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: Apr 24th, 1942
This program provides information about the committees for Alpha Chapter's 1941 Spring Formal.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Apr 4th, 1941
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Feb 28th, 1941
This list features the names and addresses of Alpha Chapter members and alumnae attending the 1886 Alpha Chapter Reunion.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1870 - 1887
The women of the Alpha Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta Fraternity extend an invitation to the women of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Sep 7th, 1892
These list features the names of 11 Alpha Chapter members in an unknown photograph.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1890 - 1899
A group of Alpha Chapter members stands in front of the Alpha Chapter House during the 1975 Alpha Chapter Bid Day.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 1975
A group of Alpha Chapter members stand in front of the Alpha Chapter House and under a sign welcoming the new chapter members during the 1976 Alpha Chapter Bid Day.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 1976
A group of Alpha Chapter new members sits on the steps of the Alpha Chapter House.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 1983
A group of Alpha Chapter members pose outside of the Alpha Chapter House.
Collection: Alpha Phi Digitization Days Collection
Date: 1991
This scrapbook features humourous, light-hearted poems written about chapter members.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This scrapbook has a beige paper cover.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This paper contains a poem about a Betty-Lou (last name unknown).
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page continues a poem about Betty Blanchard.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Ann Brown.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page features a poem about Barbara DeLima Miller.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Beatrice (last name unknown).
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Beatrice (last name unknown).
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Eleanor Hitch Kellond and sketches of knots.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This poem features a photograph of a woman in a wedding dress.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938