Pi Mu, (ΠΜ), was an honor society for medical students. It was founded at the University of Virginia in 1892. It merged with Phi Chi, a similar society, in 1922.

Pi Mu
ΠΜ
Pi Mu badge
FoundedDecember 13, 1892; 131 years ago (December 13, 1892)
University of Virginia
TypeHonor Society
AffiliationIndependent
StatusMerged
Merge Date1922
SuccessorPhi Chi Medical Fraternity
EmphasisMedicine
ScopeNational
MottoSemper Ad Honorem
PublicationThe Journal
   Cerebrum
Chapters17
Members1,500 lifetime
Headquarters
United States
Websitewww.phichimed.org

History

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Pi Mu was an honor society for medical students that was founded on December 13, 1892 at the University of Virginia. Dr. John Mallet, a faculty member at the university, designed the fraternity's name and motto.[1] Its founders were:

  • Hugh I. Cummings
  • Hugh H. Duke
  • Powell C. Fauntleroy
  • E. L. Hobson
  • James S. Irving
  • John W. Mallet
  • Charles E. Marrow
  • Rawley Martin
  • Hugh T. McGuire
  • Rawley Penick
  • Nicholas Worthington

The next year, the Beta chapter was established at the Medical College of Virginia.[1] A third chapter was chartered at the University College of Medicine in 1896 but Beta and Gamma chapters consolidated to form Beta Gamma chapter later that year.[1]

In November 1921, Dave F. Dozier of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity and J. P. Williams of Pi Mu began unofficial negotiations for a merger of the two fraternities. Their discussions culminated in an agreement of merger signed October 7, 1922, in Richmond, Virginia, by Albert F. Saunders for Phi Chi and J. Blair Fitts for Pi Mu. Also participating in the arrangements of the merger were Dozier and William I. Owens, Theta Eta chapter for Phi Chi and Williams of Pi Mu. At the time of the merger, Pi Mu had initiated some 1,500 members.[2]

Under the terms of the merger, members of the Beta and Gamma chapters of Pi Mu were initiated into the Theta Eta chapter of Phi Chi. The Alpha chapter of Pi Mu was installed as the Pi Mu chapter of Phi Chi on October 14, 1922. Alumni of Pi Mu became associate members of the Pi Mu chapter of Phi Chi and were obligated to become life subscribers to the Phi Chi QUARTERLY; Phi Chi membership cards were issued to those who so subscribed. These associate members were granted the right to wear the badge of Phi Chi although the Pi Mu official badge was to remain "official" for all Pi Mu alumni graduating before July 1, 1922.

Through this amalgamation, Phi Chi received all of the Pi Mu interests and could accept any part of its ritual and constitution. Phi Chi also agreed to sponsor the Pi Mu honor system.[3]

Symbols

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The crest of Pi Mu was a caduceus at the top of a shield with the Latin phrase "Semper Ad Honorem." and the Greek letters beneath.[1]

The Pi Mu badge was a Greek cross with a skull and bones at the center. The skull was set with emerald eyes and the letters ΠΜ displayed on the horizontal arm of the cross.[3] The design of the Phi Chi pledge button was changed at the time of the Pi Mu merger in 1922 to honor the Pi Mu honor system. The badge of Pi Mu, a Greek cross carrying the skull and crossbones in addition to the Greek letters ΠΜ, by agreement became Phi Chi's pledge button with the substitution of a caduceus and the letters ΦΧ in silver on a field of green.[3]

The fraternity's annual publication was The Journal which was begun in 1908.[1] Its journal was Cerebrum.[2]

Chapters

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Pi Mu consisted of the following chapters[1] Inactive chapters and institutions are indicated in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha December 13, 1892 – 1904;

1908–1922

University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Merged (ΦΧ) [3][a]
Beta 1893–1896 Medical College of Virginia Richmond, Virginia Consolidated (ΒΓ) [b]
Gamma 1896 University College of Medicine Richmond, Virginia Consolidated (ΒΓ) [b]
Beta Gamma 1896–1922 University College of Medicine Richmond, Virginia Merged (ΦΧ) [3][b][c]
Delta 1904–1907 Louisville Medical College Louisville, Kentucky Consolidated (ΔΗ) [d]
Epsilon 1904–1907 University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Consolidated (ΕΖ) [e]
Zeta 1905–1907 University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Consolidated (ΕΖ) [e]
Eta 1907 Hospital College of Medicine of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Consolidated (ΔΗ) [4][d]
Delta Eta 1907–1908 Louisville Medical College Louisville, Kentucky Consolidated (ΔΕ) [d][f]
Epsilon Zeta 1907–1908 University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Consolidated (ΔΕ) [e][f]
Delta Epsilon 1908–1922 University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Merged (ΦΧ) [3][f][g]
Theta 1908–1915 Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive
Iota 1908–1914 Medical College of South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina Inactive
Kappa 1908–1922 University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Merged (ΦΧ) [3][h]
Lambda 1910–1922 Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee Merged (ΦΧ) [3][i]
Mu 1910–1922 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland Merged (ΦΧ) [3][j]
Nu 1913–1922 Columbia University New York City, New York Merged (ΦΧ) [3][k]

Notes

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  1. ^ Chapter became the Pi Mu chapter of Phi Chi as part of the national merger of the two fraternities.
  2. ^ a b c Beta and Gamma consolidated to form Beta Gamma chapter.
  3. ^ Chapter joined the Theta Eta chapter of Phi Chi as part of the national merger of the two fraternities.
  4. ^ a b c Delta and Eta consolidated to form Delta Eta chapter.
  5. ^ a b c Epsilon and Zeta consolidated to form Epsilon Zeta chapter.
  6. ^ a b c Delta Eta and Epsilon Zeta consolidated to form Delta Epsilon chapter.
  7. ^ Chapter joined the Alpha Alpha chapter of Phi Chi as part of the national merger of the two fraternities.
  8. ^ Chapter joined the Alpha Beta chapter of Phi Chi as part of the national merger of the two fraternities.
  9. ^ Chapter joined the Pi chapter of Phi Chi as part of the national merger of the two fraternities.
  10. ^ Chapter joined the Kappa Delta chapter of Phi Chi as part of the national merger of the two fraternities.
  11. ^ Chapter joined the Upsilon Sigma chapter of Phi Chi as part of the national merger of the two fraternities.

References

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  • "Phi Chi Medical Fraternity".
  1. ^ a b c d e f Baird, William, ed. (1915). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (8 ed.). New York: The College Fraternity Publishing Co.
  2. ^ a b Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 540 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cannon, Daniel H. (1989). The History of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity Inc. Centennial Edition 1889-1989. Phi Chi Quarterly Office.
  4. ^ "The Hospital College of Medicine of Louisville, Ky". Journal of the American Medical Association. II (24): 664. 1884-06-14. doi:10.1001/jama.1884.02390470020004. ISSN 0002-9955.