[1][2][3] The term "sorority" was coined for Gamma Phi Beta by Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at Syracuse University.

It was the first of the national women's organizations to adopt the word "sorority", coined in 1882 on behalf of the Syracuse chapter by one of the Latin professors on the faculty, Dr. Frank Smalley.

In 1894, Gamma Phi Beta expanded to the West Coast at the University of California and to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

[1] In 1891, Gamma Phi Beta joined the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) as a founding member.

It features a black crescent moon cradling the Greek letters Gamma, Phi, and Beta.

The badges worn by International Council members are larger and feature white crescent moons instead of black.

In 1902, a triangular-shaped shield of dark brown on which rests a crescent of gold was approved as the badge for uninitiated new members.

Chapters placed donation containers throughout the United States; the funds collected were directed to the French orphans at the end of World War I.

[13] During World War II, the sorority raised funds that supported a mobile canteen for Great Britain, and contributions were raised for the American Red Cross, the Queen's Canadian Fund for air raid victims throughout Great Britain, and the Army and Navy Relief Societies.

[13] Every initiated member has a lifelong membership in Gamma Phi Beta and may participate in alumnae activities on the local, regional, and international levels.

Once a woman is initiated into Gamma Phi Beta, she is no longer allowed to join any other National Panhellenic Conference sorority.

Several Gamma Phi Beta sorority houses are registered as historical homes, including: