From the Desk of Herman "Skip" Mason hmason1906@aol.com Iota Chapter, Spring 82(Morris Brown College/Atlanta, Georgia) Eta Lambda Chapter since 1984 Historian, Pastor, Author, Entrepreneur and Lecturer

Mrs. Mary Ellen Burris Ogle, was one of seven girls born in Fredericksburg, 
Virginia on a plantation. Her parents names are not known.  She had several 
sisters including  Nannie, Josephine, Betty, Fanny, Annie and Mollie. Their 
grandmother Nanny Price had also been a slave on this plantation in Virginia. 
She married Jeremiah Ogle, a native of Georgia and they were the parents of 
five children. 

Known as Granny Ogle by her grandchildren, she was described as having a 
"very Christian attitude,  and was very quiet, patient and accepting."  It 
was her love that nurtured Robert Harold and his younger siblings including 
Walter Jerry, Elizabeth Garfield(but called Nettie), Clifton (who died when 
at the age of 9 in 1899) and a baby girl Gertrude who died in  infancy. 

She also outlived her husband and five children whom she buried. At the 
funeral of her son Robert Harold, she remarked "Oh Lord, that is my last 
child. I wanted them but the Lord wouldn't let me." according to her 
granddaughter Helen. 

Virtually little is know about Mrs. Emma Brice Tandy, the mother of Jewel 
Vertner Woodson Tandy. On the 1870 census for Lexington, an Emma Brice was 
found married to a Henry Brice. This couple bore the same name as Jewell 
Tandy's parents. Through research it has been difficult to discern their 
relationship because Tandy's parents were not found on the 1880 nor 1900 
census for Kentucky. The research continues as it does with the search for 
the parents of  Jewel Charles Henry Chapman. 

TOMORROW: The Ladies of Ithaca (Mother Annie Singleton, Clara Nelson,  Lula 
Newton, Rose Cohan, Irene Moore(Ogle's mother-in-law). 

AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK "The Talented Tenth" by Skip Mason 

THE HISTORY OF ALPHA'S HISTORY BOOK 
 ....As the Second Vice President of the fraternity, Brother Raymond W. Cannon 
of Minneapolis was constantly bombarded with questions about the fraternity 
including its origin and the names of the Founders. These facts were not 
being taught as they are today or since the history book was published in 
1929. Back in 1923, Brother Cannon realized that most of the chapters 
knowledge was limited to the present.  It seemed that several sets of 
Founders appeared and the brothers wanted to be advised  as to which was the 
correct set.  From these events, Cannon decided that a fraternity history 
should be published. There were earlier attempts to document the history of 
the fraternity. In 1916, Past General Charles Garvin was appointed as the 
first historian. Wesley writes in The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A 
Development in College Life: 
 
"Interest in the history of the fraternity was present at this convention. It 
was moved by Brother H.H. Long of Beta and seconded by Brother W.N. Colson of  Gamma that ' the President appoint a historian whose duty shall be to write a 
history of the fraternity.' The motion was carried." 
 
Cannon began to correspond with some of the early members of the fraternity 
and found that  the Founders did not keep in touch with each other.  He 
located them and traveled to Cleveland to visit and interview Charles Henry 
Chapman. From that point Nathaniel Allison Murray, George Biddle Kelley and 
Henry Arthur Callis provided him with a list of the Founders as they 
remembered and to his surprise these lists did not agree and each was certain 
that his list was correct. 

Brother Cannon received a telegram on September 30, 1925 from Nathaniel 
Allison Murray whose list included: George Biddle Kelley, Arthur Callis, 
Nathaniel  Murray, Robert Ogle, Gordon Jones, James M. Morton and Vertner 
Woodson Tandy. Charles Chapman's name did not appear on Murray's list....... 

(Periodic excerpts from my book will be featured) An annoucement on the book, 
when and where to order will be provided in a future Historic Moment. 
 

FROM THE LIPS OF A JEWEL: 
"Being men, we must "put aside childish things" and answer the challenge of 
qualitative worth to meet the times" 

Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy, 1939 
 

FROM THE LIPS OF A PAST GENERAL PRESIDENT 

I would urge that ... brothers individually, would continue to be inspired to 
worthy actions through the ideas and visions of the Fraternity and its 
leadership, and strive for even greater achievements in the future than we 
had in the past. 
Dr. Charles H. Wesley, February 1949 

SKIP'S FAVORITE SCRIPTURAL QUOTE (as shared to me by a brother) 

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, 
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.   "Again, I tell 
you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will 
be done for you by my Father in heaven. 

