Which founder became the first African American engineer registered in the state of New York?

• A. Nathaniel Allison Murray
• B. Vertner Woodson Tandy
• C. George Biddle Kelley
• D. Eugene Kinckle Jones

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is recognizing a founder’s groundbreaking professional achievement in licensure. George Biddle Kelley, one of the seven founders of Alpha Phi Alpha at Cornell, was a civil engineer who became the first African American to be registered as a professional engineer in New York. This milestone shows how early members of the fraternity pushed for Black advancement in highly technical fields and achieved state licensure, enabling them to practice engineering professionally in a major state.

For context, Vertner Woodson Tandy, another founder, was the first African American registered architect in New York, which can be confusing if you mix up disciplines. The other founders pursued different paths, but Kelley’s distinction lies in becoming the first African American engineer registered in New York.