The Seven visionary founders, or "Jewels", of Alpha Phi Alpha are:

Jewel Henry Arthur Callis MD-Medical Doctor, Tuskeegee Alabama
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman-Teacher, Florida A&M University
Jewel Eugene Kinkle Jones-Executive Secretary of the National Urban League
Jewel George Biddle Kelley-Civil Engineer, State of New York
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray-Teacher, Armstrong Technical High School
Jewel Robert Harold Ogle-US Senate Committee of Appropriations
Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy-First registered black architect of the State of New York.

These men labored in the years of severe economic times and racial conflict in the united States. Despite their difficulties of organization, the early fraternity pioneers succeeded in laying a firm foundation and remained steadfast in their goals pointing toward development of the fraternity membership -that is espousing the principles of good character, sound scholarship, fellowship, and uplifting of humanity, especially in the struggling Black community in the Unted States. The Fraternity has grown steadily in influence throughout the years. It has been interracial since 1945 and has expanded tremendously to the extent that there are now approximately 800 chapters located throughout the United States, Carribean Islands, Africa, West Indies, Europe, and Asia.