View source for Pi Gamma Mu

{{Short description|International social studies honor society}}
{{Infobox Fraternity
| letters = {{lang|grc|ΠΓΜ}}
| name = Pi Gamma Mu
| crest = Pgmtorch.jpg
| image_size = 180px
| founded = {{start date and age|1924|12|01}}
| birthplace = [[Southwestern College (Kansas)|Southwestern College]] and [[College of William & Mary]]
| status = Active
| type = Honor society
| emphasis = Social sciences
| affiliation = ACHS
| scope = International
| mission = 
| vision = 
| motto = ''Cognoscetis veritatem et veritas vos liberabit''<br/>Ye shall know the truth and [[the truth will set you free|the truth shall set you free]]
| maxim = 
| pillars = Scholarship, Science, Social Science, Social Idealism, Sociability, Social Service, and Sacrifice
| member badge = [[File:Pi Gamma Mu fraternity (emblem and key).png|thumb|left|90px]]
| colors = {{color box|#002366}} [[Royal blue]] and {{color box|#FFFFFF}} [[White]]
| symbol = 
| flag = [[File:Pgmfl.gif|thumb|left|140px]]
| flower = Cineraria
| jewel = 
| mascot = 
| publication = ''International Social Science Review''
| philanthropy = 
| chapters = 92
| members = 
| lifetime = 247,000+
| address = 1001 Millington Street, Suite B
| city = [[Winfield, Kansas|Winfield]]
| state = [[Kansas]]
| ZIP code = 67156
| country = United States
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.PiGammaMu.org/}}
}}

'''Pi Gamma Mu''' or '''{{lang|grc|ΠΓΜ}}''' is an international [[honor society]] in the [[social sciences]]. The society was formed in 1924 at [[Southwestern College (Kansas)|Southwestern College]] and the [[College of William & Mary]]. It is a member of the [[Association of College Honor Societies]].

==History==

On December 1, 1924, [[Leroy Allen]], dean of the College of Liberal Arts at [[Southwestern College (Kansas)|Southwestern College]] in [[Winfield, Kansas|Winfield]], [[Kansas]] and William Angus Hamilton, dean of both the [[The College of William & Mary Law School|Law School]] and [[Mason School of Business|School of Business Administration]] at the [[College of William & Mary]] in [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], [[Virginia]] established Pi Gamma Mu.<ref name=":2" /> It was created as an honor society for the social sciences, integrating the fields of anthropology, economics, history, international relations, political science, and sociology.<ref name=":2" />

Allen was a creative visionary, and Hamilton was a highly respected leader who was also described as "an authority on fraternal organizations and a leader in fraternal circles."<ref>Bryson, W. Hamilton. ''Legal Education in Virginia 1779-1979: A Biographical Approach''. Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1982. p. 82. {{ISBN|0-8139-0901-5}}</ref> By November 1924, the founding members led by Allen and Hamilton, had drafted a constitution for the society and issued charters to the first seventeen chapters, at mostly private, liberal arts colleges and universities.<ref name=":2" />

The next year, the first issue of the society's official journal, ''Social Science'' (subtitled "For the scientific study of social problems"), was published and distributed to its members.<ref>''Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Pi Gamma Mu, Inc''., Atlantic City, New Jersey, December 27–28, 1932.</ref> The society was formally incorporated as a [[non-profit organization]] in the state of [[Colorado]] in 1929 under the name The National Social Science Honor Society, Pi Gamma Mu, Inc.<ref>Colorado, then as now, was among the few states that allowed the offices of a corporation to be maintained and its board members to reside in any state.  For this reason, the papers of incorporation for Pi Gamma Mu were filed in Colorado in April 1929.</ref>

After Hamilton died in 1929, much of the groundwork for the new society had to be laid by Allen who served as its first national president from 1924 to 1931 and then national secretary from 1931 to 1947.<ref name=":0" /> At a time when few women held leadership positions anywhere, Pi Gamma Mu elected [[Grace Raymond Hebard]], one of its founders, as its first national vice-president from 1924 to 1931.<ref name=":0" /> Succeeding presidents include the sociologist [[Charles A. Ellwood]] of [[Duke University]] who was a co-founder of the society and its president from 1931 to 1937; S. Howard Patterson (president, 1937–1951), a microeconomist who was then professor of economics at the [[Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania|Wharton School]] of the [[University of Pennsylvania]]; and political scientist Wilson Leon Godshall of [[Lehigh University]], the society's president from 1951 until he died 1956 and under whose initiative the founding of foreign chapters was authorized.<ref name=":0">Mendoza, Roger Lee. ''Negotiating Between Antecedents, Precedents and Innovations: The Pi Gamma Mu Story at Penn'', Philadelphia, PA, 2008, pp. 5-7.</ref>

The late 1920s and 1930s were a period of heightened growth for Pi Gamma Mu. [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]] was the first large university to establish a chapter (1925) of the society.<ref name=":2" /> The [[University of Hawaii]] chapter was the first to be organized outside of the continental United States.<ref name=":2" /> In 1932, the first foreign chapter was chartered at the [[University of Toronto]] in [[Canada]].<ref name=":2" /> Later that year, a chapter was installed at the [[University of the Philippines]].<ref name=":2" /> In 1955, Gamma Mu chartered a chapter at the [[Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico]].<ref name=":2" />

Pi Gamma Mu affiliated with the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] (AAAS) in 1947.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2012 |title=Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society - Social Sciences |url=http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=pgm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708071544/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=pgm |archive-date=2012-07-08 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Association of College Honor Societies |via=web.archive.org}}</ref> It became a member of the [[Association of College Honor Societies]] (ACHS) in 1953.<ref name=":2" />

To acknowledge its chapters outside of the United States, the board of trustees changed the name of the society to Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Sciences in 1980.<ref name=":2" /> In 1982, the name of its journal was also changed to ''[[International Social Science Review]]''.<ref>Johnston, Scott D. ''Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Science: First 75 Years.'' Winfield: Pi Gamma Mu, 1999. pp. 37-39.</ref>

By 2012, it had 148 active chapters with 4,221 active members and 246,901 total initiates.<ref name=":3" />

==Symbols==
The honor society was named Pi Gamma Mu from the initials of the three Greek words that describe the society's objective: ''{{Transliteration|grc|Politixes Gnōseōs Mathetai}}'' (''Πολιτικές Γνώσεως Μάθεται''), the study of political and social science. The term ''Politixes'' or "political science or phenomena" encompassed the field of [[economics]], which was then commonly referred to as [[political economy]].<ref name=":0" />

Pi Gamma Mu's motto is an epigram of the Master Teacher, ''{{lang|la|Cognoscetis veritatem et veritas vos liberabit}}'', translated as "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free".<ref name=":2" /> It is traditionally recited during the initiation ceremonies for new members.<ref name=":1">Johnston, Scott D. ''Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Science: First 75 Years.'' Winfield: Pi Gamma Mu, 1999..p. 9.</ref> Its original motto was "Let there be light".<ref name=":1" /> Part of the initiation and installation rituals is the declaration of the seven ideals or pillars of Pi Gamma Mu: Scholarship, Science, Social Science, Social Idealism, Sociability, Social Service, and Sacrifice.

The society’s gold key has a wreath, suggesting that social science is the outgrowth and fulfillment of [[natural science]], and a running figure is reminiscent of the ancient Greek torch race and symbolizes humanity bringing knowledge to the solution of its own problems and passing on the light from generation to generation.<ref name=":2" /> In the key are engraved the Greek letters '''{{lang|grc|ΠΓΜ}}''' and 1924, the society's founding year.<ref name=":2" />

Its colors are royal blue and white, representing truth and light.<ref name=":2" /> These are also the colors of the candles used during the initiation ceremonies and the honor cords or stoles worn at graduation. Its flower is the [[cineraria]].<ref name=":2" /> The society's blue flag depicts a man and a woman jointly holding the torch of knowledge within the symbolic gold key and a wreath of Pi Gamma Mu.

== Membership ==
Membership in the society comes only through election by a college-based or university-based chapter. An individual is traditionally invited or may petition to join an active collegiate chapter of Pi Gamma Mu when a junior, senior, or graduate student ranked in the upper 35 percent of their class, with at least twenty semester hours in social science courses and a 3.0 GPA.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Faculty and administrators may also join collegiate chapters.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Pi Gamma Mu's constitution defines the social sciences as including history, political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, psychology, international relations, criminal justice, social work, social philosophy, history of education, and human geography. Membership is also extended to interdisciplinary fields that build on the core disciplines, such as business administration, education, cultural and area studies, public administration, and organizational behavior.

