Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society Records

Collection

Identifier: WUA-05-wua00086

Staff Only

This collection consists of correspondence, reports, bulletins, publications and membership manuals that chronicle the history of the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dates

Creation: 1912-2006

Creator

Phi Beta Kappa. Beta of Missouri (Washington University) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Use

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Extent

3.50 linear feet

5 boxes

Additional Description

Historical Information

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest honorary society, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. It one of the most prestigious honorary societies for the liberal arts in the United States.

Phi Beta Kappa was the earliest society to adopt Greek letters for a name. These are taken from the first letters of the Greek phrase Philosophia Biou Kubernetes, translated as The Love of Wisdom, the Helmsman of Life.

The goal of Phi Beta Kappa is to encourage humane learning, a goal which includes not merely superior achievement but also a broad range of interests in the liberal arts, depth of understanding, and a high regard for intellectual honesty and tolerance.

The Washington University Chapter (Beta of Missouri) was established in 1914. Each spring the chapter elects new undergraduate members from among students pursuing degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences.