A Moment in Alpha History: Seven Days of Reflection (Day 4)
Today we honor and reflect on The Devoted Jewel George Biddle Kelley, for providing leadership, demonstrating scholarship, and advocating civil rights. He was most vocal, believing that the fraternal structure better served their efforts to address the social problems confronting them and the race, and argued personal commitment beyond club membership was needed to fight racism and issues of human rights. A descendant of slaves, his grandfather was one of most cultured and capable preachers and pastors in the AME Zion Church in the 19th Century. Both his grandfather and uncle were personal friends of Harriet Tubman and Eliza Gardner. He holds the distinction of being the first President of Alpha Chapter and also served as acting chair when the decision was made to become a fraternity. He also served as the treasurer of the Social Club, exponent of literary performances, and excellence among the Jewels when meeting by themselves. In the early years, he was a contributing editor to our magazine “The Sphinx”. He was an avid attendee to General Conventions, popular among the Brotherhood, and reported to have set up as a vendor at conventions. He was the 1st African American engineer registered in the state of New York employed at the NY Engineering Dept. and later worked for 32 years for the State Department of Taxation and Finance as Senior Auditor. He was an Elder at Liberty Presbyterian Church, Vice Chairman of Troy Council Against Discrimination, served on the board for YMCA, and Past Master of Mt. Moriah Lodge (F&AM). He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 49th Infantry US Army. He entered Omega Chapter in 1962. Please read and reflects on the quotes of Jewel Kelley’s Fraternal Addresses:
-Jewel George Biddle Kelley, 39th Convention in 1954.
“The founding of Alpha Phi Alpha is like a dream to those who started it; brought about by the beginning of a different line of thought by youngsters in the early part of the 20th century. It represents an awakening by Young Negro College men to unite.”
-Jewel George Biddle Kelley, 39th Convention in 1954.
“Late one afternoon, I was hurrying across the campus to the fraternity house where I worked. As I passed the library the chimes in the tower began to play. As I descended the slope leading to “McGraw Place” the bells pealed out “Old Black Joe.” In those days I was a sentimental youngster and that music did something to me. I saw my ancestors who had been in slavery, my father who had escaped from that despicable system and had gone back south as a soldier in the Union Army to help in subduing of those who had held him bondage. He seemed to encourage me in my determination to help unite our group in a unit. I have never disclosed this event to but one person since 1905 but I firmly believe that it strengthened me in my desire to press my point for a fraternity.”
-Jewel George Biddle Kelley, December 1935
“After 29 years, I find that the undergraduates have a very small part in the affairs of the fraternity and are so outnumbered by the Alumni and graduate brothers that they are looked upon with tolerance if they venture to raise their voice and protest against the passage of certain laws which they later have to accept. We are so surrounded by brothers of deep legal learning, and oratorical ability that the timid undergraduate sits back with the idea of the early American Revolutionist that he is a victim of taxation without representation. It is not just that as a founder, I should urge and insist that the undergraduate members of the fraternity should be given more of an opportunity of shaping the policies and governing the Fraternity which was founded by undergraduates primarily for them.”
—Jewel George Biddle Kelley, December 1935
“Before I close, I wish to urge upon all the Brothers the necessity for a broader bond of brotherhood in the communities where you reside. After allegiance to your God, family and country, let nothing shake your love for the Fraternity and its ideas. Let every brother be truly a BROTHER, PROMOTE HIS INTEREST AS IF IT WERE YOURS and show to the world that ALPHA PHI ALPHA stands for more than mere words.”
-Jewel George Biddle Kelley, 1932.
“I think we often lose many good men who might be excellent members of the fraternity because of cliques and some of the methods used in many of the chapters. I was told once a man was rejected because of his color. To me that is deplorable. We never founded Alpha Phi Alpha to be a light skinned fraternity or one in which fellows could trace their ancestry back for years and years. We chose Alpha Phi Alpha for men, regardless of family, for what they themselves are doing, what they can do for the future of the Fraternity. The depression has caused the fraternity to lose many men because they do not have the money to keep their obligations.”
This is your moment in Alpha History.
Brother Sean C. Hall, Historian