On March 4, 1852 Mary DuPont-Lines, Mary Myrick Daniel, and Martha Hardaway Redding founded the Philomathean Society ay Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The second chapter was formed at Hollins College in Hollins, Virginia on September 23, 1904. On August 1, 1904 the name changed to Phi Mu. The first National Convention was at jamestown, Virginia in 1907. Phi Mu was admitted to the National Panhellenic Conference in 1911. The colors of our fraternity are rose and white, the flower is the rose carnation. Phi Mu is called a fraternity because the name for sorority had not yet originated as of yet. Our philanthropies are Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) and Children's Miracle Network, which has a telethon each June to raise money for mentally and physically challenged children.
The Phi Beta Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity was installed as a colony on May 17, 1986. The initiation ceremony, where the colony recieved chapter status, was held on November 14, 1986. The chaptre name has a special meaning to us. We especially requested to be the Phi Beta Chapter of Phi Mu because up until May 1986, the sisterhood was a local chapter, Phi Beta Mu.
This local sorority was founded on February 4, 1930 by Blandina Foster and Emily Yocum. The name Phi Beta Mu stands for the first letters of the Greek words loving, living, and learning. There were thirteen original sisters. These women set high standards for the sorority, many of which are the same standards as Phi Mu. "The requirements shall be: superior intelligance, rating with a high average, conspicuous participation in campus activities, taking pride in the betterment of Albright College, good character, and social recognition at home and on the campus" (quoted from the original petition).
On Spetmeber 25, 1933, Phi Beta Mu recieved a bid from Phi Mu to join their national fraternity. Faculty action blocked this. The Phi Beta Mu sorority merged with the Phi Delta Beta sorority on Novermber 7, 1933. The conditions were that the girls of Phi Delta Beta accept the Phi Beta Mu constitution and insignia as their own. The school year 1959-1960 brought about an exciting change for the sorority. South Hall was declared available for sorority residence, and Phi Beta Mu moved into the side in which the Kappa fraternity used to live.
Phi Beta Mu's history includes many secretsm symbols, and traditions. The sorority shield was on display in the basement of South Hall. Since national policy prevents any hazing, the traditional bags and beanies becamse a part of our past, which were also on display in the basement. Now that we have fully adapted to the ways of Phi Mu, we remain very proud of our past. Whether we wear gold and purple or rose and white, the bonds of our sisterhood will stay strong.
