history
Our Founders: Brave hearts filled with a noble purpose whose eyes saw clearly into the future
At a time when society looked upon women only as daughters, wives, and mothers and therefore not in need of higher education, our ten founders were pioneers of the coeducational system. Attending school with the handicap of implied, if not open, opposition, our founders sought support from each other.
There was a need for a social center, a place of conference, a tie which should unite, a circle of friends who could sympathize with one another in their perplexities. They formed Alpha Phi in 1872 at Syracuse University.
Today, Alpha Phi continues to provide a "tie which unites, a circle of friends" for women young and old all around the world. From hand to hand and heart to heart, we are all grateful and proud of the legacy left to us by our founders.
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.
-Constitution of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, Incorporated, Article II
Alpha Phi Firsts
- The sisters of Alpha Phi called the world's first inter-sorority meeting, a group which 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 sorority to use Greek letters as an emblem.
- Alpha Phi was the first sorority to establish it's own foundation.
- Alpha Phi was the first National Panhellenic Conference group to establish a presence on the World Wide Web.
- Alpha Phi was the first sorority to publish a book-length history.
Famous Alpha Phi's
Kimberly Williams - Beta ~ Northwestern - Actress
Movie Credits: Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride: Part 2, and Indian Summer
Stage Credits: Vagina Monologues
Television Credits: "Relativity", "The 10th Kingdom" miniseries, and Hallmark commercials, as well as ABC's "According to Jim".
Jeri Ryan - Beta ~ Northwestern - Actress Played Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager". She joins the cast of "Boston Public" this fall. Other television credits include "Melrose Place", "Matlock", and "Dark Skies". Films include Men Cry Bullets, The Last Man, Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000, and a cameo in Disney's The Kid.
Maile Misajon - Beta Delta ~University of California, Los Angeles - Singer and Actress Featured in female pop group Eden's Crush and on the "Popstars" television series, as well as several commercials. Her albums include Popstars, featuring the hit single "Get Over Yourself".
Lynn Robinson Woolsey - Sigma ~ Washington - Politician Member of the United States House of Representatives. Elected to her fifth term for the Sixth Congressional District of California (since 1992). Her website is www.house.gov/woolsey. Susie Maxwell Berning - Delta Delta ~ Oklahoma City - Golfer Three time winner of the Women's U.S. Open who has been inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Randy Mayem Singer - Lambda ~ University of California, Berkeley - Writer and producer Wrote screenplay for Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). Television credits: writer and producer of "Hudson Street" (1995) and creator and executive producer of "Jack & Jill" (1999-2000).