Phi Beta. Alpha Chapter (Northwestern University)
Biography
The Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta was founded on the campus of Northwestern University in 1912 by Gladys Burnside, Elsie Schultz, and Josephine Mack. In 1914 the fraternity incorporated under Illinois Laws. Its first home was located at 1928 Sherman Avenue in Evanston, Illinois.
Phi Beta was a professional fraternity organized to “promote the best in music and speech.” Among its activities and interests were sponsorship of entertainment and educational services for members of the armed forces and the handicapped, the recognition of young and talented performers in music and speech, and the promotion of community musical and theatrical companies and performances.
Membership in Phi Beta was open to women with an academic major or minor in music, speech, or the theatre arts or by special permission of other members. Members were required to maintain an academic grade average of B with no grades lower than C being acceptable to retain active membership. A seven member national council governed Phi Beta.
Alpha Chapter appears to have become defunct in the early 1980s. At that time references to it disappear from Northwestern's listings of campus organizations.