Phrateres was founded at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1924 by Dean Helen Mathewson Laughlin. She was grand President of Phrateres until 1957. Mrs. Marjorie Chilstrom followed as Grand President. From 1974 to 2001, Phrateres International was run by an Executive Committee of outstanding former chapter presidents. During its height, Phrateres had chapters at universities all over North America. However, in 2001, one of the last two remaining chapters of Phrateres closed, as did Phrateres International that same year.

In the mid-1930s, Clare Brown Harris, the President of the Women’s Student Society at UBC took the initiative to bring Phrateres here. February 1, 1935 brought the installation of the the Theta Chapter of Phrateres by Dean Mary Bollert, making it one of the oldest clubs on campus. The Theta Chapter was the first Canadian chapter of Phrateres as well as the eighth chapter on the West Coast. Over the years, the Theta Chapter has evolved into what exists today. At many times during the 1940s to 1970s, there were even sub-chapters of the Theta Chapter as membership then numbered in the hundreds.

Today, the Theta Chapter is the last remaining active chapter – and with over 50 members, still going strong. We now operate as a self-governing AMS club.