By Brother Norman E. W. Towels e all know the story as chronicled by Brother Charles H. Wesley in the History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in College Life; how in the autumn of 1905, eight students gathered together forming a social studies literary society, the precursor to Alpha Phi Alpha: Henry A. Callis, Vertner W. Tandy, George B. Kelly, Charles H. Chapman, Nathaniel A. Murray, Robert H. Ogle, Morgan T. Phillips and George Thompkins, C.C. Poindexter, James H. Morton, Eugene K.Jones, Gordon Jones and Lemuel Graves, associated with the organization shortly thereafter, making a total of 13 individuals critical to the beginnings of the organization Alpha Phi Alpha. These men served as the genesis to the Seven Jewels and to the foundation of our great and wonderful organization, the Black and Old Gold of Alpha Phi Alpha, representing, from the beginning, qualities of leadership and scholarship, whose purpose was to uplift mankind. But let us, if you will, turn to a slightly different time and place, and here begins our true tale of an alternate Alpha universe. Imagine, if you will, that cold dark day in 1905 when some college students came together to develop the precursor to Alpha Phi Alpha, the Hynathian Society. "What," you say, you've thoroughly read The History of Alpha Phi Alpha by Charles H. Wesley, first published in 1929, and you don't remember that piece of history. Then read on and you will learn of the unwritten history of Alpha Phi Alpha. Beginning in 1905, the Hynathian Society was established. Not much is known of that organization at this time other than to state that after a few years of existence the members decided to form a fraternity and thus Alpha Phi Alpha was bom in 1910 at Colby College in the state of Maine. The physical evidence of this occurrence is overwhelming. In fact, Alpha Phi Alpha is documented on page 122 and depicted on page 123 of the 1910 Colby Annual. In fact, two members of the organization were graduating seniors and proudly listed their affiliation with their graduating picture. M.E. Woodman, Af A[sic], A.M. Henderson, A f A, and L.C. Garland were the first graduates. Further it identifies the class of 1911 as being R.M. Pillsbury and E.M. Laurence. The class of 1912 as E.L Clark, S.M. Wentworth, E.C. Gardiner, C.E. Gile, E.R. Lenhart, and L.B.Powers and the class of 1913 being E.K. Litchfield, M.J. Wall, F. Haynes, and E.A. Ward. In fact, the chapter boasted 14 members in 1910. Actually the
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yearbook also gives us a glimpse into the involvement in campus life in those early days. M.E. Woodman, A f A, graduated from Waterville High School in 1905, participated in the Sophomore Declamation (a kind of debate society), served on the Ode Committee, was Class Vice-President and a member of Kappa Alpha Honorary Fraternity. A.M. Henderson, A f A, graduated from Kimbull Union Academy in 1904, won first prize in the Sophomore Declamation, was a member of the basketball team during her senior year and also a member of Kappa Alpha Honorary Fraternity and was extremely active in campus life. L.C. Garland, A f A, graduated from Hampstand High School in 1904, participated in the Sophomore Declamation; won the German Prize, served on the School Finance Committee, Executive Committee was Class Historian and Associate Editor of the Oracle (Colby College Yearbook) and was a member of Kappa Alpha Honorary Society. Easily one can see that from the very beginnings of the organization that Alpha Phi Alpha members embodied concepts of leadership and social involvement. Key elements of scholarship were inherent as all three of the first graduates were members of Kappa Alpha Honorary Society. The 1910 Colby Oracle identifies E.M. Laurence, A f A, and R.M. Pillsbury, A f A, as being members of the class of 1911 (p.) 71. While no indication is given of the class of 1912, the class of 1913 is identified with E.K. Litchfield, Af A, M.J. Hall Af A, and E.A. Ward Af A, among the class members along with FF. Haynes, Af A, as reflected on page 189 of the 1910 Colby Oracle. In 1911, Colby additional information is obtained on the list of illustrations. Identified as campus fraternities are Delta Kappa Epsilon, (p.) 93, Zeta Psi, (p.) 97, Delta Upsilon, (p.) 101, Phi Delta Theta, (p.) 105, Alpha Tau Omega (p.) 109, Sigma Kappa, (p.) 113, Chi Omega, (p.) 117, Delta Delta Delta, (p) 121 and Alpha Phi Alpha (p.) 125. Also listed were Honorary Societies. Among them was Kappa Alpha, (p.) 135. In reviewing the 1911 Colby, we find E.M. Laurence, Af A, (p.) 70, a 1906 graduate of Madison High School, a member in the sophomore and junior years of the Glee Club, as well as the Nextor Club, Dramatics, and Kappa Alpha. R.M. Pillsbury, Af A, (p.) 71, is identified as being a graduate of Rockland High School, served on the Executive Committee, the Dexter Club, Class Executive Committee and Kappa THE SPHINX" SUMMER 2000