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Sisterhood Events
Famous Phis
Philanthropy
History
Symbols
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The
Original Ten
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Clara
Bradley Wheeler Baker Burdette |
…lived the longest, most active life of all of the Founders. She was born in
East Bloomfield, New York. A member of Pi Beta Kappa, she graduated in the class
of 1876. She was a writer, lecturer, business woman, philanthropist, a trustee
of Syracuse University, and held many volunteer positions that filled her nearly
ninety-nine years. Clara dedided early on "to give my life to
service. I will do everything that comes to me the very best I know
how." She focused on working for better opportunites for women
and was the only Honorary Preident of Alpha Phi. |
Hattie
Florence Chidester Lukens
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...was born in Utica, New York. She received
her B.S. degree in 1875 at age 21, and her M.S. degree in 1879. Upon graduation
she became an elocutionist and teacher of higher mathematics in the high school
in Bedford, Pennsylvania. She gave numerous readings in fourteen states and
territories. A Syracuse newspaper wrote: "It is a matter of gratification
that a Syracuse lady and graduate of the University has achieved such flattering
success in this difficult department of literary work." Her father's office served as the first chapter room.
The rent was $7.50 a term. Florence was the first Founder to enter the Silent
Chapter. |
Martha
Emily Foote Crow
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...was born at Sacketts Harbor, New York. She received a Ph.D. in English
literature. She taught and wrote, and went abroad to study at Cambridge, Oxford,
and Leipzig. From the beginning of Alpha Phi, she dreamed of an
international Fraternity. Part of the chapter program was literary exercise, and
in one of these essays she wrote: "Now that we have founded the Alpha
Chapter of the Alpha Phi Sorority, is this all there is to do? ... No indeed ...
We have all the Alphabet to go through, and to go through again and again ...
Can we not be a World Society as well as a National One? Yes, there is work
enough for all of us and today is no time to be idle." She was the first National
President of Alpha Phi and was an administrator in education. She was the fourth
Alpha Phi to serve as Dean of Women at Northwestern University, and also a
founder of the American Association of University Women.
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Ida
Arabella Gilbert DeLamanter Houghton |
...was born in Phoenix, New York. She received her B.S. in 1876 and in 1879 she
received an M.S. degree in modern languages. After college, she taught school
and wrote for newspapers and magazines. Ida never entered a room - she breezed in, and
everybody stopped until they heard what she had to say. But although she was
witty and full of fun, she was never unkind. She lived in a mansion on Turtle
Street in Syracuse, and she and her mother arranged the first Alpha Phi banquet
there following initiation. |
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Jane
Sara Higham
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...was
born in Rome, New York. She received her B.A. degree in 1876 and her M.A. degree
in 1879. After college she taught for a short time in Syracuse, then from 1882
to 1892 she taught at the High School in Rome, New York. She then traveled in
Europe for a year. Thereafter, for forty years she taught Latin at the Rome Free
Academy. After
Jane Higham had attended her last Convention, she wrote, "When I think of
the faces of Alpha Phi women, I feel sure that Alpha Phi is big enough and noble
enough to reach out and help others where there is the greatest need." She,
Mattie Foote, and Clara Bradley became members of Phi Beta Kappa. A newspaper
editorial paid her tribute when she retired in 1921: "No teacher has made a
more lasting impression of true culture and refinement of spirit than Miss
Higham, and she has always had the happy faculty of inspiring both friendship
and effort."
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Kate
Elizabeth Hogoboom Gilbert |
...was born in Ovid, New York. She received her B.S. degree in 1875 in the
scientific course at age 20, her M.S. in 1878, and a music degree in 1879. After graduation she studied music in Boston and later
taught at Newark and Ithaca, New York. She possessed an excellent soprano voice
and sang in the choirs of several Syracuse churches. She was very active in many
civic and religious activities of Syracuse. She was gifted also in the field of
debate. She was the first recording secretary of the chapter
and, along with Mattie Foote, wrote the Ritual and the first Constitution.
Her enthusiasm for Alpha Phi was infectious, and she was very popular. She also
became the mother of the first Alpha Phi daughter, Ruth Gilbert Becker, Alpha. |
Elizabeth
Grace Hubbell Shults |
...was born in Rochester, New York. She was a brilliant student who graduated
with marked honor from the Rochester Free Academy at age thirteen. At sixteen
she taught in the Rochester Collegiate Institute, then took a brief preparatory
course in the Genesee Wesleyan Conference Seminary, entering Syracuse University
in the fall of 1872. She graduate with honors from the four year classical
course, displaying unusual ability in Latin, mathematics, and political science. She was 22 years old when Alpha Phi was founded, and
the only one old enough to sign the legal documents. She was an excellent debater, and one of the first
exercises of the chapter was a debate, which she and Mattie Foote won on the
topic: "Resolved: That women have their rights." |
Rena
A. Michaels Atchison |
...was the first president of Alpha Phi, and the Michaelanean Society derives
its name from hers. The Michaelanean Society still exists as a corporation and
owns the Alpha Phi Syracuse chapter house. She was in the class of 1874, engaged
in the study of the classics and literary work, which she continued to study
from 1874 to 1877. She received her M.S. degree in 1879 and her Ph.D. in history
in 1880. She was a professor of modern languages and preceptress
at Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa; she later held these same positions at
Albion College, Albion, Michigan from 1882-85. She was also a professor of Spanish and Italian
languages and literature and preceptress at DePauw University, and then Dean of
Women's College, Northwestern University from 1886-1891. She was an admirer of
Frances Willard and became a lecturer for the Women's Christian Temperance
Union. |
Louise
Viola Shepard Hancock |
...was an inseparable friend of Jane Higham. Born in Rome, New York, she
attended Rome Free Academy with Jane, and together they entered Syracuse
University. Louise and Jane remained the closest friends till Louise's death,
and Louise's children called her "Aunt Janie." She was in the class of
1876 and received a master's degree two years later. She had a vivid imagination and keen sense of humor.
Throughout her life she made literary contributions to various papers and
envisioned many of the privileges which have come to women today. Clara Bradley
said Louise "always wanted the last word, and got it. She was a real
contender for high and noble things." |
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Clara Sittser Williams
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...was born in Weedsport, New York. She was the only Founder not to graduate
from the University, leaving in 1874. Her course had been Latin-scientific. She
had taught school for a time. Clara was the only farmer's daughter among the
Original Ten. The first Alpha Phi meeting was held in her room. |
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