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Four friends under a wisteria arbor in 1911. More than a century later, their promise still gathers women of character on campuses across the country.
Our Story
In the spring of 1911, four students at Mulberry Hill — Margaret Ellison Holloway, Ruth Calloway Bennett, Ada Sinclair Marsh, and June Pemberton Hale — began meeting beneath the wisteria arbor behind Wisteria Hall. They shared a conviction: that college should shape not only the mind, but the moral compass.
They wrote a short constitution, chose the motto “Fides et Sorores” — faith and sisters — and promised to hold one another to lives of reverence, gentility, knowledge, leadership, sisterhood, and excellence. That promise became Wisteria Hollow Sisters.
Today our chapters stretch from coast to coast, yet every new member still signs the same founding promise, still learns the same six pillars, and still gathers — as the founders did — in circles of sisters.
Every program, scholarship, and ceremony in WHS grows out of these six commitments.
Faith and sisterhood first. We honor what is sacred and hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Grace and respect for all people — in our speech, our service, and our daily conduct.
Continuous lifelong learning, from chapter study halls to alumnae careers.
Leadership as service: courage and perseverance spent on behalf of others.
Sisters faithful unto the end — in times of need and in every celebration.
Onward and upward: hard work and dedication aimed at a better world.
Milestones
Four founders sign the promise beneath the wisteria arbor at Mulberry Hill. Alpha Chapter is born.
The first National Convention gathers eleven chapters in Lexington to adopt the shared ritual.
The WHS Foundation is chartered, awarding its first three scholarships to collegiate sisters.
Project Outreach launches, carrying chapter service beyond campus into surrounding communities.
The Hollow Lead Academy opens its doors, formalizing a century of leadership education.
Sisters celebrate the centennial at Mulberry Hill and endow the Second Century Scholarship Fund.
98,412 living members strong — and still signing the same founding promise.
Four of the many alumnae carrying the six pillars into public life — onward and upward.
Captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic rowing team, Diane credits 5 a.m. chapter practices with teaching her that excellence is a habit, not a moment. She now coaches collegiate rowing and endows a Foundation scholarship for first-generation student athletes.
A four-star U.S. Army general, General Ellison led with the pillar she names most often: leadership as service. She keynotes the Hollow Lead Academy each summer and mentors sisters pursuing military careers.
Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Willa Hart wrote her first songs in the Gamma chapter music room. Her foundation concerts have raised over a million dollars for music education in public schools.
Chief Design Officer of Magnolia & Thread, Claire leads one of the country’s most admired apparel houses. She funds the Foundation’s design internship and hires WHS sisters every recruiting season.
The next chapter of Wisteria Hollow Sisters is written by women like you — on your campus, in your community.