From the book "The Talented Tenth" by Skip Mason     "Charles Henry Chapman was born in 1876 in Cayuga County, New York. By 1880, he was living with his grandfather George Thompson in Ontario County in the city of Geneva, New York, though the 1900 census listed him as being born in 1887. Very little information on his early life and family background has been found. What is known is that his early education was obtained at the Old Howard University Academy in Washington, D.C. That same 1900 census lists a Charles Chapman, age 13 residing in Clarke Hall. It appears to be a discrepancy in the ages of this Chapman, though coincidentally a Charles Chapman is at the Howard Academy at this time.     When Chapman entered Cornell University to study Agriculture he was a much older student as remarked by Henry Arthur Callis. Chapman had been in Ithaca long enough to set up a small brickyard and cafe which provided income for support and some job employment for a few. How long he had been in Ithaca and how he was able to set up his business is unknown. But it was obvious that he was disciple of the self help school of thought, so prevalent through the teachings of Booker T. Washington and his Tuskegee Machine.     It was during this fall of 1905 that he attended with others social gatherings at the home of the place of residence of C.C. Poindexter at 421 North Albany Street, which was also the home of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Newton.     Over the year as the organization made its transitions in purpose, the fall of 1906 saw the small band of friends developing more clearer ideas of the direction of this club. When plans were made to conduct an initiation, Chapman was responsible for securing the Odd Fellows Hall in which the ceremony was conducted. As Wesley so vividly reminds us in the "History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in Negro Life," Chapman obtained towels for the initiation and did not request reimbursement. This act certainly suggests Chapman generosity and financial well being.     Chapman's role in the formation of the fraternity describes him as being very level headed and methodical. He offered the suggestion that the decision concerning the course of study to be pursued during the year be delayed for two weeks. After discussion, he withdrew his motion. As Wesley stated, "apparently to show that he was not entirely opposed to the literary idea." Chapman made a motion that a Topic committee be appointed and the seminar method be followed.'"