death_date nationality birth_date known_for article_title name
november 7 , 1949 usa may 17 , 1885 first co-founder of alpha phi alpha fraternity at cornell university registered african-american architect in new york state ; vertner woodson tandy
 vertner woodson tandy
vertner woodson tandy

vertner woodson tandy -lrb- may 17 , 1885 -- november 7 , 1949 -rrb- was one of the seven founders -lrb- `` commonly referred to as the seven jewels '' -rrb- of alpha phi alpha fraternity at cornell university in 1906 .
before transferring to cornell , vertner studied architecture at tuskegee university .
he was the first black registered architect in new york state .
he was the first treasurer of the alpha chapter and the designer of the fraternity pin .
the fraternity became incorporated under his auspices .
he initially attended tuskegee institute .
as a graduate of cornell with a degree in architecture , he would become the state of new york 's first registered black architect , with offices on broadway in new york city .
tandy 's most famous commission was probably `` villa lewaro '' , the mansion of harlem millionairess madam c.j. walker , in irvington on hudson , new york .
among his other extant work are the ivey delph apartments , and st. philip 's episcopal church at 204 west 134th street in harlem , through his architectural firm of tandy & foster .
the ivey delph apartments , designed in 1948 , was listed on the national register of historic places in 2005 .
tandy also holds the distinction of being the first african-american to pass the military commissioning examination and was commissioned first lieutenant in the 15th infantry of the new york state national guard .
vertner w. tandy died in 1949 , at age 64 of pneumonia .
