"Vertner Woodson Tandy"(May 17,1885-November 7,1949).

Was born in Lexington, Kentucky where he was educated at the Candler School.He gained an understand of construction by watching his father build and develop homes in Lexington.These early experiences with his father Led him to an interest architecture.In 1904,Vertner attended Tuskegee Universityto study architecture and during his short stay was under the guidance of Booker T. Washington. Vertner became the architecture program's "prize"student and year later,in September of 1905,he transferred to Cornell University in Ithaca,New York.Henry Arthur Callis recalled that Vertner showed up on the hallowed grounds of Cornell in a rather "tight cadet's uniform uniform with a saxophone under his arm."Vertner,Henry and a small group of college men formed Alpha Phi Alpha Society in the spring of 1906,which would became the first African American Greek letter fraternity,On December 4th of the same year.During his time in the Fraternity,he was treasurer,designer of the pin,and eventually was responsible for its incorporation.Upon graduation,Vertner became the first African-American registered in the state of New York.His office was on Broadway in New York City.Among the buildings designed by the highly gifted architect are Saint Philllips Episcopal Church in New York City and Villa Lewaro,the manison of Madam C.J.Walker,in Irvington-on-Hudson,in New York.He later became the first African American to pass the military commission examination in World War 1.He was subsequently commissioned First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York National Guard.Vertner died on November 7,1949 at age 64.