In the spring of 1921, there being only fifteen national sororities on the University of Michigan campus, the suggestion was made that in an institution of that size would accommodate additional sororities. As a result of this suggestion, Margery and Josephine Lane organized Pi Kappa. In January 1922, a constitution was drawn and permission was granted by the Dean of the University to eleven charter members to form this local sorority. In November 1922, Pi Kappa was combined with another local sorority known as Lambda Tau Sigma, retaining the name and the constitution of Pi Kappa. During the first year after its founding, Pi Kappa did not maintain a chapter house. Following the consolidation, Lambda Tau Sigma’s house at 822 Oakland Avenue sheltered the group and became the first home of Alpha Mu Chapter of Sigma Kappa.
Pi Kappas were prominent in campus activities, held positions in the various associations, and on the board of student publications, were members of dramatic and literary societies, and were elected to honorary societies. The organization attained throughout its existence a high scholarship average among the sororities, and in 1922-23 even higher than the campus average. Dorothy Mummery represented the group in Phi Beta Kappa.
The Alpha Mu Chapter at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor was officially installed on February 16, 1924, by Lorah Monroe and Eliza Alexander (Eta), Audrey Dykeman (Theta), Katherine Reif (Alpha Beta), and Elizabeth Whipple Butler (Alpha). Pledging of the members of Pi Kappa took place at the chapter house on February 15, 1924. Initiation ceremony took place the next day at Wesleyan Hall and was followed by a banquet held at the Michigan Union with Elizabeth Whipple Butler serving as toastmistress. A tea for the Grand Officers and other visiting Sigma Kappas concluded the festivities. Nineteen Sigma Kappas from eleven older chapters attended the installation which brought into the mystic bond the following charter members: Mildred Campbell Fox, Margaret E. Taft, Grace L. Bessner, Elise Butts, Lois Scandling, Irene I. Schuler, Josephine Lang, Margery Brando, Daisy Harder, Maxine Cromwell, Ester Barth, Pauline Canby, Margery Lang, Carol Reader, Lora Belle Corson, Florence Larned, Charlotte Cromwell, Helen W. Weidler, Lucille Canby, Winifred Shimp, Marian Gough, Phyllis Delf, Frances Thomas, Ruth Warner, Pauline Summy and Margaret Martin. In 1927, members of the Alpha Mu Chapter were contacted by the national organization to go to East Lansing and meet members of a local sorority at Michigan State University, who were interested in becoming affiliated with Sigma Kappa Sorority. Several of them went, met the women, and recommended that they become members of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Thus, the Alpha Tau Chapter became established at MSU.
Early papers show a petition was filed with the State of Michigan on February 21, 1928, filing as a non-profit corporation for “College and Alumnae Members of Alpha Mu Chapter – Sigma Kappa Sorority.” The papers further indicate that property located at the 808 Oakland Avenue was being purchased as a chapter house on a land contract for $26,000, and indicate ownership of furniture and furnishing with an estimated value of $1,500. Josephine Lane Ruten (one of the charter members from 1924), is listed as “President” on these papers presumably was president of the alumnae chapter at the time. Mrs. Ruten’s husband, William Ruten, was one of the early bus boys at the original Sigma Kappa house. After both the Rutens had passed away, the chapter was surprised to learn that he had left $30,000 in his will to go to the chapter in Josephine’s memory. Thus, the Foundation Room at the current chapter house remains named in her honor.
Sigma Kappa's colors are lavender and maroon which were chosen in 1891. In June 1892, the violet was adopted as the official flower and specified in 2008 as the Wild Purple Violet to distinguish it from other varieties of violets. The dove became an official symbol in 1984 and the heart in 1988.
The Sigma Kappa coat-of-arms includes the symbols of the sorority: the dove, violet, Greek letters, and colors. Adopted in 1911, the coat-of-arms consists of a maroon shield with a diagonal gold bar on which are five lavender stars. The lower half has a coiled serpent, and the upper has a maroon and gold wreath. A silver dove is above the shield, with an arch of gold rays above the dove. Below is a silver scroll which bears the open motto in black text and the date of 1874.
The current membership badge is a one-inch jeweled triangle with Greek letters Σ and Κ. The triangle badge was chosen in 1894, and later, jeweled badges were approved at the 1915 convention when the pearl was adopted as the national jewel. Unjeweled badges have a scroll edge. Badges are either made of silver, white gold or yellow gold.
The new members pin is only worn during the new member period, and it is shaped as gold Greek "K" for Kappa with a serpent lacing through it to form a Greek "Σ" for Sigma. This design was adopted as the new member pin in 1920. There are also alumni pins, 25-year pins, and 50-year pins, and the "Pearl Court Pin" which is given to recipients of the Ernestine Duncan Collins Pearl Court Award, which is a national award given by the organization.
The Chapter left Michigan campus in 1934, and while it is not clear what the reasons were, the years following the Great Depression in this country were times of much financial stress for many college students and families. Many of them were unable to continue their college education for periods of years, let alone sustain sorority dues. A total of 129 women had been initiated into the Alpha Mu Chapter at the time of its closing in 1934.
The chapter was reestablished at the University of Michigan in 1955. The 50’s were a time of great popularity of sororities on campuses, and a group of women who were living together in West Quad at Michigan felt the need for a new sorority to be formed. One of them was a sister of an Alpha Tau at Michigan State, so it was natural that they became interested in reestablishing the Alpha Mu Chapter. They invited friends, and passed out literature in the dorms, and formed a local sorority known as Eskasia. A campus newspaper article written December 8, 1954, states that Eskasia has 40 members, and that their sorority pins “…will be small red triangles, superimposed with the letter ‘E’.” Among the founding members in this group was Judith Guest. The local sorority Eskasia was recognized as a campus group in March of 1955, and their president, Christa Eckhard, wrote to the Michigan Student Government Council for permission to reactivate the Alpha Mu Chapter of Sigma Kappa at Michigan very shortly thereafter. Their first initiation as Sigma Kappas back on Michigan’s campus was held on September 17, 1955. Among those initiated that day were honor initiates Alva Gordon Sink (wife of the Director of the University Musical Society), and Maxine H. Pierpont (who, along with her husband, Wilbur, have been honored with the naming of Pierpont Commons on North Campus). In the fall of 1956, the new members of Alph Mu moved into the chapter house at 626 Oxford Road. This house was small at the time, and only 21 members were able to live there, with the rest living in annexes across campus, and returning to 626 Oxford Road for meals and meetings. A large addition was put on this property in 1961, in time for members to live together in the fall of 1961 with a house capacity of 55.
A series of disputes arose between the Student Government council and Sigma Kappa Sorority in October 1956. The rationale being National Council’s closing of two other Sigma Kappa chapters at Cornell and Tufts. After many public meetings and discussion, a final resolution was reached in 1960, which allowed Sigma Kappa to remain on the Ann Arbor campus.
The Alpha Mu Chapter was as diverse and outstanding group as ever and had many campus leaders among its membership. For three years in a row during the 1960’s, and Alpha Mu sister was chosen as Greek Women of the Year at Michigan. (Marjorie Randon Hershey – 1966, Mary Zimmerman – 1967, Marianne Tipmore Cannon-Doress – 1968).
The years of the late 1960’s and 1970’s were difficult ones on University campuses. There was much anti-Vietnam War sentiment, and demonstrations were common. Sorority rush became more difficult, as students were no longer interested in membership organizations that saw as “tradition” or “establishment.” In reference to low registrations for campus formal rush at the University of Michigan, a letter sent to Sigma Kappa National council by a Sigma Kappa Traveling Secretary (comparable to today’s chapter consultant), and dated January 31, 1971, stated that “…only about 185 girls signed up.” National Policy at the time dictated that the chapter could not take boarders into the chapter property. Without borders for extra income, the chapter was not able to survive and was closed at the end of the 1972 academic year. The chapter house at 626 Oxford Road was sold for private off-campus housing, and was later sold to Delta Gamma Sorority, and is their present sorority house on campus. A total of 527 women had been initiated into the Alpha Mu Chapter at the time of its closing in 1972.
In spring of 1984, a special rush was conducted by a national rush team for Sigma Kappa Sorority (composed of National Council member Phyllis Markley, Linda Berkshire, Mary Lou Turner and former National President, Ruth Miller), who were sent to campus to conduct interview and select the membership. Many chapter members from the Alpha Tau Chapter at Michigan State University came to Ann Arbor to help with some initial information sessions. This special rush was held following formal rush on campus, and approximately 300 women showed up at the initial mass meeting. Sigma Kappa selected and pledged 100 of these women, and the house was immediately at quota. The women were initiated in January of 1985.
In the spring of 1985, a lease was secured with Theta Xi Fraternity (located at 1345 Washtenaw Avenue) to rent their house for the Alpha Mu Chapter. Mary Alice Sulliven came to Ann Arbor as a chapter consultant to work with the chapter, and subsequently remained on campus as a graduate counselor when she enrolled in graduate school at the University of Michigan. From the beginning of its recolonization period, the chapter was established as a strong group of women with many campus leaders. Alpha Mu won the Dreyfuss Award (Sigma Kappa’s national philanthropy award) after its first year back on Michigan campus.
In 1988, The Alph Mu of Sigma Kappa Corporation Board purchased the house at 725 Oxford Road, knowing that Theta Xi fraternity was planning to return to campus, and that another permanent house would have to be found. The sorority went through public hearings with the Ann Arbor Planning Commission to apply for special exception use for this property, which had formerly served as a single-family residence. The application was approved and renovations converted the house to a small residence for Alpha Mu members. Since there was no dining facility at this location, members living there walked to the Thea Xi house at 1345 Washtenaw for their meals, and women were resided at both locations.
In 1990, Alpha Mu active Jeannine Lurie won a trip to the National Convention in Indianapolis, when she won the national song contest with her original song “Sigma Kappa- Time of Your Life.”
Our lease at the Theta Xi house coming to an end, the corporation Board submitted plans to the Ann Arbor Planning Commission for an expansion to 725 Oxford Road. The board was told that they would have to go through a public hearing again, in order to “update” their special exception use. At the public hearings, a neighborhood group formed in opposition to fraternities and sororities called the Oxbridge Association. Our petition was denied. Without a kitchen and dining facility, the board decided to rent a unit at University0owned Oxford Housing, where meals could be served and 30 women could live. For the year 1992-93, women lived at both 725 Oxford Road and Oxford Housing. Rush as conducted out of the small house on Oxford Road. The Corporation Board elected to sue the city of Ann Arbor, feeling that their denial of our expansion was not justified. The suit was subsequently lost.
In 1991, the Alpha Mu Sigma Kappa Foundation, Inc. was established as a 501 c3 corporation with that state of Michigan, to provide scholarship monies for active members in financial need, and provide items needed of an educational nature for the chapter. The Foundation awards three scholarships to Alpha Mus: The Mary Alice Sullivan scholarship (honorary), the Jean Samuelson Elder scholarship, and the June and Roger Becker memorial scholarship (in memoriam to Clair Becker Benz’s parents). At the National Convention in 1992, Alpha Mu Dr. Jean Samuelson Elder was the recipient of the Colby Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Sigma Kappa sister by the sorority.
During the 1992-93 academic year, the Alpha Mu of Sigma Kappa Corporation became aware that the property at 1811 Washtenaw Avenue (which at the time was the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity) was for sale. Believing that this would make a good long-term option for the sorority, the property was purchased and the was at 725 Oxford was sold. Our present house at 1811 Washtenaw Avenue underwent extensive renovation during the summer of 1993, prior to moving in the fall of 1993. Mrs. Christine Westwood, affectionately known as Mrs. W, would become the first House Mother at 1811 Washtenaw with 72 women residing at the house.
