First Panhellenic Meeting Exhibit Your journey now leads to the First Panhellenic Meeting Exhibit, a space that honors the Fraternity’s role in shaping interfraternal history. In 1902, Alpha Phi's International President Margaret Mason Whitney (Theta-Michigan) made history by calling the first meeting of sorority representatives. This groundbreaking gathering led to the formation of the NPC — the first intergroup organization on college campuses. The founding members included Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Delta Delta Delta. This exhibit showcases a digitized replica of Whitney's original letter alongside photographs of the three Alpha Phi women who later served as NPC Chair: Cora Allen McElroy (Beta-Northwestern), Margaret Coshun Hutchinson (Psi- South Dakota) and Sally McCall Grant (Gamma-DePauw). Also displayed is Sally's distinctive NPC Chair badge, a one-of-a-kind gift from Alpha Phi.
First House Exhibit From the pages of our publications, we move into the First House Exhibit, where Alpha Phi’s early sisters brought thier vision of home and community to life. In spring 1884, Alpha Chapter sisters proudly began renting the very first chapter house at 613 Irving Street, with just eight sisters living there. At the time, the early members said, “Their hearts turned not to love, but to lots,” and in 1886, they purchased the future site of the first first sorority chapter house in the United States. The 56-by-178-foot lot was purchased for $25/foot. Funding the house was no small feat: a bank loan of $2,500 on a first mortgage, a $2,700 loan from an Alpha Phi father on a second mortgage and gifts and pledges from the women, alumnae, parents and friends made it all possible. The fact they accomplished this in the late 1800s — decades before women gained the federal right to open their own bank account in 1974 — is astounding, a true testament to the vision and persistence of Alpha Phis. In May 1886, the sisters picked the perfect site. They designed the house’s floor plan, laid the cornerstone in June and by October, members moved in. The New York Times reported on the event: “This is believed to be the first chapter house built for women.” This exhibit features photographs of the first house, original drawings and illustrations, newspaper clippings, essays recounting how the house came to be and meeting minutes from when they decided to sell the house to Syracuse University in 1910. Some of our most cherished pieces in this display were saved before the house was demolished. In 1962, when the University tore down the building, they gifted the Fraternity the magnificent stained-glass windows and other objects from the structure. This includes a piece of the original banister displayed here, as well as one of the commemorative gavels. The university crafted these gavels from the original staircase and presented one to each collegiate chapter.
First Endowment Fund Exhibit
This special section of the museum highlights the First Endowment Fund. By the 50th anniversary of our founding, the Fraternity had accumulated a $50,000 endowment fund — the first women's fraternity endowment fund to reach this milestone. These efforts were led by Cora Allen McElroy (Beta- Northwestern), who noted that “the ever-increasing Endowment Fund will give Alpha Phi opportunities for greater educational service.” This exhibit spotlights several of the Quarterly’s humorously direct ads for the Endowment Fund, as well as articles and features celebrating the achievement of surpassing the goal.
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