Gamma Phi Beta - Alpha Tau Chapter @ McGill

Today we still maintain ideals established by our four founders, Helen M. Dodge, Francis E. Haven, E. Adeline Curtis, and Mary A. Bingham.

The Four Founders

In a society where women were discouraged from entering college due to their "insufficient brainpower" and "delicate health" four women from Syracuse University came together to form a society they named Gamma Phi Beta. . .Now, over 130 years later, we celebrate the vision and dedication of those women and all that has come since then...

Helen M. Dodge, Frances E. Haven, E. Adeline Curtis and Mary A. Bingham were courageous women who could see beyond the limits of their time. They recognized the opportunity a women's society presented, and aimed to establish one that would promote literary culture and social improvement among its members.

On November 11, 1874, the four founders met in Dr. J. J. Brown's study for the first official meeting of Gamma Phi Beta. As the University Herald, Syracuse University's newspaper, reported the following spring, "A new ladies' society made its appearance at the close of last term, and is to be known as Gamma Phi Beta . . . The ladies have started on the right principle, are select in the choice of members, and we see no reason why a prosperous future is not in store for Gamma Phi Beta."

Eight years after their first meeting, two members of the Alpha chapter went to the University of Michigan to charter the Beta chapter. Upon their return to Syracuse, Professor Frank Smalley commented, "I presume that you young women are now members of a sorority." Thus, Gamma Phi Beta became the first women's fraternity to be called a sorority.

In 1902, Gamma Phi Beta and six other sororities founded the National Panhellenic Conference.

Today, Gamma Phi Beta has over 115 collegiate chapters and approximately 156 alumnae groups throughout the United States and Canada with more than 130,000 members worldwide.

Alpha Tau Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta was founded September, 1931 by seven women at McGill University and has been going strong ever since!

The object of Gamma Phi Beta is to promote the highest type of womanhood through education, social life, and service to country and humanity

Creed:

Love, Labor, Learning, Loyalty

Open Motto:

Founded Upon A Rock

Philanthropy:

Camping for Underpriveleged Girls

Local Philanthropy: