Why this 1872 women's fraternity prefers the term fraternity over sorority
In short: Long before the word 'sorority' entered the common lexicon, a group of women at Syracuse University was already building a sisterhood. Founded in the Northeast in 1872, Alpha Phi holds a unique historical distinction that challenges how we define Greek-letter organizations for women today.
On September 18, 1872, Martha Foote, Clara Sittser, and Kate Hogoboom convened a meeting at Syracuse University to establish a new type of organization. This group, which included ten founding members such as Rena Michaels—the fraternity's first president—intended to promote character growth and social communion. Because their founding predates the invention of the word 'sorority', the organization identifies as a women's fraternity.
The group's early history is marked by a transition from private homes to formal institutions. After meeting in members' residences, they occupied a room above a carpet store on Salina Street for six years, followed by a suite in the Onondaga County Savings Bank Building from 1778 to 1884. A significant milestone occurred in November 1886, when the organization moved into its own chapter house, becoming the first women's Greek organization to own its own property.
While the actual founding occurred in mid-September, the fraternity has celebrated Founders Day on October 10 since 1902, a practical adjustment made because many universities were not yet in session during the original September date. Today, the international organization, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, manages over 270,000 initiated members across 175 active chapters.
The organization's evolution includes significant philanthropic shifts. In 1946, they adopted Cardiac Care as a priority, leading to the 1956 establishment of their Foundation. Since 1993, through the Heart to Heart Grant, they have invested more than $1.4 million in women's heart health initiatives, providing $100,000 grants to medical professionals to study the symptoms and prevention of heart disease in women.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Alpha Phi
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