Founded: 1872
Location: Syracuse University
Flower: Lily of the Valley & blue and gold Forget-Me-Not
Colors: Silver and Bordeaux
Philanthropy: Cardiac Care & Research
Local Collegiate Chapters: Cal Poly, Chapman, CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge, CSU San Bernardino, Pepperdine, San Diego State, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, USC, University of the Pacific
Local Alumnae Chapters: Inland Empire, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County Ivy Connection, Palos Verdes/South Bay, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara, South Coast/Orange County
Representative to Glendale Area Panhellenic: Tori Ann Orfalea
Joined National Panhellenic: 1902
Symbols
The Badge: The official badge of Alpha Phi is an unjeweled monogram of gold showing the symbol of Alpha superimposed upon the symbol of Phi. Inscribed in black on the symbol Phi are the letters a, o, e. The meaning of these letters is reserved for the initiation ceremony. You may also wear a jeweled version of the badge set with white stones. The badge may be worn as a pin, upon a bracelet or mounted as a ring. Alpha Phi was the first women’s organization to use Greek letters as an emblem. Originally there was no standard badge. Until 1906 when the current badge was adopted, each member went to the jeweler of her choice to have her pin designed. Most chose similar designs using the “lazy Phi,” a Phi symbol turned on its side. You can see many of these unique pins in the Ruth Himmelman Wright Heritage Hall at the Executive Office in Evanston, Illinois.
The Fraternity Crest is the Alpha Phi coat-of-arms, adopted by Convention delegates in 1922. The shield is Bordeaux with a scroll and ivy leaf above it. Inscribed on the scroll is the public motto, Union hand in hand. A bar of silver crosses the shield from left to right; the upper half of the shield contains a Roman lamp in silver and the lower half, Ursa Major. The meaning of the symbols depicted on the crest is a significant part of the ritual witnessed at initiation. The use of the Fraternity crest is reserved for jewelry, sportswear and other Fraternity equipment befitting the dignity and honor of Alpha Phi’s heritage.