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
Alpha Phifa Soccer Tournaments
">$251,865.60
41
Sort by
This page features a poem about Dorothy Skerritt Brewer.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Marian Carter McKaig.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Jacqueline Talley Castle.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about a member of Alpha Chapter at Syracuse University and 17 stamps.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Jean Caldwell Weber.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Marjorie Patrick Laubach.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about an Alpha Chapter member.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Dorothy Smith Clemen.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Mary Gilkeson.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Mary Saunders Wyatt.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page features a poem about an Alpha Chapter member.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about an Alpha Chapter member named Peggy (last name unknown).
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Doris Drought Golden.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains an ode to an outstanding senior, a member of Alpha Chapter.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains several humorous newspaper clippings.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem titled "To Our Queen".
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page continues a poem about an Alpha Chapter member.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page continues a poem about an Alpha Chapter member.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Jeanne McFarren Bechtel.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938
This page contains a poem about Virginia Dunning Dailey.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1938