Pi Delta Nu

Pi Delta Nu
Pi Delta Nu
ΠΔΝ
Founded	April 12, 1921; 100 years ago; University of Missouri
Type	Professional Sorority
Affiliation	Independent
Emphasis	Chemistry
Scope	National
Colors	Gentian violet and; Gold
Publication	The Retort
Chapters	0 surviving

Pi Delta Nu (ΠΔΝ) was a small national professional fraternity for women in chemistry. It was founded in 1921 at the University of Missouri. Eventually chartering at least five chapters, it survived into the 1950s.

History and Mission[]

Pi Delta Nu was originally created as the Women's Chemistry Club, established at the University of Missouri in 1919. In 1920 the name of the group was changed to The Retort, and on April 12, 1921 the club was reorganized as Pi Delta Nu, a professional fraternity for women in chemistry.^[1]

Charter members were Margaret Baxter, Majory Austry, Ada Brainard, Mary V. Dover, Eastern M. Griffith, Agnes Hays, Dorothy V. Nightingale, Grave Petty, Ruth Rusk, Esther W. Stearn, Helen Wamsley, Mollie G. White, Ruth Woodworth, and Kathryn Wyant.^[1]

Annual editions of the Missouri Savitar yearbook show it continuing until at least 1956 at the school.^[2] Beta chapter at the University of Minnesota was formed, likewise remaining active until at least 1956.^[3] A third unit was established at Syracuse University with active members at least until 1940.^[4] There were at least two other chapters.

The society was originally organized for women in chemistry, but later widened its scope to include girls interested in the fields of bacteriology, zoology, pre-medicine, and physical therapy.^[5] The first two editions of the Missouri Savitar yearbook showing the group actually list the society as "Pi Delta Nu and The Retort," indicating it may have evolved from a publication committee.

Organization[]

The government is by a grand council composed of the national officers and the last grand president. As of 1935, Biennial conventions were held.^[1]

Characteristics[]

Both undergraduate and graduate women taking Chemistry either as principal or secondary subject of specialization are eligible for membership.^[1]

Its motto, as cited soon after WWII, was: "Victory Through Foresight."^[5]

The sorority had three purposes: "To bring together women interested in science, to help fit women for scientific careers, and to inculcate scholarly ideals in its members."^[5]

Chapters[]

Chapters as of 1935:^[1]

1921 Alpha chapter - University of Missouri
1925 Beta chapter - University of Minnesota
1927 Gamma chapter - Syracuse University
1929 Delta chapter - University of Buffalo
1930 Epsilon chapter - Montana State College

Insignia and Traditions[]

Pi Delta Nu's badge had originally been an oblong square in gold, with a band in the center supporting its letters. This was soon replaced, by 1935 at least, by a stylized pin in gold, consisting of two equilateral triangles pointing up and down and overlapping, with the raised Greek letters ΠΔΝ on a center band. Above the letters was a retort and below an emerald.^[1] The pin was surrounded by 22 pearls, eleven above and eleven below.

The pledge pin is a small silver retort with the letters ΠΔΝ on the bowl.^[1]

The crest consists of a knight bearing upon his shoulder the balanced scale of justice and on his arm a shield upon which is a retort, a helix, a crucible, a scalpel and an open book. Underneath is a scroll bearing the words Pi Delta Nu in Greek script.^[1]

Its colors are "gentian violet" and gold.^[1] ("Gentian violet" was noteworthy as the name of a dye that was once used in certain antibacterial and classification procedures.)

The sorority's flower was the violet.

The Fraternity's magazine was The Retort.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ William Raimond Baird (1935). Baird's Manual, American College Fraternities: A Descriptive Analysis with a Detailed Account of Each Fraternity. George Banta Publishing Company. p. 602.
^ 1924 The Missouri Savitar yearbook, p.370, accessed 24 Aug 2020.
^ 1928 Minnesota Gopher yearbook Archived 2020-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, p.482, accessed 24 Aug, 2020.
^ A member was noted at Syracuse for being tapped into the "General Science Honorary" of Pi Delta Nu in 1940, as mentioned in the Gamma Phi Beta magazine, December, 1940 Archived 2020-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, p.47, accessed 24 Aug 2020.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c 1952 Minnesota Gopher yearbook Archived 2020-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, p.321, accessed 24 Aug 2020.

