Pi Beta Phi
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Pi Beta Phi (ΠΒΦ) is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. It is now headquartered in Town and Country, Missouri, and includes over 130 active chapters and 350 alumnae clubs across the United States and Canada. Once an initiated member in good standing graduates or otherwise leaves her college or university, she is a member for life.
According to the official web site, "The mission of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for women is to promote friendship, develop women of intellect and integrity, cultivate leadership potential and enrich lives through community service."[1]
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[edit] History
Pi Beta Phi was founded on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College by twelve Monmouth students who wished to enjoy the benefits of a secret society similar to those formed by collegiate men. The twelve founders were sisters Clara Brownlee, Libbie Brook, Emma Brownlee, Margaret Camptell, Rosa Moore, Ada Bruen, Nancy Black, Jennie Horne, Jennie Nicol, Inez Smith, Fannie Thomson, and Fannie Whitenack. They planned their society at the home of Major Jacob H. Holt, where two of the women rented a room. The original name of their society was I.C. Sorosis. The motto was Pi Beta Phi. The secret meanings of both the name and the motto would be known only to members.
Shortly after their founding, the sisters had a jeweler design their official badge, a golden arrow with the letters "I.C." on the wings. According to fraternity lore, they first wore their badges publically in their hair.
The first fraternity convention was held in 1868 at the home of Fannie Thomson. It was also in that year that the fraternity's second chapter was established at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. The expansion made Pi Beta Phi the first national (multi-chapter) women's fraternity.
At the 1882 convention, the fraternity officially adopted its motto as well as the fraternity colors of wine and silver blue. Six years later, the name was changed from I.C. Sorosis to the previous motto of Pi Beta Phi, with I.C. becoming the motto. In 1893, with the number of alumnae members growing, the fraternity organized a national alumnae department. Cooperation among women's fraternities and sororities was formalized in 1902 with the founding of the National Panhellenic Conference, of which Pi Beta Phi was a founding member. Meanwhile, chapter expansion continued, and in 1908 the fraternity's first Canadian chapter was established at the University of Toronto.
The fraternity's first philanthrophy, Settlement School, was organized in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 1912. It would be followed over the years by other philanthropic endeavors. In 1913, the fraternity also began the practice of support for its chapters through local Alumnae Advisory Committees. Central Office, a fraternity headquarters, was established in 1925.
The Kansas Alpha chapter had begun publication of The Arrow in 1885; it would eventually become a quarterly magazine published by the national fraternity for all its members. Today, dues-paying alumnae receive The Arrow by mail, while others can access it online at the fraternity's web site.
[edit] Symbols
The official symbol of Pi Beta Phi is the arrow and the unofficial mascot is the angel. The badge (pin) is a golden arrow with the Greek letters ΠΒΦ on the feathers and a golden chain suspended from the shaft. The pledge pin is a golden arrowhead with the Greek letter Β. The fraternity colors are wine and silver blue. The official flower is the wine carnation. The crest is a lozenge emblazoned with the crest of the Brownlee family, two of whom were founders of the fraternity.
[edit] Famous Firsts
- First Fraternity for Women (1867)
- First to have a national philanthropy, Settlement School (now the Arrowmont School for the Arts and Crafts) From Pi Beta Phi to Arrowmont
- First to have a Canadian philanthropy, Northern Libraries Project (now Arrow in the Arctic)
- First to have an alumnae department
- First to form Alumnae Advisory Committees to support collegiate chapters
- One of seven founders of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
[edit] Organization
Pi Beta Phi is made up of members who are either collegians (attending college or university and active in a collegiate chapter) or alumnae (initiated members who are no longer in college). Each collegiate chapter operate under a charter granted by the international fraternity, and generally with the recognition of the college or university where it is located. Individual alumnae are members for life, whether or not they join a recognized alumnae club. The fraternity encourages alumnae involvement as a way of promoting philanthropy, providing support for collegiate chapters, and ensuring the strength of the fraternity.
[edit] Collegiate Chapters
A chapter is local Pi Beta Phi affiliates at a particular college or university. When expansion of Pi Beta Phi first began to other college campuses, the fraternity adopted the custom of naming chapters with Greek letters in order of their founding. Thus, the original chapter at Monmouth College became Alpha chapter, the chapter established at Iowa Wesleyan College became Beta chapter, and so on. This naming convention became cumbersome as the number of chapters increased.
The fraternity now names chapters by their state, followed by the Greek letter designating the order of founding within each state; for example, Alpha chapter at Monmouth College is now known as Illinois Alpha. The sole exception is the chapter at Knox College, which absorbed the chapter at the now-defunct Lombard College and is now known as Illinois Beta-Delta in recognition of both chapters. Now, if a chapter closes for any reason, its name remains unused until such time as the chapter can be re-established at the same university.
Each chapter elects an Executive Council consisting of a President and eight Vice Presidents (Member Development, Fraternity Development, Finance, Membership, Administration, Philanthropy, Communications, and Event Planning). Each chapter also has an Alumnae Advisory Committee and House Corporation comprised of fraternity alumnae living in the area who assist the chapter.
Chapters are grouped geographically into regions, formerly known as provinces, to facilitate national organization and administration. Each collegiate region has a Regional Director and several Regional Specialists covering different functions.
[edit] Alumnae Clubs
Pi Beta Phi alumnae, initiated members in good standing who have graduated or otherwise left their college or university, can organize into local alumnae clubs or "pockets" (smaller, less established clubs) which are recognized by the fraternity. Like collegiate chapters, alumnae clubs are grouped geographically into regions, which also have their own officers.
[edit] International Governance
The international fraternity is governed by a Grand Council, elected at each biennial convention and comprised of a Grand President and six Grand Vice Presidents (Alumnae, Collegians, Finance, Communications, Membership, and Programming). Also elected biennially are four international Directors (Collegiate Membership, Extension, Finance, and Philanthropy) and one Director for each alumnae region and each collegiate region. The work of Directors is supervised by a member of Grand Council.
In addition to the elected officers, there are several appointed international officers assigned certain functions, such as an archivist and a fraternity historian.
[edit] Philanthropies
Like many sororities and fraternities, Pi Beta Phi members take part in a number of philanthropy programs. Over the fraternity's history, philanthropies have included education, literacy, and the preservation of regional arts and crafts.
[edit] Educational and Cultural Philanthropies
[edit] Settlement School and Arrowmont
Pi Beta Phi opened Settlement School in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 1912 to provide education, economic opportunity, and health care to the rural area.[2] Over the years, as the community took over childhood education, Settlement School began to adapt by offering arts and crafts classes in an effort to preserve and promote the region's crafts tradition. The revamped program was named Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, which today is a world-renowned facility providing college and graduate level courses. Arrowmont remains a major philanthopic project of Pi Beta Phi.
[edit] Arrowcraft Shop
In conjunction with the fraternity's commitment to the arts and crafts tradition of the Gatlinburg area, Pi Beta Phi opened the Arrowcraft Shop in 1926. The shop provided local craftspeople with an outlet to sell their products, thereby providing an economic as well as cultural benefit to the community. While no longer affiliated with Pi Beta Phi, Arrowcraft remains in operation as the oldest gift shop in Gatlinburg. It is now affiliated with the Southern Highland Craft Guild.[3]
[edit] Pi Beta Phi Elementary School
Another legacy of Pi Beta Phi's tradition of educational philanthropy is Pi Beta Phi Elementary School of Gatlinburg. After the county began to take over administration of the school in the 1940s, the fraternity deeded to the county the land on which the new elementary school was built. The school is now part of the Sevier County (Tennessee) public school system.[4]
[edit] Literacy Philanthropies
[edit] Arrow in the Arctic
Pi Beta Phi became the first Greek letter organization to have a Canadian philanthropy in 1967 when, at the dual centennial of Canada and of Pi Beta Phi, the fraternity officially adopted the Northern Libraries Project to provide support for library systems in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The project was renamed Arrow in the Arctic in 1969.[5] Today, philanthropy funds provide English and Inuit resources for libraries in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.[6][7]
[edit] Champions Are ReadersSM
The Houston, Texas, Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi provided the framework for another of the fraternity's national literacy projects, Champions Are ReadersSM. CAR targets third graders with a fully developed reading enrichment program to encourage children to read and reinforce programs already in place in the schools.[8]
[edit] Fraternity Day of Service
Pi Beta Phi's annual Fraterity Day of Service is designed to "unite our entire membership–alumnae groups, collegiate chapters and individual members–in our efforts to advance literacy." The first event was held on March 2, 2006, when Pi Phi actives and alumnae participated in the National Education Association's Read Across America Day. As part of the celebration, Pi Beta Phi teamed up with Southwest Airlines to "Share the Spirit" by handing out new Dr. Seuss books to children flying on March 2nd. Other activities held that day included tutoring children and hosting reading parties.
