Whitney, Margaret D. Mason

Initiated into Theta Chapter in 1897, Margaret Mason Whitney graduated from the University of Michigan and promptly was elected the first president of Alpha Phi. She provided wise leadership beyond her years.

Perhaps her most important contribution came when, seeking clarity on recruitment fraternity practices, she invited representatives from other women’s organizations to convene at the first Intersorority Conference, held in Chicago, Illinois on May 24, 1902.  Attending were representatives from Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Delta Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, and Alpha Phi.

She aimed for “uniform action on the part of all national sororities if any permanent results were to be brought about.” A requirement of unanimous votes prevented many resolutions from passing, but the leaders agreed to meet again, in what would become an annual convention, eventually called the National Panhellenic Conference. 

The NPC was the first, permanent inter-Greek organization, as the men’s equivalent, the North American Interfraternity Conference, wasn’t founded until 1909.

During World War I, Whitney was appointed by the Alpha Phi Board to develop a Fraternity-wide war relief project, leading to a collaboration with other National Panhellenic Conference members to purchase an ambulance to send to France.

Outside of her involvement with Alpha Phi, Margaret Mason Whitney was devoted to work in the service of women. She volunteered with both the Berkeley Council of Camp Fire Girls and the East Bay Girls Service Association, among other groups.