[Baird1935-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ William Raimond Baird (1935). Baird's Manual, American College Fraternities: A Descriptive Analysis with a Detailed Account of Each Fraternity. George Banta Publishing Company. p. 602.

[2] 1924 The Missouri Savitar yearbook, p.370, accessed 24 Aug 2020.

[3] 1928 Minnesota Gopher yearbook Archived 2020-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, p.482, accessed 24 Aug, 2020.

[4] A member was noted at Syracuse for being tapped into the "General Science Honorary" of Pi Delta Nu in 1940, as mentioned in the Gamma Phi Beta magazine, December, 1940 Archived 2020-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, p.47, accessed 24 Aug 2020.

[Gopher1952-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c 1952 Minnesota Gopher yearbook Archived 2020-10-31 at the Wayback Machine, p.321, accessed 24 Aug 2020.

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hide v t Professional fraternities and sororities organizations and members
Currently active members of the Professional Fraternity Association	Alpha Zeta Alpha Kappa Psi Alpha Rho Chi Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Chi Sigma Alpha Omega Epsilon Delta Epsilon Mu Delta Theta Phi Delta Kappa Alpha Delta Omicron Delta Sigma Pi Delta Sigma Chi Epsilon Nu Tau Theta Tau Kappa Epsilon Kappa Epsilon Psi Kappa Eta Kappa Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Lambda Chi Kappa Psi Lambda Kappa Sigma Mu Beta Phi Mu Phi Epsilon Pi Sigma Epsilon Rho Pi Phi Sigma Alpha Sigma Alpha Iota Tau Beta Sigma Phi Alpha Delta Phi Beta Phi Gamma Nu Phi Delta Epsilon Phi Delta Chi Phi Sigma Pi Phi Chi Theta
Former and formerly active members of the Professional Fraternity Association or its predecessors: Professional Panhellenic Association or Professional Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Delta Theta Alpha Delta Sigma Alpha Kappa Kappa Alpha Sigma Alpha Alpha Tau Delta Alpha Omega Beta Alpha Psi Gamma Eta Gamma Gamma Iota Sigma Delta Epsilon Iota Delta Sigma Delta Delta Psi Kappa Epsilon Eta Phi Zeta Phi Eta Theta Kappa Psi Theta Sigma Upsilon Theta Sigma Phi Iota Sigma Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Beta Pi Kappa Delta Epsilon Kappa Phi Kappa Nu Sigma Nu Xi Psi Phi Omicron Delta Kappa Omicron Nu Pi Lambda Theta Sigma Delta Chi Sigma Nu Phi Sigma Sigma Sigma Sigma Phi Delta (now social) Phi Beta Gamma Phi Beta Pi Phi Delta Delta Phi Delta Gamma Phi Delta Kappa Phi Delta Pi Phi Delta Phi (now honor society) Phi Epsilon Kappa Phi Lambda Kappa Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (now social) Phi Rho Sigma Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Chi Chi Beta Phi Psi Omega Omega Tau Sigma Omega Upsilon Phi Pershing Rifles Scabbard and Blade Scarab
North American Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Gamma Rho Alpha Gamma Sigma
Active independent professional fraternities	Alpha Gamma Kappa Alpha Zeta Omega Alpha Eta Rho Alpha Iota Alpha Psi Gamma Epsilon Tau Delta Sigma Theta Delta Theta Sigma Delta Kappa Phi Delta Phi Epsilon Kappa Gamma Psi Kappa Pi Phi Sigma Gamma Chi Eta Phi
Inactive independent professional fraternities	Alpha Epsilon Iota Alpha Tau Sigma Pi Delta Nu

Pi Delta Nu
ΠΔΝ

Founded	April 12, 1921; 100 years ago (1921-04-12) University of Missouri
Type	Professional Sorority
Affiliation	Independent
Emphasis	Chemistry
Scope	National
Colors	Gentian violet and Gold
Publication	The Retort
Chapters	0 surviving