Phi Mu

Phi Mu
ΦΜ
Founded	March 4, 1852 (1852-03-04) Wesleyan Female College, (Macon, Georgia)
Type	Social
Scope	National
Motto	Les Soeurs Fideles The Faithful Sisters
Colors	Rose      White
Symbol	Quatrefoil
Flower	Rose Color Carnation
Publication	The Aglaia
Philanthropy	Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Chapters	115
Members	175,000+ collegiate
Mascot	The Lion "Sir Fidel" Ladybug (unofficial)
Headquarters	Peachtree City, Georgia, USA
Homepage	http://www.phimu.org

Phi Mu (ΦΜ) is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852. On March 4, 1852, it was publicly announced as Phi Mu Fraternity. Phi Mu is one of the two "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds it shares with Alpha Delta Pi. The founders of both Phi Mu and Alpha Delta Pi were closely associated. Both Phi Mu and Alpha Delta Pi share a lion as their mascot. However, if both organizations have chapters at the same school, Phi Mu uses their unofficial mascot, the ladybug, out of respect and gratitude to Alpha Delta Pi.

Today, Phi Mu has 115 collegiate chapters across the United States and over 175,000 initiated sisters. Phi Mu has chartered over 228 chapters in its history. Phi Mu has 225 alumnae chapters across the nation. Phi Mu's National Headquarters is in Peachtree City, Georgia. Phi Mu's national philanthropy is Children's Miracle Network Hospitals; the organization's creed is Love, Honor, and Truth. Additionally, Phi Mu has internal organizations, such as the Phi Mu Foundation which supports further involvement in the organization.

History

Phi Mu Fraternity, the second oldest women's secret society in the nation, was first founded as the Philomathean Society meaning "literary society" on January 4, 1852 at Wesleyan College (the first institute to grant bachelor's degrees to women) by Mary Ann Dupont (Lines), Mary Elizabeth Myrick (Daniel), and Martha Bibb Hardaway (Redding). These three women founded the group for companionship and intellectual stimulation. In two months, the three founders gathered members, created a constitution and much of the ritual that is still used today. On March 4, 1852, the Philomathean Society was publicly announced to the university that it was established. During the Civil War, prominent figures such as General Robert E. Lee, General T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Dr. Crosby W. Smith, and President Jefferson Davis were among several chosen to receive honorary membership to Phi Mu. Robert E. Lee helped design Phi Mu's coat of arms. As the years continued, the reputation and prestige of the Philomathean Society continued to grow. The organization played a vital part in the social, civic, and academic growth of its members and those around them. On August 1, 1904, the Philomathean Society was granted a charter to become a national organization. The Society adopted the Greek letters Phi Mu and established additional chapters on other campuses. Wesleyan College became the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity, and the Beta Chapter was quickly founded at Hollins College in Hollins, Virginia. Mary Ann Dupont (Lines) was the only one out of the three founders to see the Philomathean Society become Phi Mu Fraternity. The three founders also paid tribute to the organization by having the quatrefoil as their gravestone. The Phi Mu is proud to have been an active member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) since 1911. Alpha Delta Theta, a small national sorority founded at Transylvania University merged with Phi Mu in 1939.
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Mission Statement and Creed

Founded in 1852, Phi Mu is a women's organization which provides personal and academic development, service to others, commitment to excellence and lifelong friendship through a shared tradition. Phi Mu promotes vibrant living, encouraging members to achieve their personal best.

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WHY PHI MU?
As a Phi Mu sister, a young lady will make new friends from friendships that are built around a common set of core values such as the pursuit of learning, responsible social behavior, and sisterly love for one another. She will also grow as a young woman as each sister learns to build one another up toward achieving our personal best. That begins with agreed upon "right behaviors" including a zero tolerance policy against hazing in any form. Phi Mu fraternity also strives to develop leadership skills whether a sister serves in an executive committee position within her chapter or as part of a committee planning a chapter event, she is provided with resources, training and mentoring to aid in her personal development. Phi Mu also helps others as they are the corporate sponsor of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals as we work to raise awareness for childhood health concerns and support local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.


Phi Mu's creed was submitted by sisters of Mu Chapter and was adopted at the 1916 National Convention. The Creed is credited to Grace Lumpkin, Mu.

To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand.
To think of God as a protector and guide of us all.
To keep forever sacred the memory of those we have loved and lost.
To be to others what we would they would be to us.
To keep our lives gentle, merciful and just,
Thus being true to the womanhood of love.

To walk in the way of honor, guarding the purity of our thoughts and deeds.
Being steadfast in every duty small or large.
Believing that our given word is binding.
Striving to esteem the inner man above culture, wealth or pedigree.
Being honorable, courteous, tender,
Thus being true to the womanhood of honor.

To serve in the light of truth avoiding egotism, narrowness and scorn.
To give freely of our sympathies.
To reverence God as our Maker, striving to serve Him in all things.
To minister to the needy and unfortunate.
To practice day by day love, honor, truth.
Thus keeping true to the meaning, spirit and reality of Phi Mu.

Philanthropy

Phi Mu's interest in philanthropy is expressed in the first line of their Creed, "To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand," a guiding principle for Phi Mu. As the only sorority corporate sponsor, Phi Mu is committed to raising over $500,000 for CMN every year. The money raised and donated is used locally to support one of the 170 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide. In total, Phi Mu has contributed over $8.5 million dollars, and countless hours, improving the quality of life for children and their families throughout the country. In addition to awarding over 90 scholarships annually, maintaining the Heart and Hand Fund to support sisters affected by natural disasters, and overseeing the funds the Fraternity collects for our national philanthropy, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the Phi Mu Foundation maintains important historic memorabilia of the Fraternity.
Phi Mu was the first sorority to establish an annual "National Philanthropy Day" to promote local service by its members. Each October, every Phi Mu participates in a service activity in her community.

