Pi Beta Phi - University of Georgia

P I B E T A P H I | U N I V E R S I T Y O F G E O R G I A | S P R I N G 2 0 1 9 Memories on Milledge Linking Georgia Alpha Pi Phis A s a Pi Phi, you know the story of Monmouth and our 12 founders at Holt House. But do you know the story of Georgia Alpha? As we celebrate our 80th year at UGA, we thought you might like to know the backstory of our legacy — Ancestry.com has nothing on us! Our "ancestors" are from Texas Alpha, Florida Beta, Nebraska Beta, Virginia Alpha and Missouri Gamma! It was March 1938 when Headquarters sent Anne Finch, Texas Alpha and Frances Hildebrand, Texas Alpha, two collegiate members, to attend the University of Georgia for a quarter to report on the school. And, Winifred Smith Page, Wisconsin Alpha, the alumna leading our move on campus, was the great niece of our Founder Inez Smith Soule! As history has been told, "e women made a great many friends for Pi Phi and realized that the University of Georgia would be an ideal institution in which to install a new Pi Phi chapter." At the 1938 Biennial Convention held in Asheville, N.C., the motion that Pi Phi enter the University of Georgia was unanimously carried. Immediately, the Atlanta alumnae "chapter" under the direction of Winifred Smith Paige, Wisconsin Alpha, Zeta Province President, went to work — finding furnishing and equipping a rental apartment on Milledge Avenue. "Lovely wine rugs were bought, and the furniture was upholstered in wine and silver blue. e alumnae members also spent much time in making drapes for the windows." In September, five more collegiate Pi Phis from other chapters enrolled at UGA, transferring for the year to establish Georgia Alpha: Alice Louise Hamlin, Missouri Gamma, Jean Parkinson, Nebraska Beta, Eleanor Bushnell, Florida Beta, Lillian Taylor, Florida Beta and Mildred Campbell, Virginia Alpha. "At the close of September recruitment week, Pi Phi emerged with 14 lovely New Members, in spite of the keen competition of the other 10 sororities on campus." ree more New Members joined before Christmas, and "Pi Beta Phi became known as one of the outstanding sororities on the campus, scholastically as well as socially." (We had the #2 highest GPA for the quarter.) On February 3, 1939, Grand President Amy Burnham Onken, Illinois Epsilon arrived in Athens to install the Georgia Alpha Chapter. By Saturday morning, over 50 Pi Phis had congregated in Athens for the initiation and installation services. Saturday afternoon 13 women received their Pi Beta Phi arrows. From these charter members, we have a chapter we are proud of, memories we cherish and lifelong friends we hold dear! In these 80 years, Georgia Alpha has initiated 2,754 women — with 1,877 living alumnae! And, 35% of our living alumnae have contributed to Pi Phi's success through payment of alumnae dues. ank you to our Pi Phi sisters of 1939! May we keep your legacy alive and growing! 80 YEARS OF GEORGIA ALPHA

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