Pi Beta Phi has a proud history that spans 138 years. On April 28, 1867 , 12 women at Monmouth College in Monmouth , Illinois , found a need for the companionship and contacts gained by fraternities on the campus, and they decided to start their own organization. They founded the first national secret college society for women modeled after the Greek-letter fraternities of men. They named it I.C. Sorosis and "Pi Beta Phi" was used as their secret motto, but they soon became known as "Pi Phis", leading to the official name change in 1888.
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VP Administration
Maggie Brown |
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Click Below to Download a Leadership Profile and Apply to be an Officer!
Leadership Profile (.doc)
Leadership Profile (.pdf)
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Policy & Standards Board Chairman
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Director of Academic Excellence
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Music Chairman
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Director of Senior Programming
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Jr. Panhellenic Delegate
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Intramural Chairman
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Nickname: Pi Phi
Ole Miss Chapter Name: Mississippi Beta
Colors: Wine & Silver Blue
Flower: Wine Carnation
Symbol: Arrow
Unofficial Mascot: Angel
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U.S. Leadership:
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchins, Texas
Former First Lady Barbara Bush
Former First Lady Grace Goodue Coolidge
Betty Cole Dukert, Producer of "Meet the Press"
Anna Fisher, Former Astronaut
Sue Grafton ( Kentucky Alpha) - Author
Carrie Chapman Catt, who founded the League of Women Voters and led the campaign for the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote
Entertainment:
Jennifer Garner, actress
Faye Dunaway, Oscar-winning actress
Patricia Neal, actress
Marilyn Horne, Opera singer
Jane Sibbett, actress, Friends TV Show
Other
Courtney Gibbs, Miss USA 1988
Susan Akin ( Mississippi Beta), Miss America 1986
Marilyn Van Derbur Atler, Miss America 1958
Meredith Brokaw, wife of Tom Brokaw
Ann Cook, Original Gerber Baby
Nancy Hogshead ( North Carolina Beta) - Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer
Margaret Truman, daughter of President Truman
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Pi Beta Phi Fraternity was founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, on April 28, 1867, as I. C. Sorosis. Pi Beta Phi was the first national secret college society of women to be modeled after the Greek-letter fraternities of men. During a time when few women were admitted to colleges and universities, Pi Beta Phi created a feeling of unity among pioneering women.
| Emma Brownlee Kilgore |
Margaret Campbell |
| Libbie Brook Gaddis |
Ada Bruen Grier |
| Clara Brownlee Hutchison |
Fannie Whitenack Libbey |
Rosa Moore |
Jennie Nicol, M.D. |
| Inez Smith Soule |
Fannie Thompson |
| Jennis Horne Turnbull |
Nancy Black Wallace |
As did our Founders, we must dare to dream, for if there are no dreams, there cannot be "dreams come true."
**For more information on our founders a historic timeline, visit our national web page at www.pibetaphi.org
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The 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.
The 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.
The Flower
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 which makes the flower attractive, it, too, is the warm fervent loyalty of its members which 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."
The Pledge Pin
The pledge pin is an arrowhead of Roman gold mounted with the Greek letter B (Beta) in burnished gold.
Visit our recruitment page for more information about becoming a Pi Beta Phi!
Angels
Fraternity history indicates that songs about Pi Phi angels became popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and that skits depicting Pi Phi's as angels were often used in rush. Angel collections are popular among many Pi Phi's. The Founders did not choose the angel as a fraternity symbol; however, it is a worthy unofficial symbol of Pi Beta Phi.
The Colors
The colors of the Fraternity are Wine and Silver Blue.
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