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History In 1876, the founder of Wellesley College, Henry Fowle Durant, established Phi Sigma to foster a love for literature. Sixteen founding members, among them Katherine Lee Bates, met in the Fall of 1876 for the first time. Katherine Lee Bates wrote the Phi Sigma song and helped choose the shield and patron. Membership during this period and until 1918 was limited to Juniors and Seniors of high academic standing or distinguished public service in the college. When College Hall burned down in 1914, Phi Sigma raised money for restoration through its alumnae association. The letter sent to alumnae from Chairman Abbie Paige (1896) read, "We want to show that now, as always, Phi Sigma is banded together to work for the well being of the whole college." In 1972, Phi Sigma disbanded due to lack of interest and its Alumnae Association established the Phi Sigma Society Fund for $10,000 to the Rare Books Department of the Wellesley College Library. Money from this fund was to be used for the purpose of "purchases, restoration, and maintenance of the collections and for providing opportunities for undergraduates to learn the practical arts of fine bookmaking, or for any other use the Rare Book Department deems important." The chapter house was given to the continuing education students. In September of 1982, a proposal was made to the President of Wellesley College, Nannerl O. Keohane, to revive Phi Sigma. Seven students submitted a proposal to bring Phi Sigma back to Wellesley's campus not as a literature society, but as a lecture society. Today Phi Sigma membership varies from semester to semester, reaching a maximum capacity of forty members. Created by A.C. Ording
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