Delta Phi Epsilon began on Northeastern's campus on November 6, 1967 as a local sorority of twenty women known as Lambda Phi Delta. Lambda Phi Delta was founded to symbolize the ideals of sister unity, scholarship, school spirit, freedom, maturity of thought and community enrichment. Lambda Phi Delta was the fifth sorority organized on Northeastern's campus. On April 6, 1968, Lambda Phi Delta was officially recognized as a colony by the Inter-Sorority Council and Northeastern University.

At that time, Lambda Phi Delta set about finding themselves a national sorority that embodied the same ideals that they themselves adhered to. They found Delta Phi Epsilon International Sorority. The first pledge class (14 women) was initiated on January 19, 1969.

They became the first national sorority founded on Northeastern's campus and the first chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon in Boston. On October 11, 1968, they were inducted as the Phi Eta Pledge chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon. On March 30, 1969 they were chartered as the Phi Eta Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon.

We are currently the oldest chapter on campus.

Founding Sisters:

Cheryl Friedman           Lois Schneider
Donna Kaplan              Jane Shorey
Barbara Katzen           Myrna Singer
Madeline Levine           Ellen Sousa
Ina Nathan                   Sharon Tolman
Deborah Novick           Anita Vogel
Eileen Rosenberg         Barbara Wells

On March 17,1917, five women at New York University Law School took a pledge of loyalty and so founded the Alpha Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon, the first nonsectarian social sorority and the only one founded at a professional school. These five women were Dorothy Cohen Schwartzman, Ida Bienstock Landau, Minna Goldsmith Mahler, Eva Effron Robin, and Sylvian Steireman Cohn. Five years later on March 17, 1922, Delta Phi Epsilon was formally incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. On December 5, 1922, crossing international boundaries, the first Canadian chapter was installed at McGill University at Montreal.

Sisters of Delta Phi Epsilon base their actions on the sorority's motto, Esse Quam Videri: to be rather than seem to be. Delta Phi Epsilon has worked to develop a social conscience and a willingness to think in terms of the common good in order to assure for its members continuous development and achievement in the collegiate and fraternity world. With a continuing philosphy of faith in the inherent good judgement of the undergraduate membership, Delta Phi Epsilon has remained steadfast throughout its history, forward to the continued growth of a sisterhood which keeps pace with the ever changing nature of the collegiate world.

Each year on March 17, undergraduates and alumnae celebrate Founders Day, honoring the women to whom each chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon is directly indebted for the establishment of our sisterhood. We honor them for the fine ideals and purposes which inspired them. Over three quarters of a century after Delta Phi Epsilon began, there are women who still embrace the beliefs of our founders by sharing sisterhood in their hearts and lives.Delta Phi Epsilon is a democratically governed organization with policies determined at regular conventions to which chartered chapters and alumnae associations send delegates.

The first chapter, ALPHA, was founded by five women:

Dorothy Cohen Schwartzman
Ida Bienstock Landau
Minna Goldsmith Mahler
Eva Effron Robin
Sylvia Steirman Cohn