Hillsdale College

Michigan Alpha

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Four members wearing purple and standing in front of the chapter house

Our Roots

In Spring 1887, Minta Morgan and James E. Davidson, leaders of sister and brother literary societies at Hillsdale, helped bring a women’s fraternity to campus by petitioning I.C. Sorosis—a request that was quickly approved. On May 21, 1887, Morgan and six other women were initiated at her grandfather’s home, marking the founding of the Michigan Alpha Chapter in a secret ceremony due to anti-fraternity sentiment. The chapter was installed by Illinois Beta Jennie Colegrove. By December 1887, the chapter publicly emerged, with the first mention of “the ladies of Pi Beta Phi” appearing in the student newspaper.

Supporting Sisters’ Dreams

Chapter-specific scholarship funds support collegiate chapter members as they pursue their academic dreams and professional goals. By giving to a scholarship fund, donors can directly impact their own chapter sisters and open doors that might not have been possible otherwise.

Notable Chapter Alumnae

Headshot of Josephine Bowers Thomas posing indoors wearing a navy blue and white sweater

Josephine Bowers Thoms

Artist

Headshot of Josephine Bowers Thomas posing indoors wearing a navy blue and white sweater

Josephine Bowers Thoms

Artist

Josephine Bowers Thoms was a lifelong artist who earned several honors and awards for her talent. Her creative skills were far-reaching, with her work including modern dance composition, stage painting, ceramics, sculpture and mural painting. In recognition of her artistry, Josephine received the 1945 National Academy of Design Suydam Medal for Sculpture, won several awards from the National Association of Women Artists and was given national appreciation for her cartoons in the early 1950s. Josephine was also successful in her professional career where she shared her skills and knowledge with others. She held various art educator roles at the collegiate level as well as founded multiple art associations and societies.

Josephine was initiated in 1942.

Historical black and white headshot of Elizebeth Friedman wearing a grey jacket and grey hat with a flower on it in front of a black background

Elizebeth Smith Friedman

Cryptanalyst

Historical black and white headshot of Elizebeth Friedman wearing a grey jacket and grey hat with a flower on it in front of a black background

Elizebeth Smith Friedman

Cryptanalyst

Elizebeth Smith Friedman was an American cryptanalyst whose codebreaking work helped shape modern cryptography and national security. Working alongside her husband, cryptologist William F. Friedman, she became one of the leading codebreakers of the 20th century. During Prohibition, Elizebeth helped the U.S. Coast Guard and federal law enforcement agencies dismantle international rum-running operations by deciphering thousands of encrypted messages, leading to numerous arrests and convictions.

Elizebeth continued her work during World War II, when she led a team that cracked communications used by Nazi spy networks operating throughout South America. Her efforts helped neutralize enemy espionage activities and contributed significantly to Allied intelligence operations. Elizebeth has since been recognized as one of the most accomplished cryptanalysts in American history, and her many posthumous honors include induction into the National Security Agency Hall of Honor and the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

Elizebeth was initiated in 1914.

Chapter Awards

2001

Alice W. Johnson Bowl

2001

Alice W. Johnson Bowl

2001

Alice W. Johnson Bowl

2001

Alice W. Johnson Bowl

2001

Alice W. Johnson Bowl

2001

Historian's Vase

2001

Top Ten Chapters

2001

Top Ten Chapters

2001

Top Ten Chapters

2001

Top Ten Chapters

2001

Vera Moss Bowl

2006

Alice W. Johnson Bowl

2006

Top Ten Chapters

2006

Top Ten Chapters

2015

Excellence in Academic Mentoring Programming

2019

Balfour Cup 2nd Runner Up

2019

Spirit Award

2019

Excellence in Academic Mentoring Programming

2019

Balfour Cup 2nd Runner Up