Despite many trials concerning the house situation, the Alpha Mu Chapter was incredibly strong during these years. Every year, the chapter pledged quota during the formal rush, and provided many leaders on campus. Some examples of campus leadership are: Julie Stacey Palmer served as president of the Panhellenic Association in 1994 and was chosen as Greek Woman of the Year in 1995. Alicia Smith served as co-captain of the first Michigan women’s varsity soccer team as well as the student representative on the Board of Control for Intercollegiate Sports. Susie Clifford was president of the Order of Omega, Julie Neenan was elected president of the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA), along with Bea Gonzalez as Public Relations Chair. In 1998-99, Mary Gray served as President of Panhellenic Association, and was selected Greek Woman of the Year. Janet Adamy worked diligently on the Michigan Daily for four years and served as News Editor her senior year. Janet sent off not only her sisters, but the entire Michigan class, with her commencement address given at the graduation ceremony at Michigan stadium in May of 1999. Also in 1999, Michelle Wolbert was names NCAA Sportswoman of the Year. Michelle, who graduated with a masters degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering, was captain of the Michigan crew team.
Dr. Elder was elected to the National Council as National Treasurer (first Sigma Kappa from Michigan chapter to ever serve on National) during the convention in 1994. Jean had previously served as President of the National Sigma Kappa Foundation. Alpha Mu Terri Jelascity Spiteri was asked to serve on the National Housing Corporation Board for Sigma Kappa.
During the 1996 convention, the Alpha Mu corporation board received the Most Outstanding Corporation Board award from the national organization, which recognized the countless volunteer hours by so many to provide a beautiful chapter house in Ann Arbor.
During the fall of 1996, former Alpha Mu President Carole Braden contacted the chapter, requesting to do a feature story in Seventeen magazine on rush at the chapter house. The January 1997 issue of the magazine contained a feature article and several photos of rush and was entitled “The Girls in the House.” This created much enthusiasm in the house and gave Sigma Kappa additional national publicity. In the summer of 1999, the mortgage was completely paid off on the chapter house at 1811 Washtenaw Avenue. This was a tremendous accomplishment for the sorority members and the corporate board. This achievement enables the board to focus their finances toward major improvements and renovations at the house, and has maintained the sorority on solid financial footing. As of November 1999, 1,208 women had been initiated into Alpha Mu Chapter.
On November 6-7, 1999, the 75th Reunion Celebration for the Alpha Mu Chapter took place on campus. Jean Elder Samuelson and Clair Benz co-chaired the event. Over 200 Sisters came from all over the country as well as Canada to relive memories from earlier days at the Alpha Mu Chapter. The house was decorated with Sigma Kappa blooms and streamers as well as a large 75th Celebration banner outside. The basement served as a “Memory Room” with pictures and memorabilia items from 1924 to the present. The reunion program, along with a commemorative mug and Sigma Kappa pencils were given as favors.
Weekend festivities included a pre-game brunch at the sorority house on Saturday morning, followed by the Michigan vs Northwestern football game where the scoreboard announced Sigma Kappa’s 75th Anniversary Celebration to 106,000 fans. A dinner followed at the Women’s City Club after the game which was hosted by Mrs. Elder, followed by a program at the chapter house by Mrs. Benz. The program concluded with a candlelight rendition of “Pass It On,” and a ceremony with Sigma Kappa Mother’s Pin which was presented to house Mother, Mrs. Christine Westwood, for her years of service. The Saturday evening program also included a favorite rush skit from the second round of rush parties, featuring Sigma Kappa through the decades. Many stayed into the late evening sharing memories and laughs.