Pi Beta Phi continues to encourage its collegiate and alumnae members to support the fraternity's literacy program.[9]
[edit] Fraternity Heritage Philanthropy
[edit] Holt House
I.C. Sorosis, the name of which was later changed to Pi Beta Phi, was founded in the home of Major Jacob H. Holt, 402 East First Avenue, Monmouth, Illinois, where founders Ada Bruen and Libbie Brook were renting a room. Over the years, the home fell into disrepair. With the approval of the 1938 convention, the fraternity bought the property at tax auction and embarked on a restoration project. Pi Beta Phi still owns and operates Holt House, which is used for various private gatherings as well as meetings by local Pi Beta Phi groups.
[edit] Notable alumnae
For a full list of notable Pi Beta Phi alumnae please visit here. [1]
Entertainment
- Susan Akin (Mississippi Beta) - Miss America 1986
- Lisa Morgan Beaupre (California Delta) - Miss Teenage America, 1988.
- Katherine Browne (Illinois Zeta) - Opera star in 1920s
- Betty Cole Dukert (Missouri Alpha and Gamma) - Producer of "Meet the Press."
- Faye Dunaway (Florida Beta) - Academy Award-winning Actress
- Jennifer Garner (Ohio Eta) - Golden Globe-winning Actress/Producer
- Kathy Garver (California Delta) - Actress and producer. Played Cissie on "Family Affair."
- Courtney Gibbs (Texas Delta) - Miss USA 1988
- Rebecca Hoke Hollen (Texas Beta) - Soap-opera actress.
- Marilyn Horne (California Gamma) - Opera Singer
- Traylor Howard (Florida Beta) - Actress, TV sitcom Monk
- Nancy Kulp (Florida Beta) - Actress, "Beverly Hillbillies"
- Jacquelyn Mayer (Illinois Epsilon) - Miss America 1963
- Patricia Neal (Illinois Epsilon) - Academy Award-winning Actress
- Marilyn Van Derbur Atler (Colorado Alpha)- Motivational speaker and Miss America, 1958. Named Outstanding Woman Speaker in America and the first woman to win the Speakers' Hall of Fame Award, 1980.
Government
- Barbara Bush (Alumna Initiate 2003) - wife of President George H. W. Bush
- Carrie Chapman Catt (Iowa Gamma) - Founder, League of Women Voters
- Grace Coolidge (Vermont Beta) - wife of Calvin Coolidge
- Cate Edwards (New Jersey Alpha) - daughter of U.S. Senator John Edwards
- Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas Alpha) - Texas Senator
- Margaret Truman (DC Alpha) - daughter of U.S. President Harry Truman
Literature
- Sue Grafton (Kentucky Alpha) - Mystery novelist.
- Sonja Hillgren (Missouri Alpha)- Editor of Farm Journal, the nation's largest farmer and agricultural businessmen magazine.
- Jane Bryant Quinn (Vermont Alpha) - Author and Financial columnist
- Patricia MacLachlan (Connecticut Alpha) - Author of "Sarah, Plain and Tall" and recipient of the John Newberry Medal for her contribution to children's literature
- Ann Sommovigo Moore (Tennessee Beta) - President of People Magazine Group.
Science
- Anna Fisher (California Epsilon) - Astronaut and NASA Physician
- Dr. Susan Chace Lottich (North Carolina Beta)- Breast surgeon and founder and director of the Center for Women's Health in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Miscellaneous
- Ann Turner Cook (Texas Beta) - original Gerber baby featured in advertisements
- Jennifer Biddulph Maxwell (California Beta)- Co-creator of the Power Bar
[edit] References
- ^ Pi Beta Phi official web site
- ^ Arrowmont from the Pi Beta Phi web site
- ^ Southern Highland Craft Guild: Arrowcraft
- ^ History of Pi Beta Phi Elementary School from the school system web site.
- ^ Arrow in the Arctic History
- ^ Arrow in the Arctic from the Pi Beta Phi web site
- ^ Arrow in the Arctic web site
- ^ Champions Are ReadersSM from the Pi Beta Phi web site
- ^ Literacy Program Goals from the Pi Beta Phi web site
