The story of the founding of Alpha Chapter is also that of the beginning of Alpha Phi International Fraternity. From the first expression of their mutual need for “a circle of friends who could sympathize with one another,” our Founders envisioned that the circle would embrace far flung campuses. Among those 20 women entering Syracuse in the fall of 1872, there were six freshmen, three sophomores and a junior who became the Founders of Alpha Phi. They were the Original Ten. These Syracuse University women believed that their idea of a women's fraternity was original and that theirs would be the first college women's society. They were unaware that the same idea had occurred to four women at DePauw who founded Kappa Alpha Theta in January of 1870. Three months later the four founders of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Monmouth College in Illinois likewise believed themselves the originators of the first Greek letter college women's fraternity. While not the first women’s fraternity, Alpha Phi provided a sense of community , respect and camaraderie for its members, much as it continues to do today. On September 30, 1872 at the home of Ida Gilbert, with a ritual, symbols and a pledge, The Original Ten founded Alpha of Alpha Phi. For twelve years, the members of Alpha Chapter used a suite of rooms in which to have their meetings. Then, in 1884 Alpha moved to a rented house near the university. In 1886, they purchased land with the intention of building a house. They secured a first mortgage from a bank and an Alpha Phi father lent them money for a second mortgage. A contractor was hired and in January 1887, the members dedicated their new chapter house. For years to come Baird's Manual held Alpha Phi in high regard because they had financed the first chapter house and were in possession of real property at a time where that was less common for women.
Sep 18th, 1872
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This painting features individual small portraits of Founders Ida Gilbert Houghton, Clara Bradley Wheeler Baker Burdette, Louise Shepard Hancock, Kate Hogoboom Gilbert, Rena Michaels Atchison, Elizabeth Grace Hubbell, Martha Foote Crow, Florence Chidester Lukens, and Jane Higham.
Collection: HQ Artwork Collection
Date:
This postcard reads "The women who started it all" and features photographs of the 10 founders of Alpha Phi Fraternity. The back of the postcard features an announcement for the publication of the first in a three-volume series of history books about the Fraternity.
Collection: Beta Mu Chapter Archive Collection
Date:
This scrapbook features photographs, correspondence, and several essays that tell the story of the founding and early accomplishments of Alpha Phi.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1972
This video describes the founding of both Syracuse University and Alpha Phi Fraternity. The video highlights each of the Fraternity's 10 founders and the milestones achieved in the first few years of the organization's existence.
Collection: Audio-Visual Collection
Date: Jun 22nd, 2010
This magazine includes several photographs and profiles on the chapter houses of Alpha Phi Fraternity.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1980
This program contains the menu, toasts, and signatures for the 17th Convention of Alpha Phi Fraternity.
Collection: Object Collection
Date: 1902
This program for the 1902 Alpha Phi 30th Annual Banquet features a menu and toast list.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Jun 9th, 1902
This program contains the constellation, menu, and toasts from the 1926 Convention at the New Ocean House in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
Collection: Object Collection
Date: Jun 25th, 1926
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Mar 7th, 1962
Alpha Chapter alumna Edith Nottingham Loveland tells the story of the 1964 commemorative Alpha Phi gavels made from the stair railing of the original Alpha Chapter house.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1960 - 1969
This program for the 1901 Alpha Chapter Initiation Banquet features a list of initiates and a menu.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Oct 11th, 1901
This program includes lists of fraternity leaders, a schedule of events of the convention, convention rules, and general information about the event.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Jun 16th, 1972 - Jun 21st, 1972
Collection: HQ Artwork Collection
Date: Dec 30th, 1926
This certificate recognizes Epsilon Beta Chapter for excellence in all chapter fraternity education programming for the 1992-1994 biennium.
Collection: Epsilon Beta Chapter Archive Collection
Date: Jun 24th, 1994
This songbook compiles lyrics and sheet music for songs to be sung at the 1968 Convention.
Collection: Beta Mu Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date: Jun 19th, 1968 - Jun 24th, 1968
This program features information about the different events happening to celebrate Alpha Phi's 25th anniversary. These events include an Alpha Chapter initiation, a husband's event, and historical programming.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Oct 1897
This article lists Alpha Chapter's current members and the officers of Syracuse University's Panhellenic Association. The clipping also includes a photograph of the Panhellenic Association.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1920 - 1929
This scrapbook features photographs and several essays telling the early history of Alpha Phi Fraternity. This scrapbook was created to be an example for chapters to follow.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date:
Collection: Delta Mu Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date:
Collection: Delta Mu Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date: