Pi Beta Phi

On April 29, 1867, twelve women at Monmouth College founded the first national fraternity for women. Called I.C. Sorosis, Pi Beta Phi was used as their secret motto, but before long they became known as the Pi Phis, leading to the official name change in 1888. These 12 women saw a need for the companionship and contacts gained by fraternities on the campus, and thus they decided to start their own organization for women.
Jennie Nichol, M.D. 1845-1881	A pioneer among women physicians, she was one of the first females to study medicine. About Jennie: "No woman ever entered the profession with a nobler purpose."
Emma Brownlee Kilgore 1848-1925	A true leader and Pi Beta Phi's first president. The coat of arms of Pi Beta Phi is derived from those of the Brownlee family.
Rosa Moore 1849-1924	Generous and sensitive to the needs of others, she spent her days in social work and missionary endeavors. Rosa speaks: "The one word out of my heart to every other heart is give all that you are and have..."
Libbie Brook Gaddis 1850-1933	The youngest founder, she established Pi Beta Phi's second chapter at Iowa Wesleyan University. Libbie speaks: "...for while there are deeper and holier relations than that of...Pi Beta Phi, still nothing purer or lovelier graces the name of friendship."
Fannie Thomson 1848-1868	Radiating happiness, with a beautiful voice, in her short year of membership she was a faithful and enthusiastic member. Fannie speaks: "...our object...is to send out into the world women who will ever be an honor and a blessing...
Nancy Black Wallace 1845-1918	Pi Beta Phi's first secretary and an enthusiastic extensionist. Nancy speaks: "...I am glad that the great sympathetic heart of Pi Phi Fraternity has responded to the call of true service...uplifting the womanhood of our own...
Clara Brownlee Hutchinson 1850-1931	Gentle and shy, she was Emma's younger sister. When needed, she showed an admirable strength of character.
Margaret Campbell 1846-1936	Pi Beta Phi's first treasurer and promoter of philanthropic work.
Inez Smith Soule 1846-1939	Independent, beautiful and possessed of a keen wit, she established a long Pi Phi legacy through a Pi Phi daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter. About Inez: "There is an inner radiance expressed by her actions which finds no other medium. "
Ada Bruen Grier 1848-1924	A teacher and minister's wife, the friendships she formed in Pi Phi lasted her entire lifetime. Ada speaks: "It has always been a real joy to me that I had a little part in the founding of Pi Beta Phi, and I wish for you all continued prosperity of success..."
Jennie Horne Turnbull 1846-1932	Quiet and charming, her life revolved around her work as a minister's wife and Pi Beta Phi. Jennie speaks: "The Founders dreamed dreams as to our future...words fail to express the pride the Founders feel in the work, and well we should.
Fannie Whitenack Libbey 1848-1941	Her home was where the ground work was laid for the formation of Pi Beta Phi. She always remained young at heart. Fannie speaks: "I trust that the companionship and friendships formed in your college may prove sweet and lasting as those of us girls in 1867...a tie that will bind you to achieve the highest and best in life."

Famous Pi Phis
Jennifer Garner Ohio Eta (Actress - Alias)	Faye Dunaway FL Beta (Actress)	Susan Atkin MS Beta (Miss America 1986)	Anna B. Fisher CA Epsilon (astronaut)
Courtney Gibbs TX Delta (Miss USA 1988 and actress/model)	Nancy Hogshead NC Beta - DUKE!! (3 time Olympic gold medalist-swimming)	Jacquelyn Mayer Townsend IL Epsilon (Miss America 1963)	Margaret Truman Daniels DC Alpha (daughter of President Harry Truman)
Kay Bailey Hutchinson TX Alpha (U.S. Senator)	Dianne DeWitt Menicheschi TX Beta (model)	Jennifer Maxwell CA Beta (Co-creater of Power Bar)	Traylor Howard FL Beta (Actress)
Honorable Orinda Evans NC Beta - DUKE!! (US District Judge. First female judge in GA, youngest judge in the country when appointed in 1979)	Carrie Chapman Catt IA Gamma (founded: League of Woman Voters & led the fight for passage of the 19th ammendment allowing women the right vote.)	Grace Goodhue Coolidge VT Beta (First Lady)	Dr. Evelyn Murphy NC Beta - DUKE!! Former Lt. Gov of Mass. and the first woman in Mass. elected to statewide office.

Pi Phi Firsts
1st organization of college women founded as a national fraternity One of the 7 founding groups of the National Panhellenic Conference. 1st to organize an Alumnae Department 1st to organize a national philanthropic project 1st to establish an Alumnae Advisory Committee for each collegiate chapter. 1st in innumberable fields of organization and leadership training in the fraternity world 1st to utilize contemporary concepts in chapter development and programming.
Symbols
Badge	The badge of I.C. Sorosis was decided upon by the Founders in 1867, and consisted of a golden arrow with the letters IC on its wings. When the name of the Fraternity was changed to Pi Beta Phi, the Greek letters replaced the IC on the wings. In 1934, at the Yellowstone National Park Convention, the Convention voted that there should be just twelve links in the chain of the badge - one for each Founder. Upon initiation, a member is given a gold-filled arrow badge. If she wishes, she may order a jeweled badge through Headquarters at nominal cost. The golden arrow badge is to be worn only by initiated members of Pi Beta Phi and is worn over the heart.

Crest	The crest or coat-of-arms is a lozenge on which is blazoned the Brownlee family crest. An eagle is displayed in the middle, on top of which is the seal of Monmouth College (where Pi Phi was founded). The blazing sun, with the Latin word "LUX" in the center, is on the eagle's chest. In the eagle's right talon is the monogram IC, and the left talon holds the arrow of Pi Beta Phi. The lozenge signifies that the arms are that of a women's organization; the eagle, by holding the IC in one talon and Pi Beta Phi arrow in the other signifies the absolute identity between I.C. Sorosis and Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. The coat-of-arms was adopted as the official fraternity crest at the 1912 Convention.

Carnation	Adopted at the 1890 Convention, the wine carnation is now our official flower. At the convention it was said, "The roots of the flower are the Founders, for from them the whole plant grew ...the stem represents the Grand Council. It gives to us what was received from the roots. It gives us height and strength... the leaves of our flower are the alumnae. They stand nearest the stem and assist it in its work. They are in communication with the world and breathe in for us the best of the world's ideals... the petals are red for the girls are loyal. As it is the rich, wine color that makes the flower attractive, it, too, is the warm fervent loyalty of its members that makes Pi Beta Phi beautiful in the eyes of everyone... The pistil is the spirit and the stamens are ideals of Pi Beta Phi. The petals stand closely united around these to defend and protect them."

Pledge Pin	The pledge pin is an arrowhead of Roman gold mounted with the Greek letter B (Beta) in burnished gold.

Angel	Fraternity history indicates that songs about Pi Phi angels became popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and that skits depicting Pi Phis as angels were often used in recruitment. Angel collections are popular among many Pi Phis. The Founders did not choose the angel as a fraternity symbol; however, it is a worthy unofficial symbol of Pi Beta Phi.

Colors & Motto	The colors of the Fraternity, wine and silver blue, and the first Greek Motto, Pi Beta Phi, were adopted at the convention in 1882.