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 page contains a biographical sketch and photograph of Clara Bradley, as well as a poem she wrote about her love of Alpha Phi.
Collection: Delta Mu Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date:
This page contains information about the founding of Alpha Phi and includes a reproduction of the incorporation papers of the Michaelanean Society.
Collection: Delta Mu Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date:
This magazine clipping features a group photograph of current Alpha Chapter members and a photograph of the Alpha Chapter house. The clipping also includes a member list for Gamma Phi Beta's Syracuse University chapter.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date:
This booklet features eight original Alpha Phi poems written by members of Alpha and Delta Chapters.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: 1890 - 1899
This article describes Alpha Chapter's recent 1896 Reunion.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Feb 22nd, 1896
This newspaper announces the establishment of the Alpha Phi Foundation.
Collection: Beta Epsilon Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date:
This page contains three newspaper clippings highlighting the large new member class of Beta Epsilon Chapter.
Collection: Beta Epsilon Chapter Scrapbook Collection
Date: 1988
This CD, created by the Alpha Phi Centennial Committee to raise money for the Centennial Scholarship Fund, features several original Alpha Phi songs and a message from International President Betty Mullins Jones.
Collection: Audio-Visual Collection
Date: 1872 - 1972
This record, created by the Alpha Phi Centennial Committee to raise money for the Centennial Scholarship Fund, features several original Alpha Phi songs and a message from International President Betty Mullins Jones.
Collection: Audio-Visual Collection
Date: 1872 - 1972
This audio reel tells the story of Alpha Phi through several testimonies from alumnae members, including Judith Schmidt Mead, Julee Rosso, Mabel Cooper Lamb, and past International President Betty Mullins Jones.
Collection: Audio-Visual Collection
Date: Oct 27th, 1987
This songbook, created for the 1926 Convention, features the lyrics to 33 Alpha Phi songs largely written by Eta and Alpha Chapter members.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Jun 21st, 1926 - Jun 26th, 1926
Members of Alpha Chapter stand in front of the chapter house in Syracuse, New York. This is a photocopy of the original photograph.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: May 31st, 1927
Collection: Archive Collection
Date:
This report summarizes two projects that created keepsakes from the original Alpha Chapter house: gavels and bookends from the staircase. A drawing of the gavels is included with the report. This report is an enclosure to a letter from Ella Brewer.
Collection: Object Collection
Date: Feb 7th, 1970
This press release discusses the new Alpha Phi Executive Office on Foster Street in Evanston, Illinois, and plans for the grand opening reception.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: Apr 26th, 1957
This video advertises the new Campaign for Alpha Phi, a fundraising effort to bolster the Fraternity's programming budget. The video includes several testimonies from alumnae members, including Judith Schmidt Mead, Julee Rosso, Mabel Cooper Lamb, and Past International President Betty Mullins Jones.
Collection: Audio-Visual Collection
Date: Dec 1st, 1988
This cassette tape from a Founders' Day celebration held by Delta Xi Chapter features descriptions of the Founders and their creation of Alpha Phi.
Collection: Audio-Visual Collection
Date:
This scrapbook, designed as an example for Chapters looking to make their own history scrapbook, features essays and photographs outlining the founding of Alpha Phi, describing its founders, and highlighting the Fraternity's early "firsts."
Collection: Archive Collection
Date:
This page features photocopied incorporation papers for the Michaelanean Society.
Collection: Archive Collection
Date:
This page features the beginning of an essay titled "The Story of the Birth of Alpha Phi and the Early Placed of Meeting." You can find the end of the essay on "Alpha Phi: Memorabilia Scrapbook, Page 12."
Collection: Archive Collection
Date: