Alpha Phi - Iota Iota Chapter at The George Washington University

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History

Alpha Phi was founded on October 10, 1872 at Syracuse University by ten outstanding women. Our founding sisters, ten of the first twenty women admitted to Syracuse, are Clara Bradley Wheeler Baker Burdette, Hattie Florence Chidester Lukens, Martha Emily Foote Crow, Ida Arabella Gilbert DeLamanter Houghton, Jane Sara Higham, Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom Gilbert, Elizabeth Grace Hubbell Shults, Rena A. Michaels Atchison, Louise Viola Shepard Hancock, Clara Sittser Williams. Their leadership and guidance allowed our sisterhood to grow to include over 150 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. Our original ten founders were brave and strong women who saw a need for a social center, a place of conference, a tie that should unite a circle of friends who could sympathize with one another in their perplexities. Out of this need, they created Alpha Phi.

Today, Alpha Phi continues to provide a "tie which unites, a circle of friends" for women young and old all around the world.

The 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."

Alpha Phi Firsts

Called the world's first inter-sorority meeting, a group that later became the National Panhellenic Conference
Alpha Phi built the world's first sorority house on the campus of Syracuse University in 1872.
Alpha Phi was the first sorority to use traveling delegates to monitor chapters. These women are now known as Educational Leadership Consultants and District Governors.
Alpha Phi was the first women's society to use Greek letters as an emblem.
Alpha Phi was the first sorority to establish a foundation.
Alpha Phi was the first NPC group to establish a presence on the World Wide Web.
Alpha Phi was the first sorority to publish a book-length history.

Alpha Phi Facts

Alpha Phi is the third largest women's sorority, with 150 chapters in the US and Canada.
Alpha Phi was founded in 1872 by 10 of the first 20 women to enter Syracuse University.
Alpha Phi is the fourth oldest national women's sorority.
Alpha Phi is one of only three international sororities.
Three of the original 10 became members of Phi Beta Kappa
Three of our founders were listed in Who's Who of America: Clara Bradley Burdette, Martha Foote Crow, and Rena Michaels Atchison.
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.
Alpha Phi's Creed was written in 1912 by Annette Hall Hitchcock.
Alpha Phi's official pin was adopted in 1908.
Alpha Phi's official crest was adopted in 1922.
Alpha Phi's original colors were blue and gold.
The Alpha Phi Foundation was established in 1957.
Alpha Phi chapters are named in alphabetical order as they are incorporated
Alpha Phi is called the first inter-sorority conference of the original nine sororities. This resulted in the creation of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), which still exists today.
Alpha Phi is a true "international" sorority. It has maintained the longest continuous presence in Canada of any sorority. The Xi chapter was established at the University of Toronto in 1906.
Alpha Phi has over 175 active alumnae chapters.

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