History

Alpha Phi was founded in 1872 at Syracuse University by ten of the first nineteen women admitted to the university. 

These women sought out a place where they would be able to sympathize with one another’s difficulties yet encourage each other to continue striving towards their dream.  In a male-dominated environment, these women, the Original Ten, continued to pursue their studies and fulfill their aspirations.  On September 18, 1872, these women initiated themselves into Alpha Phi.

For more information about Alpha Phi, we highly encourage you to visit Alpha Phi’s international website (http://alphaphi.org/) to learn more about our remarkable sisterhood. 

Founders

Clara Bradley Wheeler Baker Burdette was born in Bloomfield, New York.  In her ninety-nine years, she was a writer, lecturer, business woman, philanthropist, and a trustee of Syracuse University.  In addition, she held numerous volunteer positions and was nationally recognized in Who’s Who of America for her achievements. 

Hattie Florence Chidester Lukens was born in Utica, New York.  In 1875, she graduated with her B.S. degree at age 21 and her M.S. degree in 1879.  She became an elocutionist and teacher of higher mathematics.  In addition, she gave several readings in fourteen states and territories.  Florence was the first Founder to enter the Silent Chapter.

Martha Emily Foote Crow was born in Sacketts Harbor, New York and graduated with a Ph.D. in English literature.  She dreamed of an international Fraternity and became the first National President of Alpha Phi. She was the fourth Alpha Phi to serve as Dean of Women at Northwestern University, and also a founder of the American Association of University Women.

Ida Arabella Gilbert DeLamanter Houghton was born in Phoenix, New York.  She graduated in 1876 with her B.S. and in 1879 she received her M.S. degree in modern languages and began writing for newspapers and magazines.  She lived in a mansion on Turtle Street in Syracuse, and she and her mother arranged the first Alpha Phi banquet there following initiation.  To her and her mother we owe this tradition which we still enjoy today.

Jane Sara Higham was born in Rome, New York.  She received her B.A. in 1876 and M.A. in 1879.  She, Mattie Foote, and Clara Bradley became members of Phi Beta Kappa. A newspaper editorial paid her tribute when she retired in 1921: "No teacher has made a more lasting impression of true culture and refinement of spirit than Miss Higham, and she has always had the happy faculty of inspiring both friendship and effort."

Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom Gilbert was born in Ovid, New York.  At age 20, she received her B.S. degree in the scientific course.  A few years later she received her M.S. degree in 1878 and a music degree in 1879.  Upon graduation, she studied music in Boston and later taught at Newark and Ithaca, New York.  Along with Mattie Foote Crow, she was the first recording secretary of the chapter and wrote the Ritual and the first Constitution.

Elizabeth Grace Hubbell Shults was born in Rochester, New York.  She was very brilliant and graduated with marked honor from the Rochester Free Academy at age thirteen.  She was 22 years old when Alpha Phi was founded, and the only one old enough to sign the legal documents.  She was an excellent debater, and one of the first exercises of the chapter was a debate, which she and Mattie Foote won on the topic: "Resolved: That women have their rights."

Rena A. Michaels Atchison was the first president of Alpha Phi, and the Michaelanean
Society derives its name from hers. The Michaelanean Society still exists as a corporation and owns the Alpha Phi Syracuse chapter house.  She was engaged in the study of the classics and literary work and later served as a professor at numerous universities.  She then served as Dean of Women’s College at Northwestern University from 1886-1891.  She was an admirer of Frances Willard and became a lecturer for the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Louise Viola Shepard Hancock was born in Rome, New York and was an inseparable friend of Jane Higham.  In 1876, she received her B.S. and two years later she received her master’s degree.  Throughout her life she made literary contributions to various papers and envisioned many of the privileges which have come to women today. Clara Bradley said Louise "always wanted the last word, and got it. She was a real contender for high and noble things."

Clara Sittser Williams was born in Weedsport, New York and was the only Founder not to graduate from the University, leaving in 1874.    For the 40th reunion, Clara wrote…” We were to be ever loyal to one another, in joys or sorrows, success or failure, and ever extend a helping hand to our sisters who needed our aid; truly we planned to be a 'Union hand in hand."  Clara was the only farmer's daughter among the Original Ten. The first Alpha Phi meeting was held in her room.

Mission & Purpose

Mission
Alpha Phi International Fraternity is a membership organization dedicated to promoting sisterhood, cultivating leadership, encouraging intellectual curiosity and advocating service.
Alpha Phi develops character for a lifetime.

Purpose
The objectives of our Fraternity are the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among our members. In all that we do, we try to obey God’s principles of justice and right. We have banded ourselves together to improve our minds and hearts, and we seek to aid each other through a constant watchcare always given in love. We believe ourselves to be sincere searchers for truth.

We seek the highest ideal of womanhood, and we try to gain this ideal by cultivating not only the power and passion for seeking intellectual development but, also, the spirit of love and charity. And we who are thus united are under a solemn pledge to lend a helping hand to one another.

1. Constitution of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, Incorporated, Article II
*Mission & Purpose statements taken directly from our International Web Site

Alpha Phi Badge

The official badge of Alpha Phi is an unjeweled monogram of gold showing the symbol of Alpha superimposed upon the symbol of Phi. Inscribed in black on the symbol Phi are the letters a, o, e. The meaning of these letters is reserved for the initiation ceremony.

New Member Pin

In 1898, the Fraternity adopted a special badge to honor her newest members.  The pin is in the shape of an ivy leaf and is set in pewter. New members are given this beautiful pin to wear until initiation, after which, they will receive the official Alpha Phi badge. The ivy symbolizes the growth of the Alpha Phi sisterhood.

Fraternity Crest

The Fraternity Crest is the Alpha Phi coat-of-arms, adopted by Convention delegates in 1922. The shield is bordeaux with a scroll and ivy leaf above it. Inscribed on the scroll is the public motto, "Union Hand In Hand." A bar of silver crosses the shield from left to right; the upper half of the shield contains a Roman lamp in silver and the lower half, Ursa Major.  The meaning of the symbols depicted on the crest is a significant part of the ritual witnessed at initiation.

The flowers of Alpha Phi are the Lily-of-the-Valley and the sentimental Forget-Me-Not. The blue and gold of the forget-me-not remind us of our fraternity's original colors also reminding Alpha Phi’s to always remember their sisters.  The ivy leaf is also a symbol which is reflected in our new member pin.  It is symbolic of the way in which Alpha Phi’s become intertwined with one another and the growth of our sisterhood.

Mascot

The mascot of Alpha Phi is the "Phi Bear," whose name is taken from the Greek words "Ursa Major," or the "Great Bear."  In 1974, Alpha Phi International adopted the Phi Bear as its mascot.

Colors

Silver and Bordeaux are Alpha Phi's stunning and distinguishing colors.

Alpha Phi's original colors were blue and gold. In 1879, noting that a fraternity had colors too similar to hers, Alpha Phi adopted the more distinctive colors of silver and bordeaux.

Members wear their colors in the form of a ribbon of silver/gray and bordeaux, under their badge to acknowledge special occasions, the installation of a new chapter, the anniversary of their chapter's installation or the celebration of Alpha Phi Founders' Day, October 10.

Milestones

• Alpha Phi called together the first inter-sorority meeting in 1902 that resulted in the formation of the association now known as the National Panhellenic Conference.
• Alpha Phi 1886 became the first women's fraternity in America to build and occupy its own chapter house in 1886.
• Alpha Phi 1894 became the first women's fraternity to use traveling delegates in 1894, now known as Educational Leadership Consultants.
• Alpha Phi was the first women's society to use Greek letters.
• Alpha Phi was the first sorority to establish a foundation.
• Alpha Phi was the first sorority to publish a book-length history.
• Alpha Phi became the first NPC international/national member to have a site on the World Wide Web in 1995.

Facts

• Alpha Phi is the third largest women's sorority with 150 chapters/colonies in the US and Canada.
• Alpha Phi is pronounced Alpha "fee" (long "e") not "fie," because "Alpha" is a vowel and "Phi" is pronounced "fee" when it follows a vowel.
• Alpha Phi is the fourth oldest national women's sorority.
• Alpha Phi is one of only three international sororities.
• Alpha Phi is a true "international" sorority by maintaining the longest continuous presence in Canada of any sorority.
• Alpha Phi's Creed was written by Annette Hall Hitchcock in 1912.
• Alpha Phi's official pin was adopted in 1908.
• Alpha Phi's official crest was adopted in 1922.
• Alpha Phi's password was changed at the 1922 Convention from German to Greek.  .
• Alpha Phi chapters are named in alphabetical order as they are established, except the Eta chapter at Boston University because it had seven founding members and Eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet.
• Alpha Phi has over 175 active alumnae chapters.