Gamma Phi Beta

Gamma Phi Beta (ΓΦΒ, also known as GPhi or Gamma Phi) was the first female sorority and is an international sorority that was founded on November 11, 1874, at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.[2] The term "sorority" was coined for Gamma Phi Beta by Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at Syracuse University.[3]

Gamma Phi Beta
ΓΦΒ
FoundedNovember 11, 1874 (1874-11-11)
Syracuse University, (Syracuse, New York)
TypeSocial
ScopeInternational
MottoFounded On A Rock
Colors     Brown      Mode[1]
SymbolCrescent Moon
FlowerPink Carnation
JewelPearl
PublicationThe Crescent
PhilanthropyBuilding Strong Girls, Camp Fire, Girl Guides of Canada, Girls on the Run
Chapters187 collegiate, 175+ alumnae
Members200,000+ lifetime
Headquarters12737 E. Euclid Drive
Centennial, Colorado
USA
Websitehttp://www.gammaphibeta.org

The four founders are Helen Mary Dodge (b. Sept. 26, 1850), Frances Elizabeth Haven (b. May 27, 1854), Eunice Adeline Curtis (b. Dec. 22, 1854) and Mary Alice Bingham (b. Aug. 30, 1856). The sorority's international headquarters are located in Centennial, Colorado. Gamma Phi Beta currently has more than 200,000 initiated members, 130 chartered collegiate chapters and more than 155 alumnae groups across the United States and Canada.[4]

History

Colleges and universities admitted few women students in the 1870s; some administrators and faculty members argued women had inferior minds and could not master mathematics and the classics. Regardless, Dr. Erastus Otis Haven, Syracuse University chancellor and former president of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University maintained that women should receive the advantages of higher education and enrolled his daughter, Frances, at Syracuse.

Founders of Gamma Phi Beta

After considering an invitation to join the then two-year-old Alpha Phi fraternity, Frances Haven instead asked three friends to assist her in organizing their own society. They sought the advice and help of Dr. Haven, their brothers, members of the Syracuse University faculty and members of two existing fraternities. Gamma Phi Beta was subsequently founded by Helen M. Dodge, Frances E. Haven, E. Adeline Curtis and Mary A. Bingham on November 11, 1874, at Syracuse University.[5] The founders had originally selected light blue as the official color but changed it in 1875 to brown and mode (dark and light brown) in honor of Dr. J.J. Brown, whose study was used for Friday afternoon meetings of Gamma Phi Beta.[6] The first initiate, Clara Worden, joined in March 1875.

Gamma Phi Beta is a member of the Syracuse Triad, the name given to the three women's sororities founded at Syracuse University.[7] Alpha Phi was founded first in 1872 by 10 of the original 20 women admitted into Syracuse University. Gamma Phi Beta came along two years later in 1874 and Alpha Gamma Delta completed the triad in 1904. The three sororities maintain a bond, and Syracuse Triad ceremonies or events are held on most campuses with chapters of all three groups.[8]

The crest, of coat of arms, of Gamma Phi Beta was adopted after a national crest design competition put into motion at the 1915 Convention. The winning crest was designed by Gertrude Comfort Morrow (California-Berkeley, 1913) and is still used today. It wasn't until 1965 that the use of color was allowed on the crest and officially adopted.

Frances E. Haven went on to assist in founding Omicron Chapter at the University of Illinois. Omicron is the only other chapter founded by one of the original founders and in 1915, Frances' own daughter Alida Moss was initiated into the chapter that her mother founded. Alida is the only daughter of a founder to be initiated into Gamma Phi Beta.[9] Frances E. Haven Moss is buried in a cemetery on the University of Illinois campus.

National Panhellenic Conference Membership

In 1891, Gamma Phi Beta participated at the National Panhellenic Conference's (NPC) first conference in Boston, Massachusetts, as a founding member. Other participants included Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi. Today, NPC includes 26 sororities united to "promote the values of and to serve as an advocate for its member groups in collaboration with those members, campuses and communities."

Each member organization of NPC chooses one member to serve a two-year term as chairwoman of NPC once every 52 years. In the history of NPC, three Gamma Phi Betas have served: Lillian Thompson (Beta), 1912–1913; Beatrice Locke Hogan (Nu), 1955–1957; and Elizabeth Ahlemeyer Quick (Beta Phi), 2005–2007.

Philanthropy and community service

In 1929, camping for girls was designated the official philanthropy of Gamma Phi Beta and the organization supported Camp Fire and Girl Guides of Canada. Since 2001, more than $400,000 has been donated to Camp Fire USA and its local councils. Local chapters of Gamma Phi Beta support other philanthropies as well.

