Alpha Phi

Delta

Cornell University

Feb 2nd, 1889

Founding Date

At the 1888 Convention, it had been decided that the Alpha chapter would “keep a close watch upon her neighbor, Cornell University and should a suitable opportunity show itself, to put forward effort in securing a good chapter there during the current year.” When the 1889 term opened, there were 220 female students at Sage College for Women at Cornell University, with three sororities on campus. Two Alpha chapter sisters, Lillian Blanche Root and Eloise Holden Nottingham were appointed to make a visit to Ithaca. Upon preparing for the trip, Blanche thought to contact her hometown friend, Charles Parshall, who was in his senior year at Cornell. Charles was more than happy to help, and he was there to meet Blanche and Eloise upon their arrival to Ithaca on January 12, 1889. He took them around campus and introduced them to several women students. The women hit it off immediately. It was a Saturday afternoon, February 2, 1889, when “seven girls, two juniors and five sophomores, were seen departing from Sage College dormitory. By different routes and at different times, they reached the Ithaca Hotel, where they were joined by two others, a senior and a freshman. Eighteen Alpha chapter delegates made the sixty-mile journey. The nine Cornell students met the Alpha chapter representatives in a private suite of the Ithaca Hotel. There, the initiation was performed, and Alpha Phi’s fifth chapter was installed. The New York Times saw the installation as news that was fit to print and reported on the event in detail, including providing the list of attendees. At the “sumptuous” banquet that followed the initiation, “the tables were decorated with bordeaux and gray” “and the viands were tempting.” Afterwards, the Times noted the group was “shown various points of interest around town.”

Chapter Information

• Delta Chapter has been located in a number of places during its years of existence. First housed in Sage College, the chapter moved there in 1898. A house unit was tried from 1907-1908 at 214 Eddy Street, but failed as the sisters felt they lost interest in University affairs. The chapter remained in Sage College until 1917 when a shortage of housing forced University officials to request that organized groups find their own houses. Delta rented Alpha Zeta's house at 214 Thurston Ave. for the year 1917-1918. 1918-1921 were spent at 114 Kelvin Place. In 1921, this house was sold necessitating a move. 411 Thurston, a house built by Amy Cooper Wurster (Alpha-Syracuse) was purchased and has remained the chapter house ever since. The original house, pictures of which may be seen in old Cornelians, was enlarged twice. Once in 1937, when the side wings were added and again in 1961, when the new wing was built.

• 411 Thurston Avenue, Ithaca, New York

• Joanna Guy – 2012 Miss Maryland

• Amy Pfannenstiel Bunszel – International Executive Board

• Louise Puff Dorn – International Executive Board

• Elizabeth Winslow Hirshfeld – International Executive Board

• Paula Kiso – International Executive Board

• Evelyn Thomas Putnam – International Executive Board

• Julia Mack Riley – International Executive Board

• Louise Stone – International Executive Board

• Cora Stranahan Woodward – International Executive Board

• Gertrude Cadogan Wynne – International Executive Board

• Marian Eagan Hartman – 1974 Michaelanean Award Winner