Seven Sisters, One Goal
Alpha Epsilon Phi was first established at Barnard College, in New York City on October 24, 1909. The first official meeting was held in one of the original founding sister's dorm rooms. This is where Alpha Epsilon Phi was created. In the first ten years, there were eight Alpha Epsilon Phi's at Universities around the country. The seven founding sisters included seven Jewish women; Helen Phillips Lipman, Ida Beck Carlin, Rose Gerstein Smolin, Augustina "Tina" Hess Solomon, Lee Reiss Leibert, Rose Salmowitz Marvin, and Stella Strauss Sinsheimer. Tina Hess Solomon, who was the original founder said this following statement in 1934 about the reasons for starting AEPhi: "We wanted a group of girls chosen not because of any special scholastic preeminence, financial circumstances or other arbitrary standards but a group who had common interests and were dominated by the ideals of true friendship." For this reason, AEPhi is a sorority whose purpose is to welcome people of all backgrounds, regardless of their race, religion or social status.
"It was her [Helen Phillips] idea and her persistence more than anything else that brought Alpha Epsilon Phi into existence," one founder wrote. "I sometimes think that some of those ties were more necessary to Helen than to the others in this group because Helen had no mother and no sisters or brothers, and to her a group of adopted sisters was more of a need and had more significance."
The dream that was born in a dorm room at Barnard College in 1909 continues to succeed, prosper, and thrive in 97 college and university campuses nationwide. Alpha Epsilon Phi includes the Nu Chapter here at Pitt, which was founded on May 5, 1920. We strive to welcome new members with open arms each year and seeks not only to live up to the ideals and goals of its original founders, but also to exceed them. As a devoted sorority, we abide by our mission; "The mission of Alpha Epsilon Phi is to inspire and support exemplary women dedicated to friendship and a lifelong commitment to Alpha Epsilon Phi while building on the vision of our Jewish founders."
Above All Else...
Our Core Values:
Above all else, Alpha Epsilon Phi inspires exemplary women who are:
Enriched by sisterhood and unconditional friendships,
Dedicated to selfless service and inspiring others, and
Committed to intellectual growth and personal development.
As a lifelong member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, I will:
Respect our shared heritage and traditions,
Exhibit high ideals and moral character,
Fulfill expectations and responsibilities of membership, and
Continually exemplify the values of beauty, strength and wisdom
as embodied by the three columns of our insignia.
Phi Phacts!
Flower: Lily of the Valley
Mascot: Giraffe
Colors: Green and White
Gem: Pearl
Badge: Α, Ε & Φ upon a thin gold bar decorated with 27 pearls.
Crest and Logo: The three columns Α, Ε & Φ stand for faculty approval, student esteem and sorority fidelity.
Tag Line: Above All Else
Open Motto: Multa Corda, Una Causa; Many Hearts, One Purpose
To learn more about the our history and National Organization, click here!