A Remarkable History

Alpha Phi was — and still is — a trailblazing organization. Just consider these facts...

• Alpha Phi is the third largest women's sorority with 150 chapters/colonies in the US and Canada and the sorority with the most chapters in one the state [California]
• 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 called a "fraternity" because it was founded before the word "sorority" was invented.
• Alpha Phi is one of only three international sororities.
• 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.
• 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'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.
• The Alpha Phi Foundation was established in 1957.
• Alpha Phi is the only organization that has twice received the American Heart Association's highest award, The Heart and Torch Award.
• 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.