History of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc, was founded on October 16, 1932, at Freedman's Hospital in Washington D.C., now known as Howard University Hospital. The organization's foundation was based on concerns, at that time, which regarded restrictions in the employment of black nurses to segregated facilities and hospitals, and menial positions where there was little to no chance of advancement in the profession.

The charter chapter, Alpha, was founded and organized by Ailene Carrington Ewell, RN, with the assistance of 11 other courageous black registered nurses, collectively known as "The Twelve Jewels": Clara E. Beverly, Lillian Mosely Boswell, Gladys Louise Catchings, Bessie Foster Cephas, Henrietta Smith Chisholm, Susan Elizabeth Freeman, Ruth Turner Garrett, Olivia Larkins Howard, Mildred Wood Lucas, Clara Belle Royster, and Katherine Chandler Turner.

The graduate and undergraduate (Beta) chapters are grouped into five regions according to geographic areas. There are over 101 graduate chapters and 41 undergraduate chapters located in 33 states, Washington, D.C., St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and Monrovia, Liberia. Membership is by invitation and is both active and honorary.

The organization has programs focusing on health promotion/disease prevention, leadership development, mentoring, recruitment, retention, and scholarship. These programs include national, regional, and local conferences, seminars, and workshops; consumer health education programs throughout different communities; leadership development programs/summits that focus on continuing education; recruitment and retention of nursing students; and award recognition of outstanding nurses in the profession. The organization has relationships with many civic, professional, and educational groups including the American Nurses Association, the National Council of Negro Women, the United Negro College Fund, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Colored People, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Southeast Region Official Website - https://www.serchietaphi.org/

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated Official Website - https://chietaphi.org/

History of Mu Phi Chapter, Inc.

Mu Phi Chapter, Chi Eta Phi Sorority was founded February 25, 1995, by Soror B. Janet Cooper with the assistance of seven sorors of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc: J. Renee Davis, Nora Ervin, Ceatrice Fulgeon, Dorothy Graves, Cheryl Handy, Carene Lee, and Lillian Cleveland. (the eight founding sorors and charter members of Mu Phi Chapter)

On September 17, 1994, a group of professional nurses came together at the request of Soror B Janet Cooper. The group met at the Hidden Hills Country Club in Stone Mountain, Georgia for the expressed purpose of organizing a Chi Club that must proceed before consideration is given to becoming a chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated, a national organization of professional nurses. The group (Chi Club) was approved by the organization's national office to initiate the activities necessary to journey toward the goal of organizing a local chapter. The nurses accepted the challenge to establish a local chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. in Stone Mountain, Georgia. There were twenty–two registered nurses that expressed an interest. These nurses agreed to meet for the next six months to prepare for this task. Sixteen nurses remained committed to the goal and eight of the sixteen were considered potential candidates for initiation into the sorority. Applications were completed for “national”. Materials for instructional classes were received by the new candidates, a fundraising project was initiated and a family was adopted during Christmas as a community project. All required tasks were completed and the initiation of the candidates was accomplished.

The new sorors initiated were Deborah Combs, Alvernell Cotton, Betsy Harris, Sallie Mingo, Kathy Williams, Betty Jo Wilson, Patricia Davis, and Gloria Perkins joining the founding sorors for a total of 16 charter members. The Mu Phi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Stone Mountain, Georgia was established on February 25, 1995. Soror B, Janet Cooper was elected the first basileus of the chapter.