false leads and dead ends; but along the way we found out more about Big Brother Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones that far surpassed our expectations… We very rarely examined the founders apart from the information we were able to find on the Internet or in the (Alpha Phi Alpha) history book.” Through the efforts of Zeta Zeta Lambda’s Spring 2008 initiates, the gravesite of Eugene Kinckle Jones was uncovered in Flushing Cemetery in Queens, New York in March 2008. Brother Jones had resided in Flushing and attended church there. He and his wife, Blanche, lived there together in harmony until Brother Jones’ passing in 1954. In addition, the headstone revealed that the gravesite was a family plot for Brother Jones, his wife and children. The MIP class enjoyed the privilege of personally touching a part of the Jewel’s life history and sharing a prayer for the brotherhood—that the organization might continue to further the cause of Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones and the rich legacy that he has left us—at the moment the gravesite was located. Following their discovery, Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter pledged to clean up and maintain the Fraternity founder’s gravesite. The re-discovery of the Jewel’s lost gravesite has served as a sharp reminder to Zeta Zeta Lambda Brothers of the Fraternity’s rich history and the quality of men who have found membership in this great organization. It has served as a basis for their rededication to continue to move onward and upward toward the light. Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones was born July 30, 1885 in Richmond, Virginia, the son of Joseph and Rosa Jones. Both his parents taught at Virginia Union College, which is now Virginia Union University. From 1899 to 1902, he attended Wayland Academy, which was the high school division of Virginia Union University. Upon graduation from high school, he entered Virginia Union University and graduated in 1906 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. In Fall 1906, he enrolled at the Cornell University College of Civil Engineering in Ithaca, New York. In February 1907, Brother Jones transferred to Cornell’s Graduate School of the College of Arts of Science, selecting Social Science as his major with Economics as his minor. At Cornell University, Brother Jones became one of the first initiates of the Fraternity, as well as having the distinction of being named an original founder. His status as a founder was established in 1952—two years before his death. The Fraternity founder served as Alpha Chapter’s second president, and along with Jewel Brother Henry Arthur Callis, created the Fraternity name. He also was a member of the first Committees on Constitution and Organization and helped write the Fraternity ritual.
Eugene Kinckle Jones
Jewel Jones organized the first three Fraternity chapters that branched out from Cornell—Beta Chapter at Howard University; Gamma Chapter at Virginia Union University; and the original Delta Chapter at the University of Toronto in Canada. He also later helped establish Alpha Lambda Chapter in Louisville, Kentucky where he had traveled to teach before beginning work with the National Urban League in New York. Brother Eugene Kinckle Jones became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League and founded the organization’s Opportunity Magazine. His 20-year tenure as NUL’s Executive Secretary thus far has exceeded those of all his successors. Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones entered Omega Chapter on January 11, 1954. Brother Joseph L. Sessum is Associate Editor to The Sphinx for Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter.
The Sphinx: www.APA1906.net
Spring • Summer 2008
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