A Moment in Alpha History: Reminiscent Thoughts of Jewel Murray and Jewel Kelley
During this moment of Alpha history, I want to provide a reminiscent view of some of the early months from the Social Study Club leadingto the Literary Society, and ultimately the Fraternity. This information is from the reflections of Jewels Murray and Kelley and their recollection of the months leading up to the Fraternity. I believe September was an important month that set the stage for what was to come.
During the year of 1905-06, fifteen students formed a “Social Study Club” called together by Mr. Charles C. Poindexter, who at that time, was a graduate student in Agriculture at Cornell University. His idea was to have or develop some social contact with the fifteen students at Cornell of being together and “break the monotony of much study and have nothing in the form of a social gathering to look forward to.” Jewel Nathanial Allison Murray recalled the following: “I registered as a special student in the College of Agriculture located at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Fourteen other students registered at the same time as follows: Four from Washington, D.C. including myself, two other males Robert Harold Ogle, Fred Morgan Phillips, also two females, namely Fannie Holland and Flaxie Holcosbe; four males and one female came from N.Y. State; namely George B. Kelley, Arthur Callis, James Thomas, Gordon Jones, Paul Ray, and one male Eugene K. Jones, and another female, namely Mary Vassar came from Virginia; one male Vertner Woodson Tandy, and one male, C. H. Chapman from Florida.” It was these fifteen students who formed the “Social Study Club”. They met every two weeks, first meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Newton, 421 Albany Street, Ithaca, NY where Mr. C.C. Poindexter laid privy as residence for room and board.
Jewel Kelley talked about how the social life among the group was carried out in many of the comfortable homes of the Negroes. It was nearly every Friday Night they were welcomed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Cannon, where they met their charming daughter and the other young women of the community. They were allowed to dance and good eats were always served to them. Often invited to Sunday evening dinner by the various lady friends of the group. Did you know the Social Study Club was hosted by several families that Jewel Kelley recalled: Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Perry, Mr. and Mrs. George Fletcher (name should sound familiar) Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Irene Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Newton, Mr. and Mrs. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Paine, Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding, and Mr. and Mrs. Nelson (of course Mr. Archie and Annie Singleton). He continued that there were many others that welcomed the “Social Study Club” in their homes and always gave them words of encouragement. He also spoke of Rev. T. A. Center, pastor at the A.M.E. Zion Church, who acted as a role of big brother and his clean living Christian life was an inspiration to them. His home was always opened to them and his cultured wife were among those whom they revered.
Jewel Kelley also stated that as early as September of 1905 the idea of a fraternity was in discussion. Here is his personal recollection: “no doubt this feeling of do or die was the binding influence which was in our thoughts in the autumn of 1905 when several of us gathered in the afternoon to talk and become acquainted under a large elm tree on campus”. He then discussed that “from that campus meeting late in September there sprang a feeling of comradeship which surrounded the Jewels all during their college life.” Jewel Murray stated that meetings started shifting to find out the attitude of the other members of the club and views on doing away with the social club and organize a Negro Fraternity.
It was in the coming weeks of the fall of 1906 the Social Study Club was disbanded and the Literary Society took formation with the core groups the Jewels began a new proposition of thoughts on the fraternity. Jewel Murray credited Messrs. Cannon, Newton, Napoleon Jackson (proprietor of a local political club), and Archie Singleton (butler for one of the richest men in Ithaca). Jewel Kelley also stated that at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Singleton several closed meetings were held which was vital leading up to the month of the founding of the fraternity.
This is your moment in Alpha History. Stay tuned…….
Brother Sean C. Hall, Historian