History of The 7 Jewels

Jewel Henry Arthur Callis Who, after leaving Cornell University, entered the field of medicine. Jewel Callis was born January 14, 1887 in Rochester, NY to Reverend Henry and Mrs. Helen Sprague Callis. He graduated from Central High School in Binghamton, NY in 1905. In the fall of the same year he entered Cornell University and took a part time hob as a janitor and waiter in a white fraternity house. After graduation from Cornell in 1909, he went to Rush Medical College and obtained his M.D. Among his professions, he served as a professor of medicine at Howard University and as a medical doctor at V.A. Hospital of Tuskegee, Alabama. Jewel Callis is the only Jewel to serve as General President, and he was the last one to enter Omega Chapter (November 12, 1974).

Jewel Charles Henry Chapman Who, after leaving Cornell University, chose the field of education as his profession. Jewel Chapman was born in 1876. Before entering Cornell, he attended Howard University. He also attended Michigan State University and Hampton Institute. From 1923 to 1934, he served as an instructor and dairyman on the Agricultural Staff at Florida A&M University. He was a lover of animals and instrumental in organizing work in animal husbandry on the college level. Jewel Chapman was known to be very frank in his opinions and stringing in his convictions. On November 17, 1934, Jewel Chapman died in Tallahassee, Florida, becoming the first founder to enter Omega Chapter.

Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones Was a member of the first committees on Organization, Constitution, and Pins, President of Alpha Chapter and maker of Beta and Gamma Chapters as well as Alpha Lambda (the first graduate chapter). He occupies a dual place in the history of the Fraternity. He is the seventh Jewel and along with Lemuel Graves and Gordon Jones, he is one of the first initiates. Jewel Jones was born July 30, 1885 in Richmond, Virginia to Joseph and Rosa Kinckle Jones, both professors at Virginia Union University. Jewel Jones' early education was obtained from Wayland Academy. From 1902-1906, he attended Virginia Union University, where he received a B.A. degree. He entered Cornell University Graduate School of Sociology in the fall of 1906. He graduated from Cornell with a Masters of Arts Degree in 1908. The following year he married Blanche Ruby Watson. Jewel Jones entered Omega Chapter on January 11, 1954 in Flushing, Long Island, New York.

Jewel George Biddle Kelly became the first African American engineer registered in the state of New York. Not only was he the strongest proponent of the Fraternity idea among the organization's founders, the civil engineering student also became Alpha Chapter's first President. In addition, he served on committees that worked out the handshake and ritual. Kelley was popular with the Brotherhood. He resided in Troy, New York and was active with Beta Pi Lambda Chapter in Albany. He entered Omega Chapter in 1963.

Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray Did undergraduate and graduate work at Cornell University, and later entered the field of education. Jewel Murray was born to Daniel and Anna Evans Murray in the 1880's. After finishing Cornell, he served as an instructor in science at the Armstrong Manual Training School. His first cousin Joseph H. B. Evans served as General Secretary of the Fraternity. Jewel Murray entered Omega Chapter on December 6, 1959 in Los Angeles, California.

Jewel Robert Harold Ogle Who, after leaving Cornell University, entered the secretarial field, and had the unique privilege of being attached to the Office of the Committee on Appropriations of the United States Senate. Jewel Ogle lived at 411 East State Street during his matriculation at Cornell. He was noted for his excellent Spenserian penmanship and served as the first secretary of Alpha Chapter. On December 3, 1936, in Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C., Jewel Ogle entered Omega Chapter.

Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy Who, after leaving Cornell University, became a registered architect. Jewel Tandy was born on May 17, 1885 in Lexington, Kentucky to Henry and Emma Brice Tandy. Jewel Tandy's early education was obtained from the Candler School in Lexington. In 1904, he entered Tuskegee Institute. The following year, he went to Cornell University clad in a Cadet uniform and with a saxophone under his arm. He became a student at Cornell and roomed with Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones. In 1908, he graduated with a degree in architecture. He led a fight to have black women accepted at Sage College and won. He married Sadie Dorsette in 1912. During World War I, he became the first Black man to be commissioned an officer in the State of New York. Jewel Tandy entered Omega Chapter on November 7, 1949.