Charles Cardoza Poindexter

Charles Cardoza Poindexter
Poindexter (circa 1910)
Born	(1880-03-10)March 10, 1880 Pennsboro, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	June 3, 1913(1913-06-03) (aged 33) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma mater	Ohio State University
Known for	Precursor of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at Cornell University

Charles Cardoza Poindexter (March 10, 1880 – June 3, 1913) was a professor at Fisk University. Poindexter was also known for being the precursor, but not a Founder, of the oldest intercollegiate fraternity for blacks in America, Alpha Phi Alpha, who later on became a prominent member and influence in Omega Psi Phi, using his earlier experience to develop much of the framework. He is credited with suggesting the "Phi" in the name Omega Psi Phi, as well as the color "Old Gold".

Poindexter was born in Pennsboro, West Virginia on March 10, 1880. He attended high school at the WV Colored Institute(future West Virginia State University) graduating in 1896, and returned for a vocational degree. ( Poindexter attended Ohio State University from 1899 to 1903 earning a B.Sci in Agriculture. In 1903, he wrote "The Development of the Spikelet and Grain of Corn." Poindexter was said to be a very superior Negro, very light in color. From Ohio State, he attended a graduate program at Cornell University from 1905 to 1907.

Poindexter married Helen Florence Newton on March 31, 1906, and while at Cornell, Poindexter wrote about the student experiences in the school. Poindexter served as secretary to Thomas Forsyth Hunt, who authored How to Choose a Farm: With a Discussion of American Lands, as well as The Cereals of America. He would serve as a Virginia delegate to the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations Convention.

Prior to his time at Cornell University, at Ohio State University, Pi Gamma Omicron, a black fraternity was founded on March 1905. While at Cornell as a graduate student in the College of Agriculture, Poindexter was the organizer of a group of literary students at Cornell University. The group initially consisted of 15 students and included females. The group met every two weeks at 421 North Albany Street, where Poindexter roomed. Poindexter felt the group should serve the cultural and social needs of the black community and not be an elite secret society.

Poindexter never became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He was stated to have a faculty relationship with the students of the group because he was the secretary of one of the professors. In December 1905, Poindexter organized a meeting of students which included Murray, Ogle, Morgan T. Phillips, Chapman, Kelley, Callis, Tompkins, and Tandy. In October 1906, the name Alpha Phi Alpha was introduced. Poindexter became the first President of Alpha Phi Alpha. Under the leadership of Poindexter the first banquet, initiation procedures, and policies were introduced. A vote again confirmed the name Alpha Phi Alpha with the colors of old gold and black. The initiation of new members took place on October 30, 1906 at a Masonic Hall including Eugene Kinckle Jones, Lemuel Graves and Gordon Jones.James Morton was considered and selected but at the time was not registered at the university. It was felt that Poindexter being a graduate student dominated the meetings of Alpha Phi Alpha. His leadership was significant during the early stages of the organization. In his absence at a meeting the fraternity idea was pushed for a vote by Murray and was seconded by Robert H Dale.