Pi Beta Phi
| Pi Beta Phi | |
|---|---|
| ΠΒΦ | |
 |
|
| Founded | April 28, 1867 Monmouth College, (Monmouth, Illinois) |
| Type | Social |
| Colors | Wine Silver Blue |
| Symbol | Arrow |
| Flower | Wine Carnation |
| Mascot | Angel ("Angelica") |
| Publication | The ARROW |
| Philanthropy | Read > Lead > Achieve |
| Chapters | 208 |
| Members | 300,000+ collegiate |
| Headquarters |
1154 Town & Country Commons Drive Town & Country, Missouri USA |
| Homepage | pibetaphi.org |
Pi Beta Phi (ΠΒΦ) is an international Fraternity for Women, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois on April 28, 1867 as I.C. Sorosis, the first national secret college society of women to be modeled after the men's Greek-letter fraternity. According to G. William Domhoff, in Who Rules America? (Seventh edition, p. 57), Pi Beta Phi was cited as one of the four or five sororities upper-class college women "joined with nationwide social prestige". Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 200 chapters ever installed and more than 300 alumnae organizations 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."
Pi Beta Phi's core values are: Integrity, Lifelong Commitment, Honor and Respect, Personal and Intellectual Growth, Philanthropic Service to Others, and Sincere Friendship.
Pi Beta Phi was founded as a secret organization under the name of I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867 at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. It began to use Greek letters as its name in 1888. Pi Beta Phi is regarded as the first national women's fraternity. It began when twelve female students wished to enjoy the benefits of a secret society similar to those formed by collegiate men. The twelve founders were Clara Brownlee Hutchinson, Libbie Brook Gaddis, Emma Brownlee Kilgore, Margaret Campbell, Rosa Moore, Ada Bruen Grier, Nancy Black Wallace, Jennie Horne Turnbull, Jennie Nicol, Inez Smith Soule, Fannie Thomson, and Fannie Whitenack Libbey. They planned their society at the home of Major Jacob H. Holt, where two of the women rented a room. The name chosen for the society was I.C. Sorosis. The motto chosen was Pi Beta Phi.
Shortly after the founding, the sisters had a jeweler design their official badge: a golden arrow with the letters "I.C." on the wings. When the name was changed to "Pi Beta Phi," the Greek letters replaced "I.C." on the wings. At the Yellowstone Convention of 1934, they voted to limit the links in the badge's chain; there are 12, one for each of the founders.
The first fraternity convention was held in 1868 at the home of Fannie Thomson in Oquawka, Illinois. 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 secret society.
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Wikipedia