Vintage 1945 Phi Mu Greek Sorority Sisterhood Memorabilia Lapel Brooch Pin Badge

Original Phi Mu Pendant from 1945

Pin Clip & Guard: Gold, Seed Pearls, Ruby Gemstones, Black Enamel

Smaller pendant is missing one ruby

Large pendant measures approximately 1/2" wide and 1/2" long

 

A few things, @LeahRM. Your pin is properly called a badge as it is designed to be worn by an initiated member of a women's fraternity (aka sorority.) Secondly, the second, smaller pin at the end of the guard chain is the chapter's lettering, in this case Theta. Theta chapter is located at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Thirdly, I don't know how you know the badge dates to 1945 but you might want to confirm that as Phi Mu's Theta chapter was closed from 1911 until 1998 when it was reinstalled. And finally, if you badge dates to 1945, it would be considered vintage rather than antique, which is defined as being 100+ years old.

Here's a web site that will give you retail prices for new badges and chapter guards. You will note that the quality of older badges and guards such as yours is much higher than that of new. As a selling venue, I would suggest you not forget eBay because of its wide reach. And, fyi, there is some magic to timing. The women's fraternities at Belmont University recruit in the Spring semester (January or February) and pledges aren't initiated for six to twelve weeks after that.

https://www.hjgreek.com/products/showCategory/OrganizationCategoryID/3820

Debora

 

It is engraved with the date on the back as 11/2/1945. Thanks for the info.

 

The name on the back could help understand the date better.
..AY E Faulkinbury?
And is that mark before the 2 indeed a dash? To me it looks rounder than the one before 45, making it a (superscript) 'o'. And this could mean the 11 is actually an N, so: No 2 - 45
Is the name indeed Faulkinbury and, if so, does that 11/N look like the N in the name?

 

Ah... If you change the orientation of the chapter letter, I bet it reads as a Phi, not a Theta. Does it? University of Austin, Texas. Unfortunately the chapter is inactive as of 1965 which will limit the demand for your badge.

Debora

 

Back reads:

Phi (symbol)
Faye
Faulkinbury
11-2-45

Surprised it doesn't also have gold content somewhere.

Debora

 

A Faye Faulkinbury is mentioned here https://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/University_Texas_Cactus_Yearbook/1946/Page_1.html

 

She was a junior in 1946. Hometown Texarkana, AR. Dad owned a grocery and had a hair trigger (literary.) In summary... There are no secrets on the internet.

https://casetext.com/case/faulkinbury-v-us-fire-ins-co

Debora

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/usfedcen/?name=_faulkinbury

 

I am a little confused, are you selling it? Asking price?

 

a new poster, with an etsy shop...on the Sell forum ....
not seeing the confusion?
several sellers don't like to post a price unless interest forces them to.

 

Yes, $275 lol