Skip to main content

Phi Beta Kappa records

 Collection
Identifier: STO-0046-001

Collection Statement

The collection consists of clippings, correspondence, financial material, golden anniversary materials, alumni cards of the Indiana Alpha chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at DePauw University (mainly from 1934-1943) and 1 1/2 boxes of cards with names of Phi Beta Kappa recipients 1899-1982, programs / initiation booklets and sign-in sheets and related membership records. Also included are cards for other honoraries as well as minutes and history.

Dates

  • 1889 - 2014

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Copyright interests for this collection are held by DePauw University.

Historical Sketch

The Indiana Alpha chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was granted a charter in 1889, largely through the efforts of the Dean of the School of Theology, Shadrach Bowman. Previous to that time, Frank Lodge, acting as a leader for a group of juniors and seniors, petitioned the national honor society as early as 1884. This was denied by the national governing body of Phi Beta Kappa due to the lack of sponsorship of the petition by a Phi Beta Kappa member.

Bowman, however, was a Phi Beta Kappa member from Dickinson College. With the help of two other initiates from Terre Haute, he formally established the Indiana Alpha chapter in his classroom in Middle College. Prominent members of the faculty and administration were at first elected to membership. Eventually a policy of electing men in the upper forth of the graduating class became standard. It was not until 1898 when women were elected members. However, at the chapter's Golden Anniversary in 1939, surviving women who had been eligible for membership between 1889 and 1897 were belatedly added to the membership rolls and presented with their keys.

Extent

8 document case(s) (8 document cases, 2 volumes)

Language of Materials

English

See also:

Appendix: Journal of Indiana Chapter, Phi Beta Kappa, 1889-1939, p.271; DePauw Volume 365

Title
Phi Beta Kappa records
Status
Completed
Author
Sheraya Smith
Date
3/13/2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Archives of DePauw University and Indiana United Methodism Repository

Contact:
Roy O. West Library
405 S. Indiana St.
Greencastle Indiana 46135 United States