National Pi Beta Phi History:
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.
As did our Founders, we must dare to dream, for if there are no dreams, there cannot be "dreams come true."
Jennie Nicol, M.D.
Libbie Brook Gaddis
Clara Brownlee Hutchinson
Ada Bruen Grier Emma Brownlee Kilgore
Fannie Thomson
Margaret Campbell
Jennie Horne Turnbull Rosa Moore
Nancy Black Wallace
Inez Smith Soule
Fannie Whitenack Libbey
University of Kansas Alpha History:
Charted as the Kappa Chapter of I.C. Sorosis on April 1, 1873, it was so called our chapter until 1888 when the national organization took the Greek motto for its name, and the Lawrence chapter became Kansas Alpha of Pi Beta Phi. The chapter was installed by Sara A. Richardson, a Pi Phi from Lombard College and sister of three of the charter members who included: Hannah Oliver, Clara Morris, Lizzie Yeagley, Bina Lambert, Gertrude Boughton, Flora May, and Alma Richardson, who wore their golden arrows in their hair or on their collars.
Six more women joined the chapter the year of its founding, including Josephine March, who is the great aunt of JoAnn March Schneider, local alumnae of Pi Phi.
Pi Beta Phi being the first chapter at the University of Kansas as well as the first chapter to have their own actual home built on the KU campus. It was built at 1245 Oread in 1906. Before then, the women lived in boarding and rooming houses. The first house was outgrown by 1914, and a new one was built to house 24 girls at 1246 Mississippi. An addition to it was built in 1928, and that structure served Pi Phi’s until 1962 when the chapter moved to its present home at 1612 West 15th street where 91 women live. A complete renovation of the house was done in 2001.
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