Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Organizational History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1776 | Founded, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va. |
| 1779 | First charters granted to Harvard and Yale universities |
| 1831 | Eliminated secrecy in rituals and membership |
| 1875 | First women admitted to membership |
| 1877 | Established first graduate association, Phi Beta Kappa Alumni in New York |
| 1883 | Established United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa |
| 1926 | Established general headquarters and permanent staff, New York, N.Y. |
| 1932 | Began publication of The American Scholar journal |
| 1940 | Established Phi Beta Kappa Associates |
| 1950 | Established Christian Gauss Award |
| 1955 | Moved headquarters to Washington, D.C. |
| 1958 | Established Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science |
| 1960 | Established Ralph Waldo Emerson Award |
| 1970 | Established Award for Distinguished Service to the Humanities |
| 1983 | Established Romanell-Phi Bet Kappa Professorship in philosophy |
| 1988 | Organization's legal name changed to Phi Beta Kappa Society |
| 1991 | Established Sidney Hook Memorial Award |