History of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

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 Alpha Phi Alpha™, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American Men, was founded on December 4, 1906™ at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African descendants in this country. 

General Headquarters Site: https://apa1906.net/

In the fall of 1905, fifteen African American students enrolled at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. From that group evolved seven men, namely, Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelly, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle and Vertner Woodson Tandy who on December 4, 1906 laid the foundation for the first Greek letter fraternity for college trained men of African American descent. 

Since its founding, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The Fraternity initially served as a study group and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice both educationally and socially, at Cornell University. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying the foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity. While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also recognized the need to correct educational, economic, political, and social injustices faced by African– Americans.   

AIMS

 MANLY DEEDS, SCHOLARSHIP, & LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND 

 ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. DEVELOPS LEADERS, PROMOTES BROTHERHOOD AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, WHILE PROVIDING SERVICE AND ADVOCACY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.” 

 Our Fraternity's motto of "First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All", embodies our history as the first intercollegiate Fraternity founded by African American men; our mission to provide service to our community; and our charge to our membership.

• to stimulate the ambition of its members
• to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual
• to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood
• to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status