- Street Address: 1520 South
University, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 - just off the intersection with
Washtenaw.
- Our House Mother of
8 years is
Mrs. G.
- Our
national founding was at Syracuse University in New York on
November 11, 1874 (Alpha chapter).
- The word
"sorority" was created for Gamma Phi Beta, making it the first women’s
society to be known by that name.
- Beta Chapter,
founded in 1882, was the second GFB
chapter in existence and the first women's group on the University of
Michigan campus.
- Badge voted
most beautiful sorority badge by Tiffany & Company.
- 115 active collegiate chapters and
200 alumnae groups internationally - over 130,000 members worldwide
- The quarterly magazine for Gamma Phi
Beta is The Crescent.
- Symbol: waxing crescent moon
- Flower: the pink carnation.
- Creed:
Love, Labor, Learning, and Loyalty
- Colors:
brown and mode, in honor of Dr. Brown, in whose living room the first GFB
 meetings took place.
- Objective:
To promote the highest type of womanhood through education, social
life,
and service to country and
humanity.
- Four Founders:
Helen M. Dodge, Frances E. Haven, E. Adeline Curtis, Mary A. Bingham
- Our national philanthropy is
Camp Fire USA, an
organization that provides camping and child care programs to children
who otherwise couldn't afford it in order to develop their teamwork
and leadership skills.
- Gamma Phi Beta
was one of seven national sororities to organize the National
Panhellenic Conference.
- Gamma Phi Beta
is one of the ten oldest women’s organizations in America.
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International History
Gamma Phi
Beta was founded on November 11, 1874 at Syracuse University, Syracuse,
New York by Helen M. Dodge, Frances E. Haven, Eunice Adeline Curtis, and
Mary A. Bingham. They were imaginative, courageous risk-takers who
cooperated together to achieve the same ideals Gamma Phi Beta emphasizes
today.
Colleges
and universities admitted few female students in the 1870s. In fact,
administrators and faculty members gave women a rather reluctant
welcome. They argued that women had inferior minds and could not master
mathematics and the classics. In this controversy, Dr. E.O. 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. He enrolled his daughter
Frances at Syracuse, which had approximately 200 students and ten
faculty members in 1874.
Upon her
enrollment, Frances asked three friends to assist her in organizing a
society instead of joining the two year-old Alpha Phi. They sought the
advice and help of Dr. Haven, their brothers, the faculty, and members
of two existing fraternities. They held their first meeting on November
11, 1874.
After the
installation of Beta chapter at the University of Michigan in 1882,
Syracuse faculty member Dr. Frank Smalley coined the word "sorority"
especially for Gamma Phi Beta. It has been used ever since for female
fraternity organizations.
   
Helen M. Dodge E. Adeline Curtis Mary A. Bingham Frances
E. Haven
Beta
Chapter History
Beta
Chapter at the University of Michigan was installed on June 7, 1882.
Kate Gardner and Ella French from Alpha Chapter established Beta Chapter
with six new girls from the University that year.
In 1912,
Beta Chapter built its new house at 1520 South University Avenue. Since
then, the house has undergone many additions and renovations. In the
late 1950s, the house gained a new wing. During these past years, we
have sought further renovations such as new carpet and wallpaper for the
house. The formal living has been completely redecorated with new
carpet, wall paint, and furniture. The following years ahead will see
many more beautiful improvements to preserve the memories of Beta
Chapter.
Updated
04/20/05
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