Symbols, Mascots, and Coat of Arms

Phi Mu's symbol is their sacred four-point quatrefoil. It is a unique shape and can be traced back to early European design. Phi Mus love to spot the popular shape in everyday use. Many wonder what the quatrefoil's importance is to the fraternity but only a Phi Mu sister will know.


The Phi Mu Badge is a uniquely shaped shield of gold overlaid with a black shield bearing the two bonds, three stars, a hand clasping a heart and the Greek letters "Phi Mu." The original Philomathean badge was made in 1852 from a twenty dollar gold piece which Mary Ann received from her father when she left for Wesleyan. It is now in the archives of Phi Mu Fraternity.


Phi Mu's coat of arms shows a shield held by two of their mascots, the lion. The shield is decorated with a badge and three stars. On top of the shield is a lamp and ribbon of colors. A bond bearing the phrase, "Les Soeurs Fideles" (The Faithful Sisters) sits at the feet of the two lions on a large ribbon. The Coat of Arms was designed in 1904 by Annie Laurie Mallory (Parker), Alpha, assisted by Louise Monning (Elliott).


The rose-colored carnation is Phi Mu's flower. While the rose-colored carnation in the language of flowers refers to "women's love and sisterhood," Lillian Estes (Davis), Alpha, Grand Historian 1907-1908, wrote that "pink carnations are, and always have been, the emblematic flower."

Academic Excellence

Achieving academic excellence is a high priority for Phi Mu. As a demonstration of their commitment to scholarship, Phi Mu endowed the first-of-its-kind National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) fund for an academic focus program. Phi Mu also programs a commitment to learning into its chapter and member development efforts, and through Phi Mu Foundation, recognizes outstanding academic achievement through awards programs, such as a silver charm for members who achieve a 4.0 for a semester, and over $100,000 in scholarships each year for undergraduate and graduate members who excel academically. The success of their scholarship programming for the chapters begins by focusing on their members and their performance. This includes a review of chapter grades twice each year along with comparing each Phi Mu chapter's performance with that of other sororities on its campus. Each chapter is required to set an academic goal as part of its chapter plan and then receive ratings on the Phi Mu Commitment to Excellence evaluation related to these statistics. All Phi Mu chapters are expected to maintain a 2.75 GPA or higher. The majority of their chapters consistently achieve grades above the campus all women's average.

Notable alumnae

Arts and Entertainment

• Susan Harling (Kappa Iota) - inspiration for the play and movie Steel Magnolias
• Elizabeth Horton (Gamma Tau)- Miss North Carolina (2006), contestant in Miss America (2007)
• Ashley Hatfield (Alpha Delta) - Miss Illinois (2007), contestant in Miss America (2008)
• Dana Ivey (Alpha Omega) - actress (The Addams Family, Sleepless in Seattle, Orange County), five-time Tony nominee
• Pam Long (Theta Alpha) - Miss Alabama (1974), contestant in Miss America (1975) and head writer for CBS' Guiding Light
• Leah Massee (Kappa Beta) - Miss Georgia (2007), contestant in Miss America (2008)
• Amy Mulkey (Alpha Alpha) - Miss Georgia (2002), contestant in Miss America (2002)
• Mary Wickes (Zeta Epsilon) - actress, (Little Women, Sister Act)
• Kimberly Schlapman (Alpha Gamma) - member of Little Big Town
• Madeline Mitchell (Alpha Zeta)- Miss Alabama USA (2011) - Top 3 in Miss USA 2011 pageant
• Rachel Reilly (Gamma Mu) - Big Brother 12 and 13.

Aviation

• Jerrie Mock (Psi) - first woman to fly solo around the world
• Mary Weber (Delta Epsilon) - astronaut

Business

• Evett Simmons (Alpha Tau) - president of the National Bar Association
• Pat Mitchell (Alpha Alpha) - president, PBS
• Toria Tolley (Beta Nu) - VP/consultant, The Psychological Advantage, former CNN weekend anchor
• Tammy Cohen (Alpha Lambda) - owner and founder of Employers Reference Source, Inc. (ERS),

Politics & Public Service

• Carol Laise (Gamma Delta) - U.S. Ambassador to Nepal 1966-1973, first woman director general of the Foreign Service
• Betty Montgomery (Delta Kappa) - first female Attorney General of Ohio
• Melinda Schwegmann (Alpha Eta) - first female Lt. Governor of Louisiana
• Elizabeth Weaver (Delta) - former Michigan Supreme Court Justice and chief justice
• Tova Wiley (Eta Alpha) - first woman to hold the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy, winner of the Legion of Merit Award
• Beverly B. Martin (Alpha Iota) - U.S. Federal Judge, sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Literature

• Kathryn Stockett (Alpha Zeta) - author, The Help
• Jill McCorkle (Gamma Lambda) - author, Good Ol' Girls and eight other novels and short story collections, five of which are New York Times notable books
• Debbie Phelps (Beta Chi) - author, A Mother for All Seasons & mother of Michael Phelps
• Joyce Carol Oates (Beta Zeta) - author, (Blonde, The Gravedigger's Daughter, We Were the Mulvaneys)

Sports

• Gail S. Barron (Alpha Alpha) - winner of the Boston Marathon, 1978.

Phi Mu chapters

Main article: List of Phi Mu chapters

External links

• Phi Mu