Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa. It is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, established at the College of William & Mary in 1776. The society champions excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and advocates for freedom of inquiry and expression. Its membership, signified by a distinctive gold key, is a prestigious academic distinction conferred upon top students in the arts and sciences at select American colleges and universities.

History

The society was founded on December 5, 1776, by five students at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, during the American Revolution. The founding members, including John Heath, created it as a secret literary and philosophical society, with its name derived from the initials of the Greek motto *Philosophia Biou Kybernētēs*, or "Love of learning is the guide of life." The original Alpha of Virginia chapter functioned as a debating club, but its activities were suspended in 1781 due to the war and the relocation of the college. The Alpha of Connecticut chapter at Yale University in 1780 and the Alpha of Massachusetts at Harvard University in 1781 were instrumental in transforming it from a single secret society into a national honorary organization. Key early figures like Elisha Parmelee helped spread its model. The society abandoned its secret rituals in the 1830s, a period coinciding with the rise of other collegiate societies like Sigma Phi and Delta Upsilon, to focus solely on recognizing academic achievement.

Membership

Election to membership is highly selective and is considered one of the highest academic honors for undergraduates in the liberal arts. Each of the 293 chapters at leading institutions like Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and Swarthmore College sets its own criteria, but all require exemplary academic records, typically in a broad curriculum of arts and sciences. Candidates are usually in the top tenth of their graduating class and must demonstrate a commitment to the liberal arts, often with coursework in mathematics, a foreign language, and the humanities. The selection process is conducted by faculty members who are themselves members. Notable elected members from the 19th century include Henry David Thoreau and Helen Keller, while modern inductees span fields from Supreme Court justices to Nobel Prize laureates.

Symbols and traditions

The most iconic symbol is the Phi Beta Kappa key, a gold watch-key or pin often engraved with the member's initials, the chapter's Greek-letter designation, and the founding date. The key features the image of a pointing finger, three stars, and the Greek letters ΦΒΚ. The society's motto, *Philosophia Biou Kybernētēs*, is central to its identity. Other traditional symbols include the handshake and the signet ring, remnants from its early days as a secret society. The official publication is *The American Scholar*, a quarterly journal. The annual induction ceremony, where new members receive their keys, is a significant academic event on campuses, often featuring addresses by distinguished figures like former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright or author David McCullough.

Notable members

The society counts among its members many of the most influential figures in American history and culture. In government and law, members include 17 U.S. Presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George H. W. Bush, as well as numerous Supreme Court justices like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. In science and academia, notable members encompass Albert Einstein, anthropologist Margaret Mead, and physicist Richard Feynman. The arts and letters are represented by writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Toni Morrison, and filmmaker Ken Burns. Other distinguished members from various fields include civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois, astronaut Mae Jemison, and entrepreneur Warren Buffett.

Activities and publications

Beyond conferring membership, the society is an active advocate for the liberal arts. It publishes the prestigious quarterly journal *The American Scholar*, founded in 1932, which features essays, poetry, and reviews from leading thinkers. The society also awards several fellowships, including the Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship for studies in Greek or French, and the Book Awards for outstanding scholarly works. It hosts lectures, symposia, and advocacy events in Washington, D.C. and across the country, often partnering with institutions like the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities. These activities aim to promote intellectual fellowship and public engagement with ideas central to a democratic society.

Category:Honor societies in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1776 Category:Student societies in the United States