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 binder page features planning notes for the 1953 Wisconsin State Day.
Collection: Theta Chapter Archive Collection
Date: Oct 9th, 1953
This binder page features notes from the November 1942 meeting held by the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter.
Collection: Theta Chapter Archive Collection
Date: Nov 17th, 1942
Lori Abrams, Noel Eberly, and Deanna Parker pose with two Alpha Chapter members at the 1991 Alpha Chapter Bid Day.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: Sep 15th, 1991
Collection: Object Collection
Date:
Agnes Pettik informs the Gamma Chapter about the activities of the Alpha Chapter including parties and college life.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Feb 19th, 1888
Agnes Pettik informs the Gamma Chapter about the activities of the Alpha Chapter including updates to the chapter house and the events the chapter attended.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Feb 16th, 1888
Agnes Pettik informs the Gamma Chapter about the activities of Alpha Chapter including throwing Halloween party, writing a newsletter, and deciding what subjects the chapter should study.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Nov 17th, 1887
Ayney Pettik congratulates Miss Fannie Hays and the Gamma Chapter on becoming members of Alpha Phi.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Jul 12th, 1887
Agnes informs the Gamma Chapter about the activities of the Alpha Chapter including graduation at Syracuse University.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Apr 30th, 1888
This page contains three newspaper clippings regarding the Rho Chapter and a newspaper clippings regarding an alumnae event.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Mar 7th, 1948
This page contains six newspaper clippings regarding Akron Alumnae Chapter events.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1952 - 1953
This page contains two newspaper clippings regarding Akron Alumnae Chapter events and a newspaper clipping regarding a wedding.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1952 - 1953
This page contains five newspaper clippings regarding the Akron Alumnae Chapter and young women from Akron who joined sororities.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1941
Beta Chapter member Albertine C. Wales updates Alpha Chapter on Beta Chapter's recent events and activities.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Dec 6th, 1884
Alpha Chapter alumna Alice Jeffres Moule remembers her time as a collegiate member of Alpha Phi.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date:
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Feb 27th, 1884
Epsilon Delta Chapter member Michelle Wray Foote outlines how she discovered Founder Martha Foote Crow was her ancestor.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1980 - 1989
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Jun 1962
This is Alpha Chapter's second house at 308 Walnut Place in Syracuse, New York.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date:
This Alpha Phi Quarterly article is about Alpha Chapter's philanthropy work.
Collection: Theta Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date: Mar 1947