University of Illinois

Alpha Phi was founded at Syracuse University by ten of the first nineteen women admitted to the newly opened university. These ten women with "brave hearts were filled with a noble purpose and eyes that saw clearly into the future." These were the Original Ten, the Founders of Alpha Phi. Pursing their studies in a thoroughly male-dominated environment, these women had a pressing need for friends who could sympathize with each others problems and support each others aspirations. On September 18th, 1872, these ten women initiated themselves into Alpha Phi.