The Beginning
Standing between Heritage Hall and the Boardroom is the Dianne Spry Straker (Delta Alpha-East Carolina) The Beginning exhibit — an 18-foot, floor-to-ceiling glass display that brings Alpha Phi’s history to life, showcasing treasured early materials and sharing the stories of the Original Ten and our first chapters. Alpha Phi’s uniqueness is rooted in the spirit of innovation that began with our 10 Founders in 1872. As the first female students on campus, they were not content with simply participating in the classroom. Denied admission to the men’s fraternities, they chose to create their own fraternity for women. Every Alpha Phi who has followed in their footsteps is indebted to their vision and determination.
Ten, along with their recollections of Alpha Phi’s founding. Two rare group photos featuring nine of the Founders are displayed here, as well as some of the earliest meeting minutes. In their quest for formal recognition, the Founders sought a charter from the state of New York but were denied as a “Greek Letter organization.” Instead, they incorporated as a literary society under the name Michaelanean Society, honoring Alpha Phi’s first president, Rena Michaels. A certificate of incorporation, recorded January 25, 1887, in Onondaga County, is displayed here. Flanking the case are two remarkable artifacts: a reproduction of Clara Bradley Baker Wheeler Burdette’s dress and a hand-carved chair from our Zeta Chapter at Goucher College.
The exhibit highlights biographies of each of the Original
27
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software