Founding Date

Dec 4th, 1885

The University of Michigan was established in Detroit on August 26, 1817 as the Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania, by the governor and judges of Michigan Territory. The Honorable Augustus B. Woodward specifically invited Reverend John Monteith and Father Gabriel Richard, a Catholic priest, to establish the institution. Concurrently, Ann Arbor had set aside 40 acres in the hopes of being selected as the state capital. But when Lansing was chosen as the state capital, the city offered the land for a university. What would become the university moved to Ann Arbor in 1837 thanks to Governor Stevens T. Mason and is the basis for central campus today. Women were first admitted in 1870. In the spring of 1884, Fannie Mulliken, Mary Thompson Stevens, and Clara Grover Tappan, along with other Eta-Akron alumnae, attended Convention in Madison, and returned with hopes of establishing a chapter in Ann Arbor. Thanks to their enthusiasm, the Xi chapter was installed on December 4, 1885. On December 12, 1885, the first minutes of Xi chapter were recorded, and a total of seven women were present. In the fall of 1887, Xi chapter made their “debut into society by giving a tea” and were invited to parties hosted by other sororities. Several of the charter members had graduated the previous spring, but by the fall of 1888, Delta Gamma was recognized as the largest sorority on campus with 12 members. Xi celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1905. The 16th Convention in April 1909 was held in Ann Arbor; Sara Browne Smith, Xi-Michigan acted as toastmistress, and Eva Webb Dodd and Mary Comfort Leonard, both Psi-Lewis, were in attendance to give speeches. Service has always been important to the Xi chapter members. For example, during the influenza epidemic in the early 20th century, chapter members supplied hot meals and raised money for those affected. During WWII, six Xi women enlisted to aid in the war. Xi celebrated 50 years at the 1935 reunion festivities. The weekend of May 13-15, 1960 was spent celebrating Xi’s 75th anniversary; the invocation was given by Vera Burridge Baits, Xi-Michigan, and the keynote address was given by Fraternity President Helen Million Preston, Xi-Michgan. In the fall of 1965, Xi chapter adopted a foreign exchange student from Austria, Magdalena Bemz, and they have also been foster parents to children from other countries. On May 18, 1985, Xi chapter celebrated 100 years at the University of Michigan. Xi chapter has provided four Fraternity Presidents and 15 Council officers since 1885 when it was chartered. In Fall 1889, Xi established their first sorority house in Ann Arbor located on North Street. The chapter moved from house to house, but finally settled at 1145 Washtenaw in 1892. In 1897, the chapter moved to “another in the series of rented houses” at 1309 Wilmot Street. A prominent topic of the 1909 Convention was permanent housing for the Xi chapter, and in Spring 1910, Xi chapter purchased a lot to use for building a new house. Famous architect and philanthropist Albert Kahn (husband of Ernestine Krolik) presented plans for a new house in 1911. The house was completed in the fall of 1911 at 1205 Hill Street. An addition to the chapter house was added in 1928. Another lot was purchased in early 1956 and fundraising began for a new house. In September 1958, a new house at 1800 Washtenaw was established and 65 Xi members moved in. The house was officially dedicated on October 25, 1958.