National History

On January 4, 1852, Mary Ann DuPont (Lines), Mary Elizabeth Myrick (Daniel) and Martha Bibb Hardaway (Redding) founded an organization called the Philomathean Society at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. Wesleyan was the first institution to grant college degrees to women.

For the next two months the Founders were busy gathering additional members, creating a constitution, devising an initiation service and adopting a secret and an open motto. On March 4, 1852, the members announced the formation of their new society, which became the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity. Since that time, March 4 has been observed as Founders' Day.
By the turn of the century, the Philomathean Society had developed a strong body of alumnae, a history rich in tradition and the confidence to expand into a national organization. On August 1, 1904, the Philomathean Society was chartered by the State of Georgia as a national organization with the exclusive use of the Greek letters Phi and Mu and the right to establish additional chapters on other campuses.

Today Phi Mu has grown to encompass a diverse membership of more than 140,000 women nationwide.

Local Chapter History

The Delta Kappa chapter of Phi Mu fraternity was installed December 6, 7, and 8th 1946 at Bowling Green State University. The installation was conducted by the National President, Ellena Warner Dunbar, who watched their progress from the beginning. The weekend celebration started with the arrival of the National President from California. Her first visit was to the women’s quarters in Women’s Hall (now Shatzel Hall). On Saturday afternoon, fifty one women were women were initiated into Phi Mu Fraternity. Later that evening a banquet was held for the new initiates, followed by an open house in the women’s quarters. The weekend ended with a formal reception of over three hundred guests, including faculty, students and townspeople. The new sisters were given flower bouquets, special letters, and gifts from sister chapters and campus organizations. After the installation of the Delta Kappa chapter The Aglaia of Phi Mu published an article stating, “Delta Kappa has had a brilliant beginning, has already established itself with honor on the campus, and will continue to bring pride to Phi Mu” (The Aglaia of Phi Mu, January 1947).