Jewel Dr. Henry Arthur Callis, was not only one of the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Seven Jewels), founded December 4, 1906, but also played an integral part in the founding and development of Theta Chapter and Alpha's in Chicago.
In February of 1910, Jewel Callis was a medical student at Rush Medical College, which would later become a part of the medical school at the University of Chicago. It was while living in Chicago that Jewel Callis met and married his second wife, Pauline Parker. They resided at 4356 South Calumet Ave., where Bro. Dr. U.G. Dailey, the second Honorary Theta Member, lived during that same time.
Once applications were made and approved, Jewel Callis was called upon to assist in the creation of Theta Chapter with the initiation of the six founders of Theta: Dr. Thomas Boger, Dr. Alexander C. Browne, Dr. Ormville Coles, Dr. Samuel LeCount Cook, Dr. Gordon Jackson and Dr. Henry Howard Towles.
Jewel Callis would remain heavily involved with Theta Chapter. He served as President of Theta Chapter in 1912, and as the only Jewel who was elected general president of Alpha Phi Alpha, he was elected while a member of Theta Chapter.
During his time in Chicago, Jewel Callis would help shape the direction of both the fraternity and the chapter. He is also a founding member of Xi Lambda Chapter of Chicago, which was founded in 1927, along with several other members of Theta Chapter.
After leaving Chicago, Jewel Callis would go on to become a professor of medicine at Howard University in addition to maintaining a private medical practice.
On his visits to Chicago after his relocation, he was often heard saying to many affirming his affinity for Chicago's first chapter, "I was never initiated into the fraternity, but if I had, it would have been through Theta."
Theta Chapter is proud and honored to have Jewel Callis counted among those who are a part of "Greater Theta." We like to think his passion and dedication to the fraternity is one of the things that have inspired all of us to live up to the example he and the others members of Theta have set by truly being committed to the precepts of our fraternity: "Manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind."
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