| Pi Delta Nu | |
|---|---|
| ΠΔΝ | |
 | |
| Founded | April 12, 1921; 103 years ago (1921-04-12) University of Missouri |
| Type | Professional |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Defunct |
| Defunct date | After 1956 |
| Emphasis | Chemistry |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | Victory Through Foresight |
| Colors | Gentian violet and Gold |
| Publication | The Retort |
| Chapters | 5 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Pi Delta Nu (ΠΔΝ) was a small national professional fraternity for women in chemistry, founded in 1921 at theUniversity of Missouri. It chartered at least five chapters and survived into the 1950s.
Pi Delta Nu was 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][2] The name change was in advance of planning to become a national organization.[2] 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".[3]
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] Stearn was its first president.[2] During the first meeting, the members decided to raise funds to support Marie Curie's work with radium.[4]
Annual editions of theMissouri Savitar yearbook show that the fraternity continued until at least 1956 at the school.[5]Beta chapter formed at theUniversity of Minnesota and likewise remained active until at least 1956.[6]Gamma chapter was established atSyracuse University, with active members at least until 1940.[7]Delta chapter formed at theUniversity of Buffalo in 1929, andEpsilon chapter atMontana State College in 1930.[1]
The society was originally organized for women in chemistry but changed its scope to include girls interested in the fields ofbacteriology,zoology, pre-medicine, andphysical therapy.[3] The first two editions of theMissouri Savitar yearbook that include the group list the society as "Pi Delta Nu and the Retort" may have evolved from a publication committee.[5]
Pi Delta Nu's badge was originally an oblong square in gold, with a band in the center supporting its letters. By 1935, this was replaced by a stylized pin in gold, consisting of two equilateral triangles pointing up and down and overlapping, with the raised Greek lettersΠΔΝ on a center band. Above the letters was aretort 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 lettersΠΔΝ 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, ahelix, acrucible, ascalpel, and an open book. Underneath is a scroll bearing the words "Pi Delta Nu" in Greek script.[1] Its motto, as cited soon afterWorld War II, was "Victory Through Foresight".[3]
The fraternity's colors weregentian violet and gold.[1] Gentian violet was noteworthy as the name of a dye used in antibacterial and classification procedures.[citation needed] The sorority's flower was the violet, and its magazine wasThe Retort.[1]
Undergraduate and graduate women taking chemistry as a principal or secondary subject of specialization were eligible for membership.[1]
Chapters of Pi Delta Nu, as of 1935.[1]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | April 12, 1921 – after 1956 | University of Missouri | Columbia, Missouri | Inactive | [8] |
| Beta | 1925–after 1956 | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Inactive | [a] |
| Gamma | 1927–after 1940 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | Inactive | |
| Delta | 1929 | University of Buffalo | Buffalo, New York | Inactive | |
| Epsilon | 1930 | Montana State College | Bozeman, Montana | Inactive |