History
In early September of 1872, Martha Foote, Kate Hogoboom and Clara Sittser gathered one afternoon to the discuss the problems facing the first college women entering Syracuse University. Feeling that their presence in the classroom was unwelcome, that their position in this experiment of coeducation was by no means secure and having witnessed the solidarity of the fraternities, they asked, "...why can't we have a society as well as the men?"

In inviting the rest of the female student body to join them for another meeting, they answered their own question.

After Further meetings prepared the way, the first chapter meeting was held on September 18, 1872. Rena Michaels was elected president and plans were made for weekly meetings. Literary programs and a debate every three weeks were included in the agenda.

On September 30, 1872, at the home of Ida Gilbert, the women found Alpha Phi with the initiation ceremony.

Phi Facts

  • 140 collegiate chapters
  • 175 alumnae chapters
  • From 1872 to present >121,000 sisters
  • Currently >74,000 alumnae sisters
  • ~12,000 collegiate sisters
  • ~11,000 Canadian sisters
  • ~500 "World travelers"
  • >90 alumnae initiates
  • When Alph a Phi was founded they were called a "Fraternity" because the word "Sorority" had yet to be coined.
  • Ten women at Ida Gilbert's home on September 18, 1872, initiated themselves into Alpha Phi.
  • In New York, Alpha Phi could not be incorporated under a Greek name, therefore the Chapter applied under the name of the Michaelenean Society in honor of their President, Rena Michaels.
  • A professor of Greek at Syracuse advised them to call the organization Alpha "Fee" instead of "Fie" as this is grammatically correct since it follows Alpha, a vowel.
  • Clara Williams was the only farmer's daughter among the founders.
  • Martha Foote Crow was the first National President of Alpha Phi.
  • Jane Higham, Martha Foote Crow, and Clara Bradley Burdette were members of Phi Beta Kappa .
  • Alpha Phi was the first women's fraternity to occupy a chapter house, and in 1886 at Syracuse University, Alpha Chapter built the first sorority house in America.
  • This house was sold in 1910, and in 1962, before it was torn down, the stained glass windows and other important memorabilia were presented to Alpha Phi by the University.
  • The original cherry and birch stair railing of the original Alpha house was used to make Alpha Phi heirlooms. One hundred commemorative gavels were made from this wood.
  • Three of our Founders were listed in Who's Who of America: Clara Bradley Burdette, Martha Foote Crow, and Rena Michaels Atchison.
  • Clara Burdette live to be 99 years old and was married three times. She outlived all of her husbands as well as her son.
  • Florence Chidester Lukens was the first of the Founders to enter the Silent Chapter in 1885.
  • The Alpha Phi Creed was written in 1912 by Annette Hall Hitchcock.
  • The official Alpha Phi pin was adopted in 1908.
  • The official Alpha Phi crest was adopted in 1922.
  • At Convention in 1922 the present Coat-of-Arms was adopted and the password was changed from German to Greek.
  • The Alpha Phi mascot, "Phi Bear", was announced at the Leadership Seminars in 1973.
  • In 1902, Alpha Phi called the inter-sorority meeting which resulted in the founding of what is now the National Panhellenic Council.
  • Alpha Phi was the first women's fraternity to use Greek letters as its emblem. Other early groups had used keys, kites, arrows, and anchors.
  • Originally there was no standard badge, each member went to a jeweler of her choice, showed him a design, and had him make it for her.
  • Alpha Phi's original colors were blue and gold. In 1879, the colors were changed to the more distinctive silver and bordeaux. Blue and gold were the colors of the Fraternity Delta Upsilon, and the change was made in order to truly set us apart from any other Fraternity's colors.
  • The Alpha Phi Quarterly was first published in July 1888 and has not missed a single issue since its inception.
  • Alpha Phi has donated over a million hours of volunteer service and raised and contributed over $2.25 million for heart projects since 1946.
  • Alpha Phi is the only organization that has twice received the American Heart Association's highest award, The Heart and Torch Award.
  • The Alpha Phi Foundation was established in 1957.
  • Alpha Phi was the first Fraternity to adopt a plan for supervision of her chapters by visiting officers.
  • Alpha Phi was the first Fraternity to publish a history of her first 50 years.
  • Frances E. Willard, the leader of the temperance movement, was the first alumna initiate. She served as National President of Alpha Phi from 1888-1889.
  • The chapters were named in alphabetical order as they were incorporated, all except Eta chapter at Boston University. They should have been Gamma, or the third, chapter, but incorporated as Eta chapter because they had 7 founding members.