Today in History: Phi Beta Kappