In the fall of 1872, Syracuse University finally opened its doors to women. During that first semester, ten women came together
to form a special sisterhood based on their similar ideals and beliefs. On September 30, 1872, the ten women met in Ida Gilbert's home and founded
Alpha Phi with the first initiation ceremony. Because there was not a name for women's greek organization in 1872, what are now considered "social sororities" were called "women's fraternities". The official name for Alpha Phi is "Alpha Phi International Fraternity Inc." Today, there are around 120 collegiate chapters internationally and 200 alumni chapters.
OFFICIAL NAME: Alpha Phi International Fraternity Inc.
FOUNDED: September 30, 1872, at Syracuse University
FOUNDERS: Clara Bradley Burdette, Florence Chidester Lukens, Martha Foote Crow, Ida Gilbert Houghton, Jane Sara Higham, Kate Hogoboom Gilbert, Elizabeth Hubbel Shults, Rena Michaels Atchison, Louise Shepard Hancock, and Clara Sittser Williams
COLORS: Silver and Bordeaux
MASCOT: Phi Bear, which was named after Ursa Major and adopted in 1974
FLOWERS: Lily of the Valley and the Forget-Me-Not
SYMBOL: The Ivy Leaf
PHILANTHROPY: The Alpha Phi Foundation
SORORITY MAGAZINE: The Alpha Phi Quarterly
PUBLIC MOTTO: Union Hand In Hand
MEMBERS OF SYRACUSE TRIAD: Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Gamma Delta
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. Insribed on the scroll is the public motto, Union Hand in Hand. A bar of silver crosses the shield from the 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.
1872 on September 30th Alpha Phi became the 4th Greek letter organization for women.
1875 invited Frances E. Willard (a women's suffrage leader) to become the first alumna initiate.
1879 Alpha Phi colors are changed from blue and gold to silver and bordeaux.
1886 became the first women's fraternity in America to build and occupy its chapter house.
1888 established the Alpha Phi Quarterly, an award-winning magazine that is published continuously to the present day.
1894 became the first women's fraternity to use "traveling delgates," now known as Educational Leadership Consultants (ELCs) and Regional Managers.
1898 the ivy-shaped new member badge is adopted.
1902 called the first 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.
1905 U.S. congress recognizes Frances E. Willard by placing a state of her, the first woman, in Statuary Hall in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. The pose is typical of her, standing at a lectern with a mauscript in hand.
1906 a uniform design of the Alpha Phi badge is adopted.
1906 became an "International Fraternity" when Xi chapter was chartered at the University of Toronto.
1922on the 50th anniversary, accumulated a $50,000 endowment fund.
1922 the Fraternity coat of arms is adopted.
1940 Frances E. Willard is portrayed on a U.S. postage stamp.
1946 Cadiac aid is selected as Alpha Phi's Philantrophy - now one part of the Foundation's many programs.
1957 Alpha Phi Foundation is esablished, a first for women's fraternities.
1964 made 100 commemorative gavels from the cherry and birch stair railing of the first sorority house and presenting them to the collegiate chapters, with the wish that they might serve as a "continuing reminder of Alpha Phi ideals which have stayed so constant over the past years."
1974 the Phi Bear is adopted as Alpha Phi's mascot, which was so named after Ursa Major, the Great Bear.
1986 introduced RESPOND: A Forum for Supportive Action, an anti-victimization education program dealing with alcohol abuse, acquaintance rape, eating disorders, suicide, hazing, and harassment.
1988 introduced risk management education to collegians.
1990 introduced a peer education program for AIDS research.
1995 became the first NPC internation/national member to have a site on the World Wide Web.
1996 the foundation celebrates its 40th anniversary.
1997 Alpha Phi's 125th anniversary.
The information on this page was taken from the Ivy Leaf and the International Website.
