Zeta Phi (professional)

This article is about the medical sorority. For the defunct Missouri fraternity, see Zeta Phi.
Zeta Phi
ΖΦ
FoundedMay 29, 1900 (May 29, 1900)
Syracuse University College of Medicine
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
EmphasisMedicine
ScopeInternational
Colors  Black,   White, and   Gold
FlowerDaisy
Chapters10
Headquarters
United States

Zeta Phi (ΖΦ) was an international professional women's fraternity for medicine. It was established in 1900 at the Syracuse University College of Medicine in Syracuse, New York. It established chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South Africa before going inactive in the 1980s.

History

Zeta Phi was a medical women's fraternity that was established at the Syracuse University College of Medicine in Syracuse, New York, on May 29, 1900.[1] The founders announced the fraternity's establishment in September 1900.[2] Its purpose was "to bring the women of the medical profession into closer touch with one another".[3][4]

Zeta Phi's founders were Anna T. Bingham, Emma C. Clark, Phoebe Anna Ferris, Elizabeth L. Shrimpton, Mary F. Sweet, and Anna B. White.[1][2][5][6] Elizabeth Blackwell, the first women physician and a prior graduate of the Syracuse University College of Medicine, was an honorary charter member of the fraternity.[3][4][2]

The fraternity added a second chapter at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1903, followed by a third chapter at Johns Hopkins University in 1906.[1] Gamma at Johns Hopkins University rented a chapter house.[1] Zeta Phi became international with the addition of a chapter at the University of Toronto in 1907. A chapter was added at Tufts College Medical School in 1909.[1]

Membership in Zeta Phi was open to women studying medicine and women doctors, with the latter being initiated at the fraternity's conventions.[7] In 1907, Zeta Phi had 25 active members and a total of 100 members.[8] In 1912, it had five active chapters and 125 members.[1] Its membership had grown to 45 active members and 400 lifetime members by 1923.[9] A chapter was installed at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1928.[10]

The sorority had active chapters into the 1980s.[11]

Symbols

The fraternity's Greek letters stand for Zeuxis philōa.[4] Zeta Phi's badge was a black enamel quatrefoil, bearing the Greek letters "ΖΦ" in white to the left and right of a white winged caduceus with a gold serpent.[8][1] The sorority's colors were black, white, and gold.[8][9] Its flower was the daisy.[8][9]

Philanthropy

Members of Zeta Phi raised funds to support a medical student loan fund.[12][13]

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Zeta Phi, with inactive chapters and institutions indicated in italics.[1][9]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Ref.
Alpha May 29, 1900 – 1912 Syracuse University College of Medicine Syracuse, New York Inactive [14]
Beta 1903 Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [15][16][a]
Gamma 1906–1914 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland Inactive [17]
Delta 1907 University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada Inactive
Epsilon 1909–after 1937 Tufts College Medical School Boston, Massachusetts Inactive [18][19][15]
Theta May 18, 1928 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Inactive [15][10][20][b]
19xx ? Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Manhattan, New York Inactive [15]
19xx ? Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Inactive [15]
19xx ? New York Homeopathic Medical College Manhattan, New York Inactive [15]
19xx ? University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa Inactive [15]
  1. ^ Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania became the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1970 and merged to form Drexel University College of Medicine in 1993.
  2. ^ Chapter formed from Sigma Sigma Epsilon, a local women's medical fraternity.

Governance

The fraternity was governed by five national officers, elected through a biennial convention.[1][14] Its officers included president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.[21]

Zeta Phi's fifth convention was held in Toronto in 1909 and 1910.[22][7][23] The convention was held in Boston in 1911, Syracuse in 1913, and Boston in 1923.[14][9][23] The 1925 convention was in New York City.[24] The 1932 convention was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[25][26]

Notable members

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Baird, Wm. Raimond, ed. (1912). "Zeta Phi". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (7th ed.). New York: The College Fraternity Publishing Co. p. 530 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ^ a b c "Women's Medical Fraternity". New-York Tribune. 1900-09-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.
  3. ^ a b c "Zeta Phi Women's Medical Fraternity". The Medical Bulletin. 22 (10): 389. October 1900. ISSN 1041-1194 – via Hathi Trust.
  4. ^ a b c "The Zeta Phi of Syracuse University". Medical Record. 58 (11): 421. September 15, 1900.
  5. ^ Root, Elihu. History of the Mohawk Valley, Gateway to the West, 1614–1925: Covering the Six Counties of Schenectady, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer, and Oneida, vol. 3. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, p 807. via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Medical Sorority Gives a Reception". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. 1900-10-02. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Zeta Phi Convention". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 1910-01-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c d "Greek Letter Sororities. Women's Secret Societies in American Colleges". Times Union. Brooklyn, New York. 1907-07-21. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d e Shaw, Ida Martin (1923). The Sorority Handbook (8th ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin. pp. 102–103 – via Hathi Trust.
  10. ^ a b "Initiation Scheduled". The Pittsburgh Press. 1928-05-18. p. 27. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Collection: Zeta Phi Fraternity records | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". Drexel University. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  12. ^ "Zeta Phi". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. 1929-04-03. p. 20. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Moyer, Adele (1929-04-07). "Women's Medical Society Arranges Benefit Bridge; Zeta Phi to Sponsor Event". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 62. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c Baird, Wm. Raimond, ed. (1915). "Zeta Phi". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (8th ed.). New York: The College Fraternity Publishing Co. p. 512 – via HathiTrust.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Shaw, Ida Martin (1931). The Sorority Handbook (11 ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin. p. 159 – via Hathi Trust.
  16. ^ "Mr. and Mrs. D. Boulton Musser". The Evening News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 1972-05-24. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. (1927). "Zeta Phi". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company. p. 433 – via HathiTrust.
  18. ^ "Zeta Phi, Tufts Medical, Entertains it Pledges". The Boston Globe. 1930-04-29. p. 24. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Revere". The Boston Globe. 1937-06-17. p. 10. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Theta Chapter of Zeta Phi Women's Medical Fraternity". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. 1937-12-20. p. 16. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Officers of the Zeta Phi". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 1910-01-06. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Zeta Phi Convention". Commercial. Bangor, Maine. 1909-01-08. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Canada Day by Day". The Ottawa Citizen. 1910-01-06. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Zeta Phis in Convention". Buffalo Courier. 1925-01-03. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b "Women May Rule Medical Field, Says Zeta Phi Head". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1932-06-11. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Medical Fraternity Banquet Tonight". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. 1932-06-11. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Women's Medical Society in Syracuse". The New York Times. 1900-09-30. p. 12. Retrieved 2025-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Allison, Madeline G. (July 1922). "The Horizon". The Crisis. 24 (3): 127.
  29. ^ Kiesel, Diane (2019-03-01). She Can Bring Us Home: Dr. Dorothy Boulding Ferebee, Civil Rights Pioneer. U of Nebraska Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-64012-168-3 – via Google Books.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.