-Roderick Robeson 

SKIP'S FAVORITE BORROWED QUOTE: 

"By His will we were (all) created and have our being. 
To think is not enough; you must think of something." 

 Jules Renard 

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SECOND DRAFT PICK FOR THE ATLANTA FALCONS IS AN ALPHA, BROTHER REGGIE KELLEY FROM MISSISSIPPI STATE?  AT THE TRADITIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING HIS JOINING THE TEAM, HE WORE A BLACK WARM UP WITH ALPHA PHI ALPHA ON IT. GO FALCONS!! GO BROTHER REGGIE. THE SUPERBOWL IS ATLANTA NEXT JANUARY. 

I FAILED TO INCLUDE THIS ON THE OMEGA ARTICLE; 
As a footnote, let it be known that when Omega Psi Phi was chartered on the 
campus of Howard, the brothers of Beta sent to them a note of congratulations 
which read in part: 
"...We hope that you will stand for and keep aloft the high ideas which we, 
as Negro Greek letter fraternities must maintain. With best wishes for long 
life and the greatest success, I am     President of Beta Chapter. 

LETTERS FROM THE BRUHS(email for Brothers) 

Bro. Mason. 
Again thanks for the enlightenment. Your historical moments is the very first 
email that I open when I get to work in the morning. I read this before I 
read any other message in my mail box. 
To me this is black history. It is more than Alpha history. 
Thanks for your great work and research. 
"...may they ever abide and with us stay" 

Brother Paul B. Muah 

Brother Mason: 
You and all my brothers and sisters stay in my prayers.  You are doing the 
right thing by doing your part and placing the rest in God's hands.  Things 
always work out for the best, even at the time when they seem to be going 
wrong, everything work to benefit us and HIS master plan for us. 
As I have written in one of my poems, 'move on with confidence and do what 
you must do because nothing is impossible unto you.' 
Brother Tommie Smith 
************************************************** 
My brother how I do enjoy your email lectures ..... 
Now I know why 

Delta's 
Everywhere 
Love 
The 
Alphas 

************************************************** 
Bro. Mason, 
Allow me to add my praise and appreciation to that which has already been 
expressed.  As a fellow A Phi A history devotee, it makes my day to receive 
any known facts about the Jewels.  Please add me to the list of brothers who 
receive Skip's Historical Moments.  Thank you, God bless, 06 
PS  Since you invited us to e-mail you questions, here are a couple of mine: 
1. I understand that Sigma Pi Phi was founded just before A Phi A, what role 
did they play in the foundation or possibly the advancing of the fraternal 
spirit in the Jewels? 
2. When did "stepping" begin? 

Damon M. Scott 
Charter Bro. 2 
Sinister Sigma Gamma 

Skip's Response: Look for an article on Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi Next 
week 

ON THAT FREDERICK DOUGLASS ARTICLE, A BROTHER WROTE: 
Skip, 

With no disrespect intended, I cannot see how you could rationalize 
inducting a dead man into a fraternity. I was not alive when Douglass was 
inducted but I cannot see any reasonable reason to do that. I don't think 
that the fraternity can ever justify giving honorary membership to a dead 
man, no matter how great he was. It would have been much more appropriate to 
name a building, scholarship or award after him than try to claim he was a 
member. In my opinion, this is a dark mark on the fraternities history. 

OG 

Dear Skip: 

My brother I have questions my self like, I have been asked by neos (I'm Spr 
88) about dimensions, I was also told about Bro. Jewel Vertner W. Tandy's 
initial in AFA, and last but not least the true meaning and history of 
A-Sweets, Angels etc. If you could expound on these I would appreciate it. I am keeping a journal of all your works, my brother I seek brothers like yourself who are willing to share knowledge ... thank you. 
Brother Anthony Williams 
******************************************************** 
A BROTHER RESPONDS ABOUT THE UNOFFICIAL HANDSIGN AND A FEW OTHER THINGS YOU 
WERE DYING TO KNOW.... 
-Brother Mason, 

In regard to the unofficial handsign, when the Bruz went to an 'after convention' in Hawaii, sometime in the early 80's either 80,81,82?, Anyway, we adopted the "hang loose" sign that the Hawaiians display. Of course now we have put more meaning to it. 

