History

  • On November 11, 1874 four women at Syracuse University came together to form a society they named Gamma Phi Beta. Helen M. Dodge, Frances E. Haven, E. Adeline Curtis, and Mary A. Bingham were courageous risk takers who sought to create a society for women in a man’s world. Though at the time women’s societies were given the same name as their male counterparts (fraternities), Dr. Frank Smalley coined the word “sorority” especially for Gamma Phi Beta.

    Over 130 years later, we still cherish the same ideals that our founders worked to achieve: love, labor, learning, and loyalty. Today, Gamma Phi Beta is an international sorority that has welcomed over 150 collegiate chapters into sisterhood and almost 300 alumnae chapters in the United States and Canada, and the sorority has nearly 200,000 collegiate members worldwide. The national philanthropy for the sorority is Campfire USA, which is an organization that allows underprivileged girls to attend summer camps to build self-esteem,  leadership experience, and lasting friendships. We celebrate the vision and dedication of our founders and all the women that have come since then who have built Gamma Phi Beta into one of the largest and most well-respected sororities in the world.

     

    Mission

    Gamma Phi Beta strives to foster a nurturing environment that provides women the opportunity to achieve their potential through lifelong commitment to intellectual growth, individual worth, and service to humanity.

     

    Vision

    Gamma Phi Beta strives to be a premiere women’s organization with a winning spirit through:

    • seeking cultural, demographic, and economic diversity 

    • the development of chapter, community and interfraternal leaders 

    • providing programming which addresses issues relevant to women and society 

    • the strengthening of resources 

    • a focus on being member-driven 

    • management of the organization through volunteerism

     

     

     

 

  • Four Founders

    Helen M. Dodge
     
    Helen Mary Dodge was born September 26, 1850 in Verona, New York. She was a member of the second freshman class at Syracuse University, took the classical course and graduated in 1876. A talented musician and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and other organizations, Helen's chief interest was the mission work sponsored by her church. She married the Reverend J. V. Ferguson, who preceded her in death. Helen died October 21, 1937, leaving a substantial bequest to Syracuse University for scholarships for members of Gamma Phi Beta.
    Francis E. Haven

    Frances E. Haven was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on May 27, 1854, while her father was teaching at the University of Michigan. When he became president of Northwestern University, Frances entered with the first group of women students. After he was named chancellor of Syracuse University, she transferred there and graduated in 1877. Her diploma, signed by her father, is displayed in Gamma Phi Beta International Headquarters. Frances married Charles M. Moss in 1878 and moved with him to the University of Illinois where she was instrumental in establishing Omicron Chapter. She died June 16, 1937.

  • E. Adeline Curtis

    Eunice Adeline Curtis was born on December 22, 1854 in Moravia, New York. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1878 with a bachelor's degree in music. She married Frank Curtis and they had one son, Edward. Adeline was the soprano soloist at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Syracuse for 33 years. She died January 14, 1923.


    Mary A. Bingham
    Mary Alice Bingham was born in Watertown, New York on August 30, 1856. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1878 with a degree in art. In 1883, she married M. E. Willoughby, who died in 1913. They had two children, a son Francis and a daughter Ernestine. Mary Willoughby and Helen Ferguson were the only Founders who were able to continue their close association after their college years, as both lived in Utica, New York. Mary died on January 14, 1916.