Phi Mu was founded by three women at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia on January 4, 1852. The founders of Phi Mu are Mary Ann DuPont Lines, Mary Elizabeth Myrick Daniel, and Martha Bibb Hardaway Redding. Originally called the Philomathean Society, the sorority eventually became Phi Mu. These founders gave Phi Mu the motto of “The Faithful Sisters” because of the need for them to ban together as a group in order to support each other in the lifelong goal of excelling academically, morally, and helping others.

This motto still holds true for Phi Mu today. Phi Mu has more than eighty-five scholarships available to their members. Graduate and undergraduate members are eligible to apply for educational financial assistance. This is just one way in which Phi Mu supports its members in order for them to excel academically and achieve all their goals in life.

Members of Phi Mu also contribute a lot of time and energy volunteering in the community. Sisters can be seen in their Phi Mu Greek clothing, hats, T-shirts, pins, and apparel while fundraising for national charities like the Children’s Miracle Network. Every year Phi Mu has fund raising events and donates the money to children’s hospitals all across the nation. Phi Mu sets the goal of five hundred thousand dollars a year to raise for charity, and since they began focusing on the Children’s Miracle Network in 1986, they have donated almost four million dollars to this cause. Phi Mu is a truly philanthropic sorority that works hard and is dedicated to helping others.

Many Phi Mu members have gone on to have very rewarding careers after college. Some of the most well known Phi Mu alumni are first female Attorney General of Ohio Betty Montgomery, first female Lt. Governor of Louisiana Melinda Schwegmann, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver, first woman to hold the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy Tova Wiley, winner of the Boston Marathon Gail Barron, president of the National Bar Association Evett Simmons, astronaut Mary Ellen Weber, and the first woman to successfully fly solo around the world Jerrie Mock. Many of these alumni are still seen wearing their Phi Mu rings and jewelry to show their support of the sorority that helped them get a great start to a rewarding career.

Rose and White are the official colors of Phi Mu. All over the nation members wear these colors on their Phi Mu sweatshirts, hats, and clothing. Phi Mu party favors, glasses, and other merchandise are seen at formal events, ceremonies, and other sorority gatherings. When students pledge Phi Mu in hopes of becoming a member they often wear the sorority colors and merchandise to show their commitment to becoming a member.

There is an induction ceremony when pledges are accepted into Phi Mu to officially make them full members. New Phi Mu sisters may gifts like pins, blankets, flip-flops, and other Phi Mu merchandise. These gifts are given to honor the occasion of a new generation of sisters being added to the long legacy of Phi Mu.

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