In regard to the Alpha Walk or Party Stepping (during the dances) that 
was adopted in the Midwest.  Either the Ohio Bruz or the Milwaukee Bruz 
started the contemporary trend.  Again, 1980-1981.   Many of the trends 
today, in the regard to those two events 'unofficial' were started by 
the late 1970s- early 1980s Bruz. Again other frats 'tried' to 
immulate.  Have to admit during the early 80's the AlphaWalk(Party 
Step)really charged up the parties, and the crowd apparently got a 
'kick' out of it. 

Bro. Lawrence Jones, II 
Alpha Eta Chapter, 1983 
National Step Champions 1988 
Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter, Columbia, MD 
 ************************************************** 
What's up Skip!  It's been a long time since you hazed me at GSU!  Have 
you ever compiled a list of famous Alphas?  I hear all of the time about 
famous Bros., but I've never seen a definitive list in print.  Some of 
the "New School" Alphas have listed some interesting Bros. on their 
websites:  Jackie Robinson, Colin Powell, etc....Can I also get a copy of 
your first three Historical Notes.  Thanks Frat! 

Skip's Response- I never hazed. Really I didn't. I drowned them with Alpha 
history. Brothers once again, Jackie Robinson and Colin Powell are great men 
but they are not Alpha's. The fraternity offers a brochure which list most of 
the noted ones of today. Call the National Headquarters for that 
brochure.(Don't know if Lionel Ritchie or Cornell West are listed) 

A SISTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA WROTE 

Dear Skip: 
In reply to the "brother" who questioned the "so called relationship" 
between Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha (in yesterday's SHM): 

I don't know how you entered the fraternity (via undergraduate or grad 
chapters ), but I regret that you obviously have missed out on one of 
the greatest benefits of being a member of the "ALPHA FAMILY"! The bond 
that exists between Alphas and AKA's is not only steeped in tradition, 
but it continues to flourish to this very day!  You have only to check 
out the skeephi page (www.skeephi.com) to see the connection.  True, 
the bond isn't as tight as it SHOULD be in places, but to question its 
existence is ridiculous!  Many of my best memories of undergrad 
activities involve times spent with my "bruhs."  Why don't you take it 
upon yourself to try to get to know more sorors or, if you are active 
in a chapter, do joint service projects with AKA's? 

Sincerely, 

Soror Karen Hamilton 
Meharry Medical College 
Spring '94 Iota Phi 

FROM THE HISTORICAL HEADLINES; 

"Says Howard U. "Frats" Draw Color Line.  Lights Selected for One Frat, Darks 
for Another" 

The Baltimore Afro-American, May 11, 1929 
 

~A PHI A ~~  A K A  ~~  D Kappa Alpha Psi ~~ I O Theta~         ~Q Psi Phi 
~~S G Rho ~~ Phi Beta Sigma S~ Z etaPhiBeta ~~ 

FROM THE PAN HELLENIC ARCHIVES 
 

-Hey Deltas did you know that Myra Davis Hemmings, president of Alpha Kappa 
Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta also served as the Vice President Southwest 
Region 

The Delta's collect elephants, the AKA's frogs and the Zeta's collect 
a. Dove  b. owls  c. poodles. Answer : a. doves 

-Harlem Renaissance Writer and Folklorist Zora Neale Hurston pledged Howard's 
Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority around 1925. 

-There have been only one couple to both serve as National Presidents of 
their organizations:  Dr. William Hale (20th General President of Alpha Phi 
Alpha) and Dr. Larzette Golden Hale (17th Supreme Basileus of Alpha Kappa 
Alpha Sorority) 

Did you know that the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award in 
1939, was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho? Her name was Hattie McDaniels and she 
played Mammy in "Gone With The Wind." 

Well, now you know!! 

COMING UP FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK: 

Please forward email addresses to be added to the list. The list is growing by leaps and bound. Send your Questions, queries, comments to hmason1906@aol.com 

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