On March 2, 1916, Kappa Theta, a local sorority, was organized at Baker University under the guidance of Miss Anita Storrs, who was a member of the faculty. Miss Storrs, a Phi Mu from Xi Kappa chapter, was instrumental in influencing Kappa Theta to petition Phi Mu. The petition was accepted and Miss Erna Ferguson, national secretary and noted writer on the Southwest, came to install the chapter. The charter is dated June 16, 1916, and installation services were held on that day at the Zeta Chi fraternity house.

Nine girls were initiated as charter members of Zeta Alpha chapter: Florence Hudson, Mary Brownrigg, Beulah Stewart, Mary Jan Sanders, Ruth Welty, Eda Allis, Florence Banker, Jessie Cannon, and Margaret Palmer. These girls, with others who were initiated in the fall, lived in a house on 9th street between Grove and High, next door to the old Zeta Chi house. The next year the chapter moved to what is now the Sigma Phi Epsilon house. In the fall of 1921, Phi Mu moved to the white frame house on the corner across the street from Case Library.
From 1916 to 1951, 360 girls have accepted the challenge of Phi Mu. Girls of Zeta Alpha chapter have been leaders in scholarship and in activities on the Baker campus. They have been known as a singing sorority, and always are well represented in the Baker church choir.

Members of this chapter have been active in the college dramatic activities, as is evidence by Phi Mu's who are elected to Alpha Psi Omega, honorary dramatic fraternity, and by several girls who have been named "Baker Player of the Year." An interesting Phi Mu tradition is the annual Neewollah party, held near Halloween.
Scholarship is stressed, and a number of members have been elected to Alpha Delta Sigma, Baker's honorary scholastic fraternity. Keeping true to their creed, Phi Mu's have taken an active part in religious life of the campus.
Phi Mu alumnae are making worthy contributions to other lives around them and to their communities. Among these are some whose accomplishments are worthy of special note.

Evelyn Mercer has made a distinguished contribution to Christian living and the expansion of Christian ideals by her service as a Methodist missionary in Communist-occupied China. Florence Hudson McCullough has served as conference president of the Woman's Society for Christian Service of the Methodist church, and recently has been elected a member of the Baker Board of Trustees.

Outstanding in her chosen field of dramatics, Eva Sandefer is widely known on the East coast for her radio program, "Eavesdropping with Eve." Recently Eve has turned her talents to television. Beulah Stewart is a past president of the Kansas Postmasters' Association. Dorothy LaFever Modr has continued her interest in fine arts. Her most recent accomplishments include murals for the MacFadden Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

Zeta Alpha chapter has been honored by having Bernice Newton Will as a Province President, and Lucile Kramer Daugherty as a District President. At the present time Katherine Jay Bradley, having served as a District President, has been elected to the National Council of Phi Mu as National Membership Director. Lavern Wedd Riley has the remarkable record of serving thirty years as treasurer of the Alumnae Corporation.

The white frame house adjacent to the Baker campus was home for the women of Zeta Alpha from 1921 until September 23, 1954, when the house was completely destroyed by fire. Having lost one home to fire, the women of Ph Mu decided to build a house made of brick on the same corner, Eighth and Fremont. Construction of the "Little Brick House on the Corner" began on June 27, 1955. The 1995 addition raised the roof and added rooms."

Sunday April 25, 2004 8:32 PM