Vertner Woodson Tandy

Vertner Woodson Tandy (May 17, 1885 – November 7, 1949) was an American architect.[1] He was one of the seven founders (commonly referred to as "The Seven Jewels") of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell University in 1906. He was the first African American registered architect in New York State. Tandy served as the first treasurer of the Alpha chapter and the designer of the fraternity pin.[2] The fraternity became incorporated under his auspices.

Vertner Woodson Tandy
Tandy circa 1920
BornMay 17, 1885
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedNovember 7, 1949(1949-11-07) (aged 64)
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
MonumentsHistoric marker in Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Known forFirst registered African-American architect in New York State; Co-founder of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell University
SpouseSadie Tandy
ChildrenVertner Woodson Tandy Jr.

Early life and education

He was born on May 17, 1885, in Lexington, Kentucky.[1] His parents were Henry A. Tandy and Emma Brice Tandy. Henry Tandy was a successful entrepreneur and building contractor. Born enslaved, in 1893 he established the firm Tandy & Byrd in Lexington. Among prominent projects of the firm are the Lexington Opera House and the Fayette County Courthouse, now the site of the Lexington Visitor Center.[3]

In 1904, Tandy attended Tuskegee Institute studying architectural drawing.[4] In 1905, he transferred to Cornell University, which he graduated from in 1907 with a degree in architecture.[5] He was one of the founding members, who were collectively called the "Seven Jewels," of the Alpha Phi Alpha Society the first African-American fraternity in 1906.[6][7]

Career

Ater graduation, Tandy and George Washington Foster started their own firm, Tandy & Foster, with offices on Broadway in New York City.[7][6] Tandy became the State of New York’s first registered black architect.[6]

Historic marker installed 2009 honoring Tandy, sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest African American fraternity

Tandy's most famous commission was probably Villa Lewaro, the $250,000 mansion for the daughter of the Harlem millionairess Madam C. J. Walker, in Irvington on Hudson, New York.[8][7] The Italianate-style mansion was completed in 1918 and became important in the Harlem Renaissance prior to Walker’s death.[7] 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.[9]

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.[6]

Death

Vertner W. Tandy died of pneumonia on November 7, 1949, aged 64, in Manhattan, New York City.[1] He is honored with a historic marker in Lexington, Kentucky, installed in 2009.[10]

References
  1. "Vertner Woodson Tandy". New York Times. November 8, 1949.
  2. Parks, Gregory (2012-01-01). Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Greatness, The Demands of Transcendence. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0813134574.
  3. "Tandy, Henry A. · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database". nkaa.uky.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  4. Weiss, Ellen (2012-01-01). Robert R. Taylor and Tuskegee: An African American Architect Designs for Booker T. Washington. NewSouth Books. ISBN 9781588382481.
  5. Woods, Mary N. (1999-07-20). From Craft to Profession: The Practice of Architecture in Nineteenth-century America. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520921405.
  6. Okocha, Victor (2007-03-15). "Vertner Woodson Tandy (1885-1949) •". Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  7. "Pioneering Architects: Vertner Woodson Tandy - AIA". www.aia.org. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  8. Harlem Renaissance : art of Black America. Driskell, David C., Lewis, David Levering, 1936-, Willis, Deborah, 1948-, Studio Museum in Harlem. New York: The Studio Museum in Harlem. 1987. ISBN 0810910993. OCLC 13945412.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  10. "Vertner Woodson Tandy Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.

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