Alpha Phi is a sisterhood of outstanding women supporting one another in lifelong achievement. The sisterhood of Alpha Phi stretches from coast to coast, with over 160 collegiate campuses and more than 200,000 members. Sisters share a commitment to excellence and a strong desire to help one another and their communities. Alpha Phis are leaders, scholars, contributors, and lifetime members of a sisterhood that values these traits. Alpha Phi assists college women in making informed choices to reach their highest potential. Alpha Phi enhances and promotes each member's development and learning by focusing on sisterhood, service, scholarship, leadership, loyalty, and character development.
All About Alpha Phi
FRATERNITY FOUNDED — 1872
ZETA DELTA CHAPTER FOUNDED — 2015
MOTTO — Union Hand in Hand
COLORS — Silver + Bordeaux
FLOWERS — Lily of the Valley + Forget-Me-Not
SYMBOL — Ivy Leaf
MASCOT — Phi Bear
PHILANTHROPY — The Alpha Phi Foundation in support of women's heart health
Alpha Phi- Zeta Delta Values
Character.
Alpha Phi fosters the qualities of strong character. Compassion, integrity, and sincerity are excellent definitions of these qualities. In Alpha Phi, all members lead by example but also work together as a sisterhood. Alpha Phi sets expectations high for ourselves and each other.
Innovation.
Since our founding, innovation has been one of the cornerstones of Alpha Phi and of our leaders. Alpha Phis work hard to enact positive change.
Generosity.
Alpha Phi demonstrates the philanthropic spirit of love and charity. Women are empowered to make an impact in their community. As a sisterhood, we are passionate about serving and supporting those in need.
Sisterhood.
Alpha Phi cherishes life-long friendships rooted in kindness, love, and respect for one another. We believe in “watch-care” - a tenet of our sisterhood, which encourages support of one another through the good times and the bad weather we are helping one another with academics or providing much-needed support during a rough time.
“The objects 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 in 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, Inc., Article II.
Our Founders.
Florence Chidester Lukens.
Received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1875 and a Master of Science degree in 1879.
Became an elocutionist and teacher of higher mathematics.
For $7.50 a term, the Alpha Phi sisters rented her dad’s office for their chapter meetings.
Jane Higham.
Received a Bachelor’s of Art and a master’s degree.
Traveled abroad and worked as a classics scholar for 44 years.
“When I think of the faces of Alpha Phi women, I feel sure Alpha Phi is big enough and noble enough to reach out and help others where there is the greatest need”.
Clara Bradley Burdette.
Lived the longest of all the founders - nearly 99 years old!
Main focus in life was working for better opportunities for women .
Was a writer, business woman, lecturer, philanthropist, and trustee of Syracuse University.
Established the first ever Alpha Phi Foundation scholarship.
Martha Foote Crow.
Earned a master’s degree and doctorate degree in English Literature.
Held several academic positions including assistant professor.
First national president of Alpha Phi.
Donated her engagement ring to launch Martha Foote Crow Foundation for Alpha Phi.
Elizabeth Hubbell Shults.
She was a brilliant student, graduating with honors and teaching at the age of 16.
Only one old enough, at age 22, of the Original Ten to sign the legal documents incorporating the society in the state of New York.
Kate Hogoboom Gilbert.
Was first recording secretary for Alpha Phi.
Her enthusiasm for Alpha Phi was infectious and she was very popular.
Together with Martha, she wrote the first draft of the Alpha Phi constitution.
Her daughter, Ruth Gilbert Becker was the first Alpha Phi legacy, initiated in 1901.
Ida Gilbert Houghton.
Youngest of the Original Ten.
Received a Bachelor of Science degree and master’s degree in modern languages.
With her mother, they organized the first Alpha Phi banquet following initiation at their home.
Clara Sitsser Williams.
First Alpha Phi meeting was held in her room.
Gave her Alpha Phi badge to a “Mr. Lombard” and was reprimanded for it. This caused a new bylaw to be made that said anyone not a member of Alpha Phi, cannot hold the badge.
Louise Shephard Hancock.
Rena A. Michaels Atchison.
Served as the first president of the chapter.
She earned three degrees from Syracuse University.
Was a professor at Upper Iowa University.
Was active in suffrage movement.
Our Story.
Formed Alpha Phi in 1872 at Syracuse University.
Wanted an equal opportunity for intelligent women to gather in clubs like the men had.
Women going to college was taboo.
Founded before the word sorority which is why our official title is Alpha Phi Fraternity Int.
Our History.
We are the Zeta Delta chapter of Alpha Phi.
Initially established in 1977.
Reestablished in 2015!