Vertner Tandy

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Founding Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
CC Poindexter [1]
James Morton
Morgan Phillips [2]
George Tompkins [3]
CC Poindexter
Henry A. Callis
Charles H. Chapman
Eugene K. Jones
George B. Kelley
Nathaniel A. Murray
Robert H. Ogle
Vertner W. Tandy

Vertner Woodson Tandy (b. May 17, 1885, d. 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. Before transferring to Cornell, Vertner studied architecture at Tuskegee University. He was the first black registered architect in New York State.

He was first treasurer of the Alpha chapter and the designer of the fraternity pin. The Fraternity became incorporated under his auspices.

As a graduate of Cornell with a degree in architecture, he would become the State of New York’s first registered black architect, with offices on Broadway in New York City.

Tandy's most famous commission was probably Villa Lewaro, the mansion of Harlem millionairess Madam C.J. Walker, in Irvington on Hudson, New York. Among his other extant work are the Ivey Delph Apartments, and St. Philip's Episcopal Church at 204 West 134th Street in Harlem.

Tandy also 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.

Vertner W. Tandy died in 1949, at age 64.

[edit] External links

• Alpha Phi Alpha website

[edit] References

This article is a part of a series on Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

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• Wesley, Charles H. [1928] (1981). The History of Alpha Phi Alpha, A Development in College Life. Foundation Publishers. ASIN: B000ESQ14W. 
• Mason, Herman "Skip" [1997] (1999). "'The Outspoken Jewel'—Vertner Woodson Tandy", The Talented Tenth: The Founders and Presidents of Alpha. Four-G Publishers, Inc. ISBN 1-885066-63-5. 
• Gray, Christopher (1994-04-24). Streetscapes/The Walker Town House; The Grand Mansion of an Early Black Entrepreneur. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.