial Pilgrimage Briefcase
 Box 4
Hard drive containing digital files.
Box 5
Includes Sphinx publication and other images. Also an MP3 file containing an interview conducted with brother Dr. Donald Graham recorded October 10, 2008 by brother Bertrand Odom-Reed. The interview was conducted by Burt Reed, another one of our fraternity brothers, in Dr. Graham's home in Ithaca. The subject of the interview was Dr. Graham's view of what the fraternity was in his mind, from when he joined to the present day.
Additional hard drives and tapes.
Box 6-15
2003
Oversized Folders Undergraduate Round-Up Posters
Mapcase N-3 Folder 1
2006
Centennial celebration clippings, exhibition text
 Mapcase N-3 Folder 1
2006
Signed Centennial Scroll
 Mapcase N-3 Folder 2
Recording
 Box LP