Phi Beta - Origins

Origins

Phi Beta Fraternity began as a local club at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL on May 5, 1912. The three founders, Josephine Mack, Elsie Schultz and Gladys Burnside, had no idea that their local club would grow to a national association. From its inception Phi Beta held the ideal of uniting arts, evidenced by the selection of some her first members: from the School of Music came Mae Aurelius and Clara Ayers and from the School of Oratory came Rosebud Fortier, Gertrude Thomas and Evelyn Owens.

In the beginning, the fraternity was exclusive to women majoring in music and speech. Over time, the fraternity has grown to embrace all of the creative and performing arts and their related therapies and histories. In the years 1974 and 1975 chapters voted on the matter of gender exclusion. Phi Beta today includes women and men.

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