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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Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1995
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date:
A group of Alpha Chapter members pose in costume at a Alpha Chapter Marathon party at Syracuse University.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 1982 - 1985
These meeting minutes, written by Alpha Chapter President Rena A. Michaels and Secretary Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom, outline the first meeting of Alpha Chapter. The original paper version of this document is also part of the collection.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Sep 18th, 1872
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Apr 1874
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: May 1st, 1874
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: May 8th, 1874
These meeting minutes, written by Alpha Chapter President Rena A. Michaels and Secretary Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom, outline the first meeting of Alpha Chapter. This is a photocopy of the original document. A negative of the original is also part of the collection.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Sep 18th, 1872
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 1920
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 2000
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 2000
A group of Alpha Chapter members sit in the Alpha Chapter House under a composite photograph of the 1997 to 1998 chapter members during the 2000 Alpha Chapter Recruitment.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 2000
A group of Alpha Chapter members posing in the Alpha Chapter House during the 2000 Alpha Chapter Recruitment.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 2000
This book records the meetings of Alpha Chapter at Syracuse University between 1964 and 1968. It includes the names of members, officers, and discusses various chapter events and activities.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1964 - 1968
The new members of the Alpha Chapter stand on the staircase of the Alpha Chapter House during the 2000 Alpha Chapter Recruitment.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 2000
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Dec 13th, 1940
This essay, transcribed from Alpha Chapter's Literary Cabinet magazine, describes the values that have persisted over the Fraternity's first 25 years.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1897
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Feb 21st, 1942
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Nov 1st, 1941
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Apr 19th, 1940