From the book "The Talented Tenth" by Skip Mason     Kelley credited his father's spirit and influence for the directions he took in his life including his own fate in establishing Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.     "I saw in my vision 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 held him in bondage. He seemed to encourage me in my determination to help unite our group in a unit. I firmly believe that it strengthened me in the desire to press my point for a fraternity. (1954)     Kelley attended the Troy Military Academy, a military preparatory school. He studied at the Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute before entering the college of Civil Engineering at Cornell University in 1905, where he graduated in 1908. Kelley was described as sometimes conservative, unyielding and adamant. His disposition and emotional response to many situations revealed the uncompromising nature of his personality.     When this band of men began to meet and acquaint themselves with each other at social gatherings, they found their association delightful. Kelley was appointed treasurer of the literary group which evolved from the gatherings. Over the next year as the group began to discuss the possibility of establishing a fraternity, Kelley lent his time to the Committee on Initiation along with Charles Henry Chapman, Vertner Woodson Tandy, Henry Arthur Callis and Robert Harold Ogle. Together. They also planned the first initiation banquet on Tuesday, October 30, 1906 at the Odd Fellows Hall. At the first banquet, Kelley was the Toastmaster and spoke on the subject "Why Organize?"