Pi Beta Phi is a National Women's Fraternity that was founded on April 28th, 1867 at Monmouth College, Illinois. It's original name was I.C. Sorosis. In a bedroom at Holt House, 12 women met and organized this society. The women decided upon the Greek words Pi Beta Phi and chose the arrow as their badge. Within those walls, they wrote a constitution and formulated goals for the society, "to cultivate sincere friendship, establish the real objects of life and promote the happiness of humanity." For more in depth information about Pi Beta Phi, Click Here.

Before the New York Epsilon chapter of Pi Beta Phi was founded, we were a local sorority named Kappa Phi. It was founded in the spring of 1982 by 11 freshmen who understood the importance of female companionship in a largely male population. In February 1982, the dean of students was contracted and upon his go ahead the name Kappa Phi was chosen and work was started on the constitution. Kappa Phi's colors were chosen to be navy, silver, and white. The founders wore their letters for the first time to Pi Kappa Alpha and a Phi Kappa Tau room party. The preamble to the Kappa Phi constitution shows the feelings and minds of the women who founded it, "The purpose of this sorority shall be to give service to the institution and the community, to promote friendship, cooperation and supportiveness, among college women of all races, colors, creeds, national origin and handicaps, in hopes to encourage unity and sisterhood."