Alpha Phi was founded on October 10, 1872 at Syracuse University by ten of the first nineteen women admitted to the newly opened university. Our founders were women with brave hearts that were filled with a noble purpose and with eyes that saw clearly into the future. These were the Original Ten, the Founders of Alpha Phi. Pursuing their studies in a thoroughly male-dominated environment, these women had a pressing need for friends who could sympathize with each other's problems and support each other's aspirations. On September 18, 1972, these then women initiated themselves into Alpha Phi. In our 135 years of sisterhood, we have grown to include over 150 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Our Purpose

The objectives of our Fraternity are the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among our members. In all that we do, we try to obey God's principles of justice and right. We have banded ourselves together to improve our minds and hearts, and we seek to aid each other through a constant WatchCare always given in love. We believe ourselves to be sincere searchers for truth We seek the highest ideal of womanhood, and we try to gain this ideal by cultivating not only the power and passion for seeking intellectual development but, also, the spirit of love and charity. And we who are thus united are under a solemn pledge to lend a helping hand to one another.

Why Are We a "Fraternity"?

Before women's organizations existed, men's organizations took on the name "fraternity," meaning "brotherhood." When the first women's society developed, they took on the same term because there was no other. The term "sorority" was coined later after the Latin work "soror," which means "sister." The term"fraternity" was kept, although the term "sorority" is also used.

• I believe in my fraternity.
• I believe in its friendships formed in the springtime of my youth.
• I believe in its high ideal, which lift me up beyond myself.
• I believe in its earnest drive for good scholarship, moral character and genuine culture.
• I believe in it as a shire of international sisterhood wherein I may find love and loyalty, sympathy and understanding, inspiration and opportunity.
• I believe in it as a creator of good citizenship, helping me to do my work well, to live in harmony with others and to serve my country and to trust in God.
• I believe my my fraternity.
• I believe in Alpha Phi

- Annette Holt Hitchcock, Pi, 1912

• Alpha Phi was installed at San Diego State University in 1949.
• In 1959, Alpha Phi was the first sorority to build a chapter house on San Diego State University’s campus.
• The house was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright’s personally chosen apprentice, Sim Bruce Richards.
• The design was inspired by romantic fairytales such as Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. Sim Bruce Richards wanted the house to feel like a fairytale cottage, built for a society of princesses.
• Jim Hubble, who is well known for his work at the Triton Restaurants and The Onion, built the brickwork, front door, and wrought iron in the doorway and throughout the house. He built this for us “labor-free” because his wife is an Alpha Phi.
• All of the rooms are two girl rooms, except for the Rotation Room, which houses four girls. Originally, the Rotation Room was designed for the pledges to live in the house for a week (they “rotated” in).
• In the original house, only the Pledge Wing existed and only 14 girls were able to live in. Since then, the Senior Wing and Lower Wing have been added, currently allowing 40 girls to live in the house.

Fun Facts

• Alpha Phi is an international organization with several chapters in Canada.
• We pronounce Phi (Phee) because it is the preferred Greek pronunciation of the Phi following a vowel.
• Symbol of Alpha Phi: Ivy Leaf
• Alpha Phi Mascot: Phi Bear (named after Ursa Major the Great Bear)
• Alpha Phi Flowers: Forget-Me-Not and Lily of the Valley
• Alpha Phi Colors: Silver and Bordeaux
• Alpha Phi Magazine: the Alpha Phi Quarterly

• Alpha Phi was the first women's fraternity to occupy a chapter house in 1886 at Syracuse University, New York; Alpha chapter built the first sorority house in America.
• Alpha Phi, in 1902, called an inter-sorority meeting, which resulted in the founding of what is now the National Panhellenic Conference.
• Alpha Phi was the first sorority to publish a book-length history in 1902.
• Alpha Phi was the first fraternity to have a visiting delegate-forerunner of the present day field representatives and district offices.
• Alpha Phi was the first women's fraternity to use Greek Letters as it's emblem and badge.