Alpha Phi

Alpha Phi (ΑΦ) is a fraternity for women founded at Syracuse University on September 30, 1872. It was the fourth Greek letter organization founded for women.

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 watch care 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.

- Constitution of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, Incorporated, Article II

History

At the time of the founding there were only twenty women attending Syracuse; ten of them eventually joined in the formation of Alpha Phi. The organization was founded on the principles of the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among the members.

Founders

Alpha Phi's founding members were:

Martha Foote Crowe
Rena Michaels Atchison
Clara Bradley Burdette
Jane Sara Higham
Florence Chidester Lukens
Ida Gilbert Houghton
Clara Sittser Williams
Kate Hogoboom Gilbert
Louise Shepard Hancock
Elizabeth Hubbell Shults

Three of the "Original 10" became members of Phi Beta Kappa. Three were also listed in Who's Who of America.

Firsts and Facts

In 1886, Alpha Phi became the first women's fraternity in America to build and occupy its own chapter house at Syracuse University.
In 1888, the Alpha Phi Quarterly, an award-winning magazine, was established and has been published continuously to the present day.
In 1894, Alpha Phi became the first women's fraternity to use "traveling delegates," now known as Educational Leadership Consultants.
In 1902, Alpha Phi called the inter-sorority meeting that resulted in the formation of the association now known as the National Panhellenic Conference, which then included Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, and Delta Delta Delta. This was the first intergroup organization on college campuses.
In 1905, Frances Willard was recognized by the U.S. Congress who placed a statue of her in Statuary Hall in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, the first woman to be so recognized.
In 1906, became an "International" fraternity when Xi chapter was chartered at the University of Toronto. Alpha Phi's Xi chapter is the oldest continuously active chapter in Canada. The organization is 'Celebrating 100 Years in Canada' in 2006.
In 1940, Frances Willard was portrayed on a U.S. postage stamp.
In 1957, Alpha Phi became the first women's fraternity to establish a Foundation.
In 1995, Alpha Phi became the first NPC international/national member to have a site on the World Wide Web.

Alpha Phi is pronounced Alpha "fee" (long "e") not "fie," because "Alpha" is a vowel and "Phi" is pronounced "fee" when it follows a vowel and there is no consonant after it.
Alpha Phi is the third largest sorority in number of active chapters.
Alpha Phi is the fourth oldest national women's sorority.
Alpha Phi is a member of the Syracuse Triad along with Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Gamma Delta.
Alpha Phi Headquarters is located in Evanston, Illinois along with the headquarters for Sigma Chi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternities.

Alpha Phi Creed

I believe in my Fraternity.

I believe in the friendships formed in the springtime of my youth.

I believe in its high ideals 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 shrine 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 in my Fraternity. I believe in Alpha Phi.

- Annette Holt Hitchcock, Pi 1912

Notable alumnae

For a full list of notable Alpha Phi alumnae please visit here. ^*

Nancy Austin (Beta Delta) - management consultant and author of The Assertive Woman.
Susie Berning (Delta Delta) - American professional golfer.
Liz Carpenter (Omega) — press secretary for Lady Bird Johnson
Mildred Dunnock Urmy (Zeta) - Academy Award nominated film and stage actress.
Margaret McNamara (Lambda) - founder of Reading is Fundamental
Maile Misajon (Beta Delta) - winner of the U.S. reality television series Popstars.
Georgia Neese Clark Gray (Upsilon) - first woman Treasurer of the United States.
Eliza Orlins (Alpha) - contestant on on the U.S. reality television series Vanuatu.
Edris Rice-Wray Carson (Delta) - public health doctor.
Jeri Ryan (Beta) - actress (Boston Public, Voyager, Shark).
Jodie Sweetin (Eta Upsilon) - actress (Full House).
Inga Swenson Harris (Beta) - Tony Award nominated actress (The Miracle Worker, Benson).
Barbara Brooks Wallace (Beta Delta) - award-winning children's author
Frances Willard (Alpha Lambda) - fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Kimberly Williams Paisley (Beta) - actress (Father of the Bride, According to Jim, We Are Marshall).
Lynn Woolsey (Sigma) - Member of the United States House of Representatives.

Chapters

Alpha Phi's first 24 chapters:

Alpha - Syracuse University
Beta – Northwestern University
Gamma – DePauw University
Delta – Cornell University
Epsilon – University of Minnesota
Zeta – Goucher College inactive
Eta deuteron – Boston University
Theta – University of Michigan
Iota – University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kappa deuteron – Stanford University inactive
Lambda – University of California at Berkeley
Mu – Barnard College inactive
Nu – University of Nebraska
Xi – University of Toronto
Omicron – University of Missouri
Pi – University of North Dakota
Rho – Ohio State University
Sigma – University of Washington
Tau – University of Oregon
Upsilon – Washburn University
Phi – University of Oklahoma
Chi – University of Montana
Psi – University of South Dakota
Omega – University of Texas

Philanthropy

In 1946, Alpha Phi adopted Cardiac Care and Research as their international philanthropic cause. Since 1946, Alpha Phi has donated more than $1 million to support cardiac health initiatives.

One of the Alpha Phi Foundation's programs is the Cardiac Care Award which helps to fund research and educational programs that support women's cardiac health by awarding up to a $50,000 grant to an organization making a significant contribution to Cardiac Care.

Past recipients of the Cardiac Care Award

1993 - Program in Women’s Cardiovascular Health - University Hospitals of Cleveland - sponsored by the Cleveland East Alumnae chapter
1994 - Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cardiovascular Division - sponsored by the Zeta Phi Chapter, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1995 - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, formerly the Deaconess Hospital, Institute for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease - sponsored by the Zeta Phi Chapter, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1997 - Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation’s “Women’s Heart Night Out” - sponsored by the Albuquerque Alumnae Chapter
1998 - Egleston Children’s Hospital’s Sibley Heart Center - sponsored by the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter and Theta Pi Chapter, Emory University
1999 - California Pacific Medical Center/Transitional Cardiac Care Unit - sponsored by the San Francisco Alumnae Chapter
2000 - University of Cincinnati Women’s Health Program - sponsored by the Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter
2001 - Allen Memorial Hospital - sponsored by the Epsilon Theta Chapter, University of Northern Iowa
2002 and 2003 - Mercy Medical Center of Northern Iowa sponsored by Kaitlin Maguire (Gamma Omicron, Drake University)
2004 - Mainline Health Heart Center
2005 - Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Many local collegiate and alumnae chapters are supporters of and participants in the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women campaign.

External links

1872 establishments | National Panhellenic Conference | United States student societies | Honor societies

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Alpha Phi