About Alpha Phi

Alpha Phi was founded at Syracuse University by ten of the first nineteen women admitted to the newly opened university. They hoped to create a "social center, a place of conference, a tie which should unite, a circle of friends who could sympathize with one another in their perplexities." These ten women included Clara Bradley Wheeler Baker Burdette, Hattie Florence Chidester Lukens, Martha Emily Foote Crow, Ida Arabella Gilbert DeLamanter Houghton, Jane Sara Higham, Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom Gilbert, Elizabeth Grace Hubbell Shults, Rena A. Michaels Atchison, Louise Viola Shepard Hancock, and Clara Sittser Williams.

On September 18, 1872, these ten women initiated themselves into Alpha Phi Fraternity. Since then, our sisterhood has grown to include over 150 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Alpha Phi continues to exist today because of the vision and ideals held by these ten exceptional women who created such a strong foundation of sisterhood.


Alpha Phi Firsts

• In 1886 they became the first women's fraternity in America to build and occupy their own chapter house.
• In 1888, the Alpha Phi Quarterly, an award-winning magazine, was established and has been published continuously to the present day.
• In 1894, Alpha Phi became the first women's fraternity to use "traveling delegates," now known as Educational Leadership Consultants.
• In 1902, Alpha Phi called the inter-sorority meeting that resulted in the formation of the association now known as the National Panhellenic Conference, which then included Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, and Delta Delta Delta. This was the first intergroup organization on college campuses.
• In 1905, Frances Willard was recognized by the U.S. Congress who placed a statue of her in Statuary Hall in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, the first woman to be so recognized.
• In 1906, became an "International" fraternity when Xi chapter was chartered at the University of Toronto. Alpha Phi's Xi chapter is the oldest continuously active chapter in Canada. The organization is 'Celebrating 100 Years in Canada' in 2006.
• In 1940, Frances Willard was portrayed on a U.S. postage stamp.
• In 1957, Alpha Phi became the first women's fraternity to establish a Foundation.
• In 1995, Alpha Phi became the first NPC international/national member to have a site on the World Wide Web.

Did you know?

• Alpha Phi's mascot is the Phi Bear, named after Ursa Major, and was adopted in 1974. Today our colors are silver and bordeaux.
• The ivy leaf is our most prominent symbol, and the lily-of-the-valley and the forget-me-not are our fraternity flowers.
• Alpha Phi is the fourth oldest national women's sorority.
• Alpha Phi Headquarters is located in Evanston, Illinois along with the headquarters for Sigma Chi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternities.
• Alpha Phi is the third largest women's sorority, with 150 chapters in the US and Canada.
• Three of our founders were listed in Who's Who of America: Clara Bradley Burdette, Martha Foote Crow, and Rena Michaels Atchison.
• Alpha Phi is pronounced Alpha "fee" (long "e") not "fie," because a Syracuse Greek professor informed our founding sisters that it was the correct Greek pronunciation.
• Alpha Phi's official pin was adopted in 1908.
• Alpha Phi's official crest was adopted in 1922.
• Alpha Phi's original colors were blue and gold.
• The Alpha Phi Foundation was established in 1957.
• To learn more visit our international website www.AlphaPhi.org