The sorority originally formed as Achoth (Hebrew: אָחוֹת signifying one's blood sister or a female relative), created on the campus of the University of Nebraska on March 15, 1910.

The fifteen founding sisters were all members in good standing of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Sources from various fraternal organizations demonstrate that Achoth was functioning as a typical collegiate sorority.

Kappa Sigma's Caduceus (1922) reported that the "Supreme Governing Council of Achoth announces the change of the name 'Achoth' to 'Phi Omega Pi' fraternity."

[2] In 1933, Phi Omega Pi dropped the Masonic requirement and was thus given full membership into the National Panhellenic Conference.

[4] Additionally, Phi Alpha Chi, formed at the University of California at Berkeley, was founded as The Tanewah in 1919.

As described by Miner, the crest of Phi Omega Pi "had a sapphire blue ground crossed by an inverted chevron of white upon which were placed five five-pointed stars.

The upper section was surmounted by a raised five-pointed star set with a blue sapphire [above the letters ΦΩΠ engraved in gold.]

"[2] The pledge pin was "a black enameled pentagon bearing the Greek letters ΦΩΠ in gold.