Charles Henry Chapman | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | June 20, 1876
Cayuga County, New York, U.S. |
Died | November 17, 1934
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. | (aged 58)
Known for | Founder of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity |
Academic background | |
Education |
Howard University
Cornell University |
Academic work | |
Discipline | Agriculture |
Sub-discipline | Animal husbandry |
Institutions |
Jackson State College Florida A&M University |
Charles Henry Chapman (June 20, 1876 – November 17, 1934) was an American academic and one of the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first Greek letter fraternity for African American men. [1] [2] [3] He is known for advancing agricultural education and fraternal organizations. [4]
Chapman was born in Cayuga County, New York. [1] By 1880, he lived in Ontario, New York with his maternal grandfather, George Thompson,
He attended Howard University around 1900. [1] He enrolled at Cornell University in 1905 and studied agriculture. [1] While attending Cornell, he owned a cafe and a small brickyard. [1] Chapman also attended Hampton Institute and, later, attended Ohio State University. [1] [4]
While attending Cornell, Chapman was one of the seven founders of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity on December 4, 1906. [2] [5] [3] The founders are commonly referred to as Jewels. [6] During the formation of what became the Alpha chapter, he was the first chairman of the Committees on Initiation and Organization. [7]
Chapman gave the Founders Address at the fraternity's 22nd General Convention in December 1929. [1] [8] He said, "There never was a more beautiful episode in my life than the small part I played in the organization of the fraternity in 1906." [5] He helped start the fraternity's Beta Nu chapter in 1932 while he was teaching at Florida A&M University. [1] [7]
When he died. Chapman became the first Jewel to enter the Omega chapter—a memorial chapter that contains the names of deceased fraternity members. [7]
Chapman entered a career in higher education as a professor of agriculture at Jackson State College and Alabama A&M University. [1] [7] [4] He began teaching at what is now Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 1923, becoming chair of the agriculture department in 1924. [7] [1] [9] He expanded the FAMU curriculumn to include animal husbandry. [1] [7] [4] He also developed herds of prize dairy cows. [4] He remained at FAMU until his death. [9]
Chapman married Esther, a dietician with the Cleveland Public School District in Ohio. [1] [4] The couple lived in Cleveland, Ohio. [1] When he secured teaching positions in the South, Esther remained in Cleveland where Chapman would visit her. [1]
In 1934 following two weeks of illness, Chapman died in the Florida A&M hospital from nephritis at the age of 64. [4] [8] [1] He was buried near Florida A&M. [1] [8] On November 22, funeral services were held in the university's auditorium with noticeable a Alpha Phi Alpha presence. [7] [8] He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida. [8]
Charles Henry Chapman | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | June 20, 1876
Cayuga County, New York, U.S. |
Died | November 17, 1934
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. | (aged 58)
Known for | Founder of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity |
Academic background | |
Education |
Howard University
Cornell University |
Academic work | |
Discipline | Agriculture |
Sub-discipline | Animal husbandry |
Institutions |
Jackson State College Florida A&M University |
Charles Henry Chapman (June 20, 1876 – November 17, 1934) was an American academic and one of the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first Greek letter fraternity for African American men. [1] [2] [3] He is known for advancing agricultural education and fraternal organizations. [4]
Chapman was born in Cayuga County, New York. [1] By 1880, he lived in Ontario, New York with his maternal grandfather, George Thompson,
He attended Howard University around 1900. [1] He enrolled at Cornell University in 1905 and studied agriculture. [1] While attending Cornell, he owned a cafe and a small brickyard. [1] Chapman also attended Hampton Institute and, later, attended Ohio State University. [1] [4]
While attending Cornell, Chapman was one of the seven founders of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity on December 4, 1906. [2] [5] [3] The founders are commonly referred to as Jewels. [6] During the formation of what became the Alpha chapter, he was the first chairman of the Committees on Initiation and Organization. [7]
Chapman gave the Founders Address at the fraternity's 22nd General Convention in December 1929. [1] [8] He said, "There never was a more beautiful episode in my life than the small part I played in the organization of the fraternity in 1906." [5] He helped start the fraternity's Beta Nu chapter in 1932 while he was teaching at Florida A&M University. [1] [7]
When he died. Chapman became the first Jewel to enter the Omega chapter—a memorial chapter that contains the names of deceased fraternity members. [7]
Chapman entered a career in higher education as a professor of agriculture at Jackson State College and Alabama A&M University. [1] [7] [4] He began teaching at what is now Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 1923, becoming chair of the agriculture department in 1924. [7] [1] [9] He expanded the FAMU curriculumn to include animal husbandry. [1] [7] [4] He also developed herds of prize dairy cows. [4] He remained at FAMU until his death. [9]
Chapman married Esther, a dietician with the Cleveland Public School District in Ohio. [1] [4] The couple lived in Cleveland, Ohio. [1] When he secured teaching positions in the South, Esther remained in Cleveland where Chapman would visit her. [1]
In 1934 following two weeks of illness, Chapman died in the Florida A&M hospital from nephritis at the age of 64. [4] [8] [1] He was buried near Florida A&M. [1] [8] On November 22, funeral services were held in the university's auditorium with noticeable a Alpha Phi Alpha presence. [7] [8] He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida. [8]