From the book "The Talented Tenth" by Skip Mason     Vertner Tandy’s education was obtained at the Candler School in Lexington, Kentucky but his education in building was earned by watching his father build and develop homes in Lexington. Tandy found interest not in building but designing and decided early that he wanted to be an architect.     In 1904, Tandy entered Tuskegee Institute to study architecture and was for a short time under the tutelage of Professor Booker T. Washington and the Tuskegee machine. Tuskegee’s Architecture program was started in 1892, when Booker T. Washington recruited Robert R. Taylor to develop his Mechanical Industrial Department.     Taylor was one of the first African-Americans to graduate in architecture from MIT. He taught at Tuskegee for forty one years and designed many of the major buildings and influenced one of the first generations of African-American architects, including his “prize” student, Vertner Tandy who transferred to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to continue his architectural education in September of 1905. Henry Arthur Callis recalled that Tandy arrived on the hallowed grounds of Cornell in a rather “tight cadet’s uniform with a saxophone under his arm.” He was as Callis reflected “A big, jovial, good natured, lovable fellow with a keen sense of humor. He did his own thinking. He enjoyed disregarding customs that ignored fundamental human values.” Tandy found himself with the group of young men who formed the Alpha Phi Alpha Society in the spring of 1906, ultimately destined to become the first African-American Greek letter fraternity later that fall. His early influence and involvement has been carefully documented in Wesley’s History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in Negro College Life. Tandy served as Treasurer from 1907-1908, designed the fraternity badge, spoke often at banquets and worked on the Committee of Initiation, and Committee on the Grip. He seconded many motions including the fact that the pin should be worn on the heart side. Tandy requested that the Secretary of the chapter be instructed to correspond with the Secretary of New York State on the steps needed for incorporation and chartering. Upon the incorporation, Tandy was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees and even advanced the balance to cover the cost of incorporation.