On Sunday, a catered brunch at the house featured a presentation by Dr. Sid Gilman, Director of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chair of Neurology at U-M Medical School. Jean and Claire presented Dr. Gilman with a check for $3,000 from the Alpha Mu of Sigma Kappa Foundation, Inc. to help fund projects at the Alzheimer’s Research Center. The Panhellenic President of the University also presented with a plaque in celebration of Sigma Kappa Sorority’s 75th year reunion. The reunion was an exceptional way to close out the 1990’s.
The 2000’s issued in an exciting Millennium but with it brought a new set of challenges to the women of Sigma Kappa sorority. September 11, 2001 was a day that impacted every American, but those that lived in the House at that time shared a bond and moment in time like no other. Their experience of loss for the women with loved ones in New York City, Washington D.C. and the grief that united this country, the House and the University of Michigan was extremely special. In the spring of 2020, the House was closed due to the global covid pandemic. It was reopened a few months later in the Fall 2020 with a mask and vaccine mandate for those living at Washtenaw. All the women were able to attend the University of Michigan through virtual video classes and mass testing was done at the sorority house to ensure the safety and health of the women. Rush was accomplished through virtual meetings with candidates, which had its challenges and was a unique method to manage. A great class was selected, however Fall recruitment was officially moved by the Panhellenic Association to the winter semester after the pandemic.
The House at Washtenaw Avenue began a series of major renovations in 2019 when all the bathrooms were refurbished entirely, as well as the purchase and installation of brand-new windows throughout the entire property. From 2021 until 2023 extensive interior remodeling was completed, including air conditioning in the first-floor common areas and the House Mother’s suite. New dining room tables, chairs and furniture throughout the main living area were designed and purchased for the House. The library and media room on the first floor also received an entire make-over with beautiful new colors and fabrics as well. The main kitchen was completely renovated and brand-new commercial ranges, refrigerators and freezers were purchased and installed before classes began in August 2023. Mrs. Jane Lardo, Alpha Mu member 2001, was responsible for the incredible design, oversight and project management.
Courtney (Ciullo) Gilliam served as chapter president for Alpha Mu in 2002, along with Erin (Kippe) Meyer as EVP, Whitney (Denham) Calloway and Lauren (Reuber) Williams.
Nancy won the 14th annual Grinnel Foundation of Music Paino contest in 1969. As the winner, she appeared in a solo performance before the Michigan Federation of Music state convention, The Michigan Music Festival, and the Cranbrook Music Guild.
Krista was the Miss National Appaloosa Queen for the USA 1986-87. Krista and her horse were top competitors in the nation.
Jean served as an Assistant Secretary, Office of Human Development Services as well as the United States Commissioner Administration of Developmental Disabilities (1983-90). Dr. Elder is a nationally known lecturer, trainer, and author. She received the Ravenwood Award in London, England for her international work on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Elder has authored numerous books, articles and reports on intellectual disability, early childhood education reform and child welfare issues.
Virginia was the Gold Medal winner who set an Olympic record in the 400-meter freestyle swimming and was Bronze Medal winner in the 100-meter backstroke in the 1964 Olympics in Toyko, Japan. She also received a Gold Medal for the Pam American Games Medley Relay in 1963 in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Judith was the author of Ordinary People, the first unsolicited manuscript to be accepted by Viking Press since 1949, and Second Heaven. She has co-written a mystery novel, Killing Time in St. Cloud, with fellow author Rebecca Hill and has worked on numerous screenplays.
Marica is a well-known author of 18 mystery and suspense novels, and has co-edited ten short story anthologies, as well as a major critical work on the muster and detective genre. Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously. In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
Margot is the former National President of Women in Communications, Inc. and received their National Headliner Award. Margot also received the Advertising Woman of the Year Award from the National Advertising Federation of America, and the Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri. She retired as senior vice president, first women Vice President of McCann Erickson, Inc., a world-wide advertising agency.
Nina was crowned Miss America 2014. She became the first Indian American contestant to win both the Miss New York pageant followed by the Miss America competition. She is also the second Asian American to be crowned Miss America.
