When the full story of Jewel Tandy is told, he will emerge as one of the most renown men of his era. He was a colorful character, gifted architect  and quite outspoken. Another issue will focus on his early life, this issue looks at Tandy's direct and indirect relationship with the Tuskeegee machine of Booker T. Washington. Jewel Henry Arthur Callis recalled that Tandy  arrived on the hallowed  grounds of Cornell in the fall of 1905 in  a rather "tight" cadet's uniform with a saxophone under his arm." Tandy was as Callis reflected "a big, jovial, good natured, lovable fellow with a keen sense of humor. He did his own thinking. He enjoyed disregarding customs that ignored fundamental human values." Where had Tandy come from before entering Cornell University? 

In 1904, Vertner Woodson Tandy entered Tuskegee Institute to study architecture and was for a short time under the tutelage of Professor Booker T. Washington. Callis even offered that Washington advised and counseled Tandy. Tuskegee's Architecture program was started in 1892, when Booker T. Washington recruited Robert R. Taylor to develop his Mechanical Industrial Department. 

Taylor was one of the first African-Americans to graduate in architecture from MIT. He taught at Tuskegee for forty-one years and designed many of the major buildings and influenced one of the first generations of African-American architects, including his "prize" student, Vertner Tandy who transferred to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to continue his architectural education in September of  1905. 

Tandy was as Callis reflected "a big, jovial, good natured, lovable fellow with a keen sense of humor. He did his own thinking. He enjoyed disregarding customs that ignored fundamental human values." 

It is believed that Tandy met his future wife while attending Tuskegee.  Her name was Sadie Dorsette. She was the daughter of Montgomery, Alabama doctor Cornelius Nathaniel Dorsette. He was not just a doctor in Montgomery, but the first African-American to pass the Alabama Medical examination and was a confident of Booker T. Washington. In the papers of Booker T. Washington, several letters exist between Dorsette and Washington. It was Washington who convinced this Hampton Institute graduate to come to Montgomery as the city's first African-American doctor. 

Dorsette after completing his studies at Hampton in 1878, went to New York where he studied Latin in preparation for medical school. He entered the Medical College at Syracuse, but because of bad health and lack of money was unable to continue. He applied to the University Medical College of New York City but was rejected because of his color. He finally graduated from the University of Buffalo and accepted a position as assistant physician at the Wayne County Alms house before moving his family to Montgomery in 1884.  Tandy's future father law helped to organize the National Medical Association for "African-American doctors and served as its president. Dorsette fully supported Booker T. Washington's program at Tuskegee and was a trustee of the institute before his death. He was Tuskegee's unofficial representative and Washington's personal contact in Montgomery. 

Dr. C.N.Dorsette died before Tandy arrived to Tuskegee in 1897 and was survived by two known daughters Sadie(Tandy) and Emma  D. Bunce.  Tandy and Sadie were the parents of one son, Vertner, Jr. (an Alpha). 

Primary Source: The Papers of Booker T. Washington, Volume 1-8 

"I want this fraternity to stand out in the affairs of the nation" 
Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy, 1937 

SKIP'S BORROWED QUOTE: 
Restlessness and Discontent are the first necessities of progress 
Thomas A. Edison
 

FROM THE EMAIL BAG: 
I receive numerous emails each day. Filled with words of support, questions, information and occasional differing views. Each issue I will share a few to let you know what's on brothers mind across the globe: 

Bro. Mason, 

Greetings from Japan.  My name is Bro. Jason Cannon (originally from Sigma Phi chapter in Indiana; now residing in Japan) and I recently received a forwarded version of your newsletter.  I found it very inspirational and would liketo be added to the e-mailing list... 

Thank you and take care! 

06! 
Bro. Jason Cannon 

AND ANOTHER ONE: 

Brother Mason, 

Over the last couple of weeks I have gained such a renewed spirit in Alpha because of your articles.  As chapter historian and a brother with a voracious appetite for knowledge, I am extremely pleased to receive such a wealth of information about our dear A-Phi-A.  I make sure that I let every brother in our chapter receives this information and sometimes a few outsiders.  I already shared with the Deltas, your article on our connection (I showed it to the Omegas too, to make sure that they knew where they stood in DST's eyes)  I really hope to get a chance to meet you at the convention, because you enthusiasm about this fraternity is infectious.  I look forward to seeing tomorrow's edition, but make sure you write on Eugene Kinckle Jones, our beloved Seventh Jewel.  His life interests me a great deal.  Also, do you know what is the deal with Keenan Ivory Wayans, bruh or no? 

Sincerely, 

Shawn C. Harris, Historian 
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 
Xi Gamma Chapter 
Southeast Missouri State University 

ANOTHER BROTHER WROTE: 

You mentioned the 7th Jewel in this latest historical moment.  I also noticed while reading the history book that there was a controversy over the 7th Jewel.  My question is, why not just have six?  The fact that a seventh was designated with much debate suggests an importance of the number seven and/or the brother installed as the 7th Jewel. 

I have heard that the Masonic influence on the Jewels caused them to designate a seventh Jewel.  Do you have any information? 

Sam Eaves, II 
 

Dear Skip: 

Your daily submissions on the history of ALPHA PHI ALPHA, and effectively the forced hybridization of AFRICAN culture and people onto the north amerikkklan continent continue to amaze me!  so much of our unparalleled legacy remains hidden, yet its effects on our lives clearly manifested.  thank you for your contributions in elucidating and advancing our collective grandeur.  my question stems from a presentation on the history of BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS by BROTHER DR. WALTER KIMBROUGH of old dominion university.  in his presentation, he stated that his research has uncovered the original hailing/hand signal of ALPHA was the BLACK POWER SALUTE of the raised fist.  do you have any insight regarding this, as well as its evolution into the current hailing/hand signal that is regrettably unoriginal and obviously ubiquitous in its manifestation and usage??? 