At Convention 2012, a new philanthropic focus was adopted: "to provide experiences and resources that build spiritual, mental and social resiliency in girls." To reflect this, the sorority partnered with a third organization, Girls on the Run, which teaches self-respect and self-love through running games and different sports and activities. The official philanthropy of Gamma Phi Beta is stated as Building Strong Girls. One way members build strong girls is by supporting their philanthropic partners such as Girls on the Run.[10] Gamma Phi Beta's current philanthropic focus is, "We are women building strong girls." [11]

Membership

Every initiated member has a lifelong membership in Gamma Phi Beta and may participate in alumnae activities on the local, regional and international level. Women who have never been initiated to a National Panhellenic Conference sorority may be eligible to join Gamma Phi Beta through the alumnae initiate program. Once a woman is initiated into Gamma Phi Beta, she is no longer allowed to join any other National Panhellenic Conference sorority. One standard of membership is paying dues each semester during a member's college years and, once she graduates, paying a yearly due to International Headquarters.[12]

Symbols

Gamma Phi Beta's symbol is the crescent moon, while the flower is the pink carnation. The official stone is the pearl. The official colors of Gamma Phi Beta are brown and mode (dark and light brown), and pink. Mode can also mean "the style of the day", establishing how brown and pink are now in widespread use in Sorority branding and marketing materials.[13]

The carnation was named the official flower at Convention 1888, while pink was designated the official color of the carnation in 1950. Carnations have been revered for more than 2,000 years as one of the most long-lasting flowers. Many varieties produce a clove-like scent, and the aroma is said to be both uplifting and motivating. The legend of pink carnations says they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s tears – making them the symbol of a mother’s undying love.[14]

The Gamma Phi Beta crest, or coat of arms is in the shape of a shield featuring three pink carnations on a white background, an open book on a light brown background, and a waxing crescent moon on dark brown background. At the top of the shield is a golden oil lamp and at the bottom of the shield is a banner displaying the Greek letters Gamma, Phi, and Beta.[9] The crest is only to be worn by initiated members.

The Gamma Phi Beta badge has not significantly changed since its design in 1874. It was designed by Tiffany & Co. It features a black crescent moon cradling the Greek letters, Gamma, Phi and Beta. Badges are currently produced by jeweler Herff Jones with customization options such as a gold or silver finish or adding jewels.

The badges worn by International Council members are larger and feature white crescent moons instead of black. The international president's badge is set with diamonds on the Greek letters; other international officers' badges are set with pearls. In 1902, a triangular-shaped shield of dark brown on which rests a crescent of gold was approved as the badge for uninitiated new members.

Chapters
Main article: List of Gamma Phi Beta chapters

Notable alumnae

Arts

Education

Entertainment

Government

Media

Sports

  • Lauren Sinclair (Delta Omega) – United States Sailing Team Member, Olympic Sailing Campaigner and ISAF World Cup of Sailing Participant.[15]
  • Caroline Casey (Alpha Chi) – Keeper at Sky Blue FC, Piscataway Township, New Jersey

Facilities

Many Gamma Phi Beta chapters have on-campus housing for members. Housing may be run by the Gamma Phi Beta national organization or an alumna-run local Affiliated Housing Corporation. Several Gamma Phi Beta sorority houses are registered as historical homes, including:

See also

References
  1. "Sorority Symbols". Gamma Phi Beta. Archived from the original on 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  2. "The History of Syracuse University Fraternity and Sorority Community". Syracuse University. 2010. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  3. Becque, Fran; Ph.D. (2013-08-12). "Women's Fraternities, Sororities, and Dr. Frank Smalley". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  4. "Membership". Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  5. "Our History | Gamma Phi Beta". www.gammaphibeta.org. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  6. "1875: The Colors • History of Gamma Phi Beta". gammaphibetahistory.org. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
  7. Hultsch, Margaret Knights, Former Editor, Alpha Phi Quarterly. "Syracuse Triad". Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly. Archived from the original on 1999-04-21. Retrieved 2009-10-14.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Syracuse Triad". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  9. http://gammaphibetahistory.org/1915-the-crest/
  12. "Gamma Phi Beta Membership". Gamma Phi Beta. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  14. Gamma Phi Beta international website, gammaphibeta.org
  15. "Prominent Gamma Phi Betas". Gamma Phi Beta. Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  16. Gamma Phi Beta The Buzz, October 2010
  17. "Member to shine in Broadway musical". Gamma Phi Beta. July 23, 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  18. "Spotlight On: Life Abroad". The Crescent of Gamma Phi Beta. July 1, 2005. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
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