Expansion Proposal

Mu Delta traces its roots to the National Federation of Commons Clubs. The Commons
Phi
was founded at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1899. The
Club
as a whole, seems to have been unwieldy, for membership was not on the
organization,
basis at all chapters. At some institutions, members were voted upon, while at other
same
The Chronicle. In addition, the red rose was the official flower and Abraham
Magazine,
was the patron saint.
Lincoln
somewhat stronger organization. The Federation’s mother chapter at Wesleyan
organized,
proposed changing the name of the Federation to Phi Mu Delta; however, they
University
of forming an all out Greek letter organization, while others were undecided.
supportive
letters in The Chronicle discussed whether or not the Federation should become
Lengthy
to the formation of Phi Mu Delta. At the 1918 Conclave, held at the Massachusetts
prior
College (now the University of Massachusetts at Amherst), many Clarence
Agricultural
Only a year prior, Clarence Dexter Pierce put forward the petition to form Phi Mu
fraternity.
This petition was adopted on March 1, 1918, and the original plan was in favor of all
Delta.
About Phi Mu Delta
The History of the National Federation of Commons Clubs
colleges the local chapter accepted any man of the non-fraternity body willing to sign the
constitution of the National Federation. In many cases, members were permitted to join
Greek lettered organizations and hold dual membership.
The chief ideal of the order was Democracy, as was expressed in the Federation’s National
Although the Commons Club was loosely bound as a national organization, individual
chapters were very powerful machines of change on campus. Members often had the
controlling vote in student activities, and more often, shouldered the responsibilities for the
major student activities of the undergraduate body.
The 1917 convention was held at the Allegheny Chapter. The chief point of interest at this
gathering was the beginning of the sentiment that there should be a more closely
were opposed to operating like traditional fraternities of the day. Some chapters were
more exclusive. One chapter, very early on, decided to leave the Federation and form the
founding chapter of Kappa Delta Rho at Middlebury College in Vermont.
The Commons Club grew to an impressive 19 chapters from Washington State to Maine
Dexter Pierce supporters petitioned to the assembly for the formation of a Greek letter
chapters of the Federation to join Phi Mu Delta. However only four chapters did so: The
Universities of Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut, as well as Union College.
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