Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity (, also known as APhi) is an international sorority with 172 active chapters and over 250,000 initiated members. Founded at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York on September 18, 1872, it is the fourth Greek-letter organization founded for women, and the first women's fraternity founded in the northeast. Alpha Phi is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the governing council of 26 women's fraternities. Alpha Phi's international headquarters are located in Evanston, Illinois. History At the time of the founding there were only 666 women attending Syracuse; ten of them eventually formed Alpha Phi to create an organization "on the principles of the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among the members." Although the actual founding date is , Alpha Phi has been celebrating their Founders Day on October 10 since 1902, since many colleges and universities were not open for classes in mid-September at that time. Alpha Phi considers itself a women's fraternity because its founding date predates the invention of the word "sorority". Founders Alpha Phi's founding members were: Martha Emily Foote Crow – Martha "Mattie" Foote Crow (1854 – January 1, 1924) was an educator and writer. Born in Sackets Harbor, New York, she played an important role in the development of higher education for women in the United States. Rena A. Michaels Atchison – She served as a professor at several universities. She then served as Dean of Women's College, Northwestern University from 1886 to 1891. Clara Bradley Baker Wheeler Burdette Jane Sara Higham Clara Sittser Williams Florence Chidester Lukens Ida Arabella Gilbert DeLamanter Houghton Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom Gilbert Louise Viola Shepard Hancock Elizabeth Grace Hubbell Shults Symbols Like many other women's fraternities, Alpha Phi recognizes multiple types of symbols, with the Ivy Leaf as their primary symbol. The fraternity's official colors are bordeaux and silver. The colors were originally blue and gold; however, these colors were similar to those of Delta Upsilon Fraternity so they were changed. The official flowers are the Lily of the Valley and the Forget-me-not. Alpha Phi lists its ideals as "Sisterhood, Generosity, Innovation, and Character." Alpha Phi's public motto is "union hand in hand". Badge The Alpha Phi badge is the Greek letter Alpha () resting on the Greek letter Phi (), engraved with the Greek acronym () . It can be customized in silver or gold