Vertner Tandy
Encyclopedia
Vertner Woodson Tandy was one of the seven founders (commonly referred to as The Seven Jewels) 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 first treasurer of the Alpha chapter and the designer of the fraternity pin. The Fraternity became incorporated
under his auspices.
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.
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1906. Before transferring to Cornell, Vertner studied architecture at Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
. He was the first black registered architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in New York State.
He was first treasurer of the Alpha chapter and the designer of the fraternity pin. The Fraternity became incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
under his auspices.
As a graduate of Cornell with a degree in architecture, he would become the State of New York’s
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
first registered black architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, with offices on Broadway in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Tandy's most famous commission was probably Villa Lewaro
Villa Lewaro
Villa Lewaro, also known as the Anne E. Poth Home, is located at Fargo Lane and North Broadway in Irvington, New York. It was the home of Madam C. J. Walker from 1918 to 1919. She is believed to be the first American female and first African-American female, self-made millionaire...
, the mansion of Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
millionairess Madam C.J. Walker, in Irvington on Hudson, New York
Irvington, New York
Irvington, sometimes known as Irvington-on-Hudson, is an affluent suburban village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a station stop on the...
. Among his other extant work are the Ivey Delph Apartments
Ivey Delph Apartments
Ivey Delph Apartments is a historic apartment building located in Hamilton Heights, New York, New York. It was designed by noted African American architect Vertner Woodson Tandy in 1948 and completed in 1951. It is a six story, beige brick and concrete building in the Moderne style...
, and St. Philip's Episcopal Church
St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Harlem, New York)
St. Philip's Church also known as St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church, is a historic Episcopal church located at 204 West 134th Street, just west of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard ) in Harlem, New York, New York. It was founded in 1809 by Free Africans worshiping at Trinity Church, Wall...
at 204 West 134th Street in Harlem, through his architectural firm of Tandy & Foster
Tandy & Foster
Tandy & Foster was an American architectural firm active from 1908 to 1914 in New York and New Jersey, based in New York City.Founded in 1908 by Vertner Woodson Tandy and George Washington Foster...
. The Ivey Delph Apartments, designed in 1948, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2005.
Tandy also holds the distinction of being the first African-American to pass the military commissioning examination and was commissioned First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
.
Vertner W. Tandy died in 1949, at age 64 of pneumonia.