The Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Women's Fraternity was founded on February 10 and 11, 1922 on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. However, the 24 founding women were already organized in a secret sorority under the name Tau Alpha Theta, started on May 19, 1920 by Sue Hutchinson, Alice Broadus Clark, and Ruby E.C. Mason.

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The University of Illinois required local organizations to exist for at least a year in order to petition a national fraternity. As it was not guaranteed Tau Alpha Theta would receive encouragement from Alpha Phi to petition, the 24 ladies kept the existence of Tau Alpha Theta secret until receiving the encouragement in 1921. The ladies then petitioned to become a new Alpha Phi chapter; the petition was granted before Christmas in 1921. The Beta Alpha chapter was then installed, and it now holds over 180 active members!