Collection inventory

---

---

Alpha Phi (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection

An inventory of its collection at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Maggie Teschler
Date: 2016

Revision history:
December 2019	Revised to match style guide (NAW)
June 2023	Memorabilia added (SS)

Historical Note

The Alpha Phi International Fraternity is a sorority that was founded at Syracuse University in 1872. It was founded by Clara Bradley, Florence Chidester, Martha Foote, Ida Gilbert, Jane Higham, Kate Hogoboom, Grace Hubbell, Rena Michaels, Louise Shepard, and Clara Sittser, who are often referred to as the "original ten." The sorority was formed in order to create a social and intellectual group of women in solidarity during the early years of the University.

The organization was not initially recognized as a Greek letter society and was instead called the Michaelanean Society, a name honoring Rena Michaels, the first president of the society. Meetings were initially held secretly in the rooms of the sorority's various members, but they quickly moved to an office space on South Salina Street. During this time the first Alpha Phi publication was also established, the Alpha Phi Literary Cabinet. The publication was a quarterly journal that was handwritten and included contributions from members of the organization.

In January of 1873, the charter for incorporation was finally signed and Alpha Phi became the fourth national sorority in the United States and the Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi. In 1874 their incorporation approval was granted and the sorority began looking for more permanent space for their headquarters. Meetings were held in a room in the Onondaga County Savings Bank from 1879 until 1884, when Alpha Phi rented a full house on 613 Irving Street for the purposes of both meeting and residency. In 1886 the sorority bought and built its own house at 207 University Place, which became the first house for a women's Greek letter organization in the nation. In 1887 Alpha Phi's document of incorporation was finally recorded into the New York State Archives and the sorority's second publication, Alpha Phi Quarterly, was established in 1888. In 1910 Alpha Phi sold their house to Syracuse University and moved to 308 Walnut Place, where the sorority is located today. The Alpha Phi Foundation was established in 1956. It was a philanthropic trust with the goal of awarding grants specifically for scholarship and cardiac aid. The foundation is still a part of the sorority today.

In 1962 the sorority's original house at 207 University Place was torn down to make way for the building of Newhouse. The University helped Alpha Phi to make commemorative gavels out of the cherry and birch wood from the original staircase of the house. The gavels were given to all of the chapters in the United States and Canada.

Scope and Content

The Alpha Phi (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection contains material from 1879 to 1986 and is divided into four series:

The Correspondence and Notes Series consists of letters between sorority members, meeting notes, and short creative writings.

The Event Material Series contains information regarding Alpha Phi's bronze tablet on the Hall of Languages, various invitations, and miscellaneous banquet materials.

The Publications Series mainly comprises the Alpha Phi Literary Cabinet and also includes the Alpha Phi Quarterly, a directory, and other collections of writings. As the nature of the Alpha Phi Literary Cabinet is handwritten, it is difficult to conclude which collections of writings are published versions or drafts. Best efforts have been taken to determine which collections are final versions.

The Memorabiliaseries consists of a piece of bannister made from the staircase of the first Alpha Phi sorority house.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The University Archives holdsa clipping file for Alpha Phi and its house and photographs related to the sorority can be found in the Syracuse University Photograph Collection.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Alpha Phi.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Greek letter societies.
Student activities.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Alumni directories.
Correspondence.
Invitations.
Journals (periodicals)
Memorabilia.
Quarterlies (publications)
Songbooks.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Alpha Phi (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated to the University Archives by James W. Harrison in 2002, the Nottingham Loveland family in 2004, Ruth Stafford Peale in 2007, and Marcia Thompson Caldwell in 2022.

Processing Information

Materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement

Collection materials are arranged alphabetically within each series.

Table of Contents

Correspondence and notes

Event material

Publications

Inventory