History of Phi Mu Delta
The National Federation of Commons Clubs
Phi Mu Delta traces its roots to the National Federation of Commons Clubs. The Commons Club was founded at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1899. The Commons Club grew to an impressive 19 chapters from Washington State to Maine prior to the formation of Phi Mu Delta. At the 1918 Conclave, held at the Massachusetts Agricultural College (now UMass), Clarence Dexter Pierce and many of his supporters petitioned the assembly for the formation of a Greek letter fraternity. The petition was adopted and the original plan was in favor of all chapters of the Federation to join Phi Mu Delta. However, only four chapters did so: The Universities of Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut, as well as Union College.
Phi Mu Delta National Fraternity
The formation of the new fraternity met with some early resistance when the alumni of the Union chapter refused to join Phi Mu Delta. So, the Universities of Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut went on to become the founding chapters. Chapter designations were determined by lottery. The Connecticut chapter drew the number one and therefore became the Nu Alpha chapter, New Hampshire drew the number two ticket and became Nu Beta and Vermont became Nu Gamma (the Nu prefix was determined by the location of the chapter, New England Region).
1920-1940
Expansion was conservative with our first new chapter at Northwestern University (Gamma Alpha) in 1921. This was soon followed by chapters at the University of Michigan (Gamma Beta) and M.I.T. (Nu Delta) in 1922. Mu Alpha at Susquehanna University was our first expansion into the Mid-Atlantic Region and Pi Alpha at The University of California, Oakland (now Berkeley), was our first Pacific Region expansion. Both the Depression and World War II hit Phi Mu Delta chapters hard. While we merged with Delta Alpha Pi in 1934, acquiring three chapters, they were short-lived due to the Depression. Also, the University of Vermont chapter closed its doors for 21 years beginning in 1936.
The War Years
The war was especially tough on Phi Mu Delta. While many PMDs enlisted and fought in the war, their chapters crumbled away. As many as 800 Phi Mu Deltas took part in the war effort, and about 90 made the supreme sacrifice. The last chapter casualty of this period was the Connecticut Chapter. To this day, Nu Alpha has remained silent.
The Golden Age
Expansion began to take off during the "Golden Age" of fraternities during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Several new chapters were started in New England. Nu Zeta at UMass-Amherst was founded from a local organization known as Zeta Zeta Zeta. The Nu Epsilon Chapter at the University of Maine helped to establish a new chapter at The University of Southern Maine from a very old local called Alpha Lambda Beta. Also, a local Latin letter fraternity, QED, had established itself at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, after a schism in the local Delta Phi Chapter. QED approached Phi Mu Delta in 1964 and became the Nu Lambda Chapter. This chapter went on to win several scholarship awards before closing in the mid-'70s due to anti-fraternity legislation. In addition, The Bald Eagle Club at Lock Haven University, in Pennsylvania, became the Mu Zeta Chapter. The Sigma Delta Chi fraternity, a young local from Keene State College in New Hampshire became the Nu Omicron Chapter in 1970.
1970-1980
Unfortunately, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, fraternity membership began to decline all around the country. Phi Mu Delta was not alone. We had begun to prosper in the 1960s and even opened our first National Headquarters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There was a complete professional staff and traveling consultant. However, with the declining membership, it was getting harder and harder to maintain the office. While several new chapters were started in the 1970s, they all died due to a lack of support and membership. Phi Mu Delta began to look for solutions. In 1974, another small, financially strapped national, Delta Phi, approached Phi Mu Delta about a merger. Plans were made and both organizations planned to merge under the name, Delta Phi. However, Phi Mu Delta's crest and colors would be retained. All looked well, and then things went sour. Due to an impeding lawsuit against Delta Phi, the merger was called off. Instead a new innovative plan was established. Phi Mu Delta and Delta Phi would remain separate organizations, but share a National Office and pool other resources. In fact, this plan looked so successful, that another small, national organization, Alpha Delta Gamma, entered into the deal. Unfortunately, this deal too had its problems when one of the organizations could no longer afford their percentage of the agreement. Phi Mu Delta was on its own again.
1980-1990
The late 1970s looked bad! It appeared that Phi Mu Delta would dissolve. In fact many alumni and undergraduate members were calling for this action. The chapter at MIT left in 1977 and has continued to exist as a local, Nu Delta, to this very day. However, a group of very young new alumni, led by the more experienced alumnus, Eli Henry, began to rebuild the organization. A new National Office was established in State College, Pennsylvania, when we hired Stewart Howe Alumni Service to run our daily affairs. The Triangle began to be published again and the chapter at the University of Vermont was reestablished. The 1980s began as a time of rebuilding. Phi Mu Delta rewrote its constitution, re-established the Phi Mu Delta Foundation and began to invest much time in its remaining chapters. The only new chapter of this period was established at California University of Pennsylvania. The Mu Pi Chapter was once a part of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. However, in 1979 the Pi Triton local fraternity separated from Theta Delta Chi and petitioned Phi Mu Delta in 1985.
1990-Present
The 1990s have been a great time of growth for Phi Mu Delta. Our chapters have been extremely strong and active in their communities. The Nu Beta Chapter at New Hampshire had closed its doors in 1981. In the spring of 1995, the chapter was re-activated and has helped renew our interest in expansion efforts. Our latest expansions have occurred at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. The Mu Theta and Mu Lambda colonies (respectively) hope to achieve chapter status soon!
Phi Mu Delta has maintained that its strengths are in its small size and the overwhelming commitment of its alumni. The entire National Council is made up of volunteers and most chapters have strong alumni associations. The last twenty years have been slow and steady. We have come back from near financial disaster and grown into one of the strongest small national fraternities in the U.S.