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Our History, Symbols & Founders
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.
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Founding of Pi Beta Phi took place at Holt House. Ada Bruen and Libbie Brook
were close friends and neighbors in Henderson County, Illinois. Ada had
taught in the little stone Brook School on the land where the Brook and
Bruen farms adjoined. Four years older than Libbie, the youngest Founder,
Ada was 21 at the time of the founding. While at college, Ada and Libbie
rented the upstairs southwest bedroom of a home owned by Major Jacob H. Holt
at 402 East First Avenue. It was in Ada and Libbie’s bedroom at the Holt home that I.C. Sorosis came to life. With Emma Brownlee as President, the group pledged themselves to secrecy. The grip, accompanied by the Greek words, Pi, Beta and Phi, was chosen. They selected the arrow as the badge. There in that room they wrote a constitution and formulated goals for I.C. Sorosis. |
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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. 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 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. |
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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 is an arrowhead of Roman gold mounted with the Greek letter B (Beta) in burnished gold. |  |
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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 rush. 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. |
Founders
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Jennie
Nichol
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