== Activities ==
Pi Gamma Mu has international conventions and regional meetings.<ref name=":3" /> It started a scholarship program for its members in 1951.<ref name=":2" /> It provides five scholarships with stipends of $2,000 or $1,000 and six additional scholarships of $1,000 each to assist with the costs related to the first or second year of graduate study. These are awarded to selected members annually. The Guest Lectureship Program provides chapters with funds to cover the honoraria of guest lecturers.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Pi Gamma Mu publishes the ''[[International Social Science Review]],'' a juried and indexed social science interdisciplinary journal.<ref name=":2">[[Jack L. Anson|Anson, Jack L.]] and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20th edition.'' Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991''. pp. VI.76-VI.79.'' {{ISBN|0-9637159-0-9}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> ''Pi Gamma Mu Newsletter'' was first published in 1978.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

==Governance==

The present constitution of the society provides for triennial conventions, with each chapter eligible to send a delegation. The convention is vested with the supreme authority of the society. During the convention, delegates elect two student representatives to the board of trustees, which exercises administrative power between conventions.<ref>''Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the National Social Science Honor Society, Pi Gamma Mu.'' September 11–13, 1955.</ref><ref name=":2" /> The executive director of the society serves as an ''ex officio'' member of the governing board and oversees its day-to-day operations.

The Pi Gamma Mu international headquarters have always been located in Winfield, Kansas.<ref name=":2" /> It presently occupies the Carnegie Building, which is on the [[National Register of Historic Places|National Register of Historic Buildings]].

==Chapters==
{{Main|List of Pi Gamma Mu chapters}}
Pi Gamma Mu currently has active chapters in over 92 colleges and universities.

==Notable members==
{{Main|List of Pi Gamma Mu members}}
Pi Gamma Mu membership includes notable scholars, diplomats, political leaders, business leaders, and pioneering professionals. The list is not exhaustive and is simply intended to illustrate the breadth of scholarship and service of the society's members.<ref>''Who's Who in Pi Gamma M: A National Directory of Officers and Members of the National Social Science Honor Society of Pi Gamma Mu, Inc.'' Winfield, Kansas, 1930. OCLC 7888379</ref>

Prominent members of the society include former U.S. president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], 1956 [[Nobel Prize]] winner and former Canadian prime minister [[Lester B. Pearson]], former Philippine presidents [[Jose P. Laurel|José P. Laurel]] and [[Ferdinand Marcos]], [[Panama Canal Treaty]] negotiator and former [[Panama]] president [[Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro Jované]], leading anthropologist [[Margaret Mead]], sociologist [[Pitirim Sorokin]] (Pi Gamma Mu national vice-president, 1937–1941) who founded Harvard University's sociology department, [[Edward Alsworth Ross|Edward A. Ross]], a major figure in early [[criminology]], [[Ernst Philip Boas]], cardiologist and inventor of the cardiotachometer and original proponent of national health insurance, [[Jane Addams]], 1931 [[Nobel Prize]] winner and pioneer community worker. Other notable members include  MIT economist [[Charles P. Kindleberger]] who was architect of the [[Marshall Plan|Marsall Plan]], US Senator [[Chuck Grassley]] of [[Iowa]], Colorado Congresswoman [[Diana DeGette]], deputy whip of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] [[Judith Rodin]], commissioner of the [[Federal Communications Commission]] [[Michael Copps]], and Philippine senators [[Edgardo Angara]], [[Miriam Defensor Santiago]] and [[Juan Ponce Enrile]]. Others include North Carolina Supreme Court senior justice [[Mark Martin (judge)|Mark Martin]], former [[U.S. Attorney General]] [[William French Smith]], [[U.S. Secretary of the Treasury]] and Ambassador to [[NATO]] [[David M. Kennedy (politician)|David M. Kennedy]], 1971 Economics Nobel Prize winner [[Simon Kuznets]], historian and 1949 [[Pulitzer Prize]] winner [[Roy Franklin Nichols]], and football player [[Lem Burnham]].

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary [[William Thaddeus Coleman, Jr.]], who was inducted into the [[University of Pennsylvania]] chapter in 1941, wrote the legal brief which won the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]'s landmark decision in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' (1954) outlawing racial segregation in public education.

Another Pi Gamma Mu member, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral [[Richard Evelyn Byrd]], the polar explorer and, served for a time as honorary national president of Pi Gamma Mu from 1931 to 1935. In 1928, Byrd carried the society's flag during a historic expedition to the [[Antarctic]].

==See also==

* [[History of the social sciences]]
* [[Honor cords]]

==References==

=== Notes ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
*Scharff, Virginia. "The Independent and Feminine Life: Grace Raymond Hebard, 1861-1936" in ''Lone Voyagers: Academic Women in Coeducational Universities, 1870-1937''. New York: Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 1989.

== External links ==
*{{official website|http://www.pigammamu.org|The official website of the society}}
{{Association of College Honor Societies}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Association of College Honor Societies]]
[[Category:Honor societies]]
[[Category:Student organizations established in 1924]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in Kansas]]