ERNEST L. PERRY, JR. 
DELTA UPSILON/ALPHA RHO LAMBDA 

A NOTE ON BROTHER DUKE: 

One of Duke's last concerts, skip, was performed in Davage auditorium (of course named after Dr. Matthew S. Davage, one of the founders of Alpha Phi chapter at Clark College). With the Clark College jazz orchestra (under the direction of James Patterson, initiate of alpha phi), this concert was actually during his birthday, he was presented a cake etc. (I was at that concert, about the age of 7 or 8 ) ... this is actually found in LIFE magazine, around the May 1973 (or 74) issue. 

Brother Rodney Cohen 

IS THIS A RUMOR OR IS IT TRUE? 
This email was recently circulated. When the truth comes to light, we will let you know: 

Zeta Phi Beta Sigma Gamma Rho?!?! 

>From the desk of International Headquarters: 

Effective immediately, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority have jointly agreed to adopt Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority as a third sister organization, thereby making us a unique entity in the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The New organization will be named Zeta Phi Beta Sigma Gamma Rho. All members of Sigma, Zeta and Sigma are encouraged to jointly cooperate with each other. An official announcement will be proceeding from this office and from everyone's National Headquarters over the course of the next few days. 

I showed my girlfriend the connection between Alpha and Delta and she loved it.  She wishes we were her considered her brothers instead of the Q's anyway.  I told her don't worry, an Alpha man is everyone's brother. 

Bro. Percy 
 

I GUESS I RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS. HERE IS WHAT AN omega WROTE TO ME AFTER SOMEONE FORWARD THE PIECE ON THE CONSPIRACY OF THE FRATERNITIES TO DELETE US  OUT. 

I don't know you and you don't me.  however, I felt the need to respond to a copy of your email that I received.  I have read your account of a small portion of the history of my fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and would like to share my thoughts with you. first, I wonder whether you are employed or possibly retired, simply because you appear to have much time on your hands to research the history of my fraternity, as well as others, historian or otherwise that you may be. Secondly, I must ask you, who are you to question the history of my fraternity?  and who am I to question yours?  what is your purpose in making this query?  the history of the respective black Greek-letter organizations was written, as their members know, over eighty years ago in some cases.  so who are we, modern day creatures, to question what our fore fathers wrote and why they wrote it???  There is nothing that you or I or any other being, fraternity/sorority member or not, can do to alter history, nor the manner in which it was recorded.  So again, I ask the purpose of your inquisition! Thirdly, let me remind you of the obvious - the history of any organization is just that --- the history of THAT organization.  and Omega Psi Phi is not exempt.  if you decide to take it upon yourself to delve into the history of my fraternity, then you will read just that, its history.  why must you concern yourself with the recognition of your organization in the history of mine?  simply because yours came first??  the history of Omega is NOT the history of Alpha, irrespective of founding dates.  whatever is sanctioned by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. regarding the record of ITS history is the business and concern of its members. 

Skip's Response: I am Alpha Phi Alpha! 

DIALOGUE BETWEEN AN ALPHA AND A KAPPA 
Kappa  said: 
" The fallacy that Indiana was to be the Kappa chapter of Alpha is obviously false because Elder was at Howard in the Spring 1910, and if anything was to transpire between Elder and Alpha it had to be at your Beta chapter. The truth is that there was at least three predominately black organizations before Alpha, Alpha Kappa Nu at Indiana being one of them and it which our roots do lie.  In the early part of the century, things were not as they are now.  Fraternities had to approach people to increase people, they  were not riding on 80 + years, like us, of brotherhood where they could say things like ' if  he wanted it he would ask.'  This leads me to believe that Elder was approached by Alpha." 

The Alpha Responded: 

Personally, I think his arguments are flawed in thinking that because Elder was at Howard that his interest was not piqued and if not started the idea of establishing a new fraternity by Alpha Phi Alpha, and it is also reasonable to suggest that his establishment of Kappa could be out of not being  selected..not saying that was teh case, but is a possibility. 

I believe his argument about approaching others for membership to be off base. Primarily due to the mystique of a fraternal order.  I don't care what time period it was established.  Secret organizations tend to have a mysticism that would attract many.  Given the time period I believe to hold more weight given that Alpha was not only new, but had a following of only the brightest and  most affluent.  Kind of a human nature type of feeling of wanting to belong.  I clearly don't see a need for Alpha to approach anyone given all they had on that particular campus. 

Skip- I think that this dialogue is healthy as well as the discussions on this topic. While we may never know the truth, I believe in true DuBoisian spirit that we must continue to be on a constant journey to search for the truth. To you my brothers beloved, that is the whole purpose of Skip's  Historical Moments. I am on a journey for the truth. 

NEXT WEEK ISSUES: MOTHER'S WEEK 
Because next Sunday is Mother's Day, Skip's Historical Moments will focus on the mothers of the Jewels and the surrogate mothers in Ithaca, New York: 

Monday- Mrs. Josephine Sprague Callis(Jewel Callis), Mrs. Matilda Decker Kelley(Jewel Kelley) 
Tuesday- Mrs. Rosa Kinckle Jones (Jewel Jones) 
Wednesday- Mrs. Anna Evans Murray (Jewel Murray) 
Thursday- Mrs. Ellen Ogle (Jewel Ogle), Mrs. Emma Brice Tandy (Jewel Tandy) 
Friday-The Ithaca Mothers: Mrs. Annie Singleton, Mrs. Clara Nelson, Mrs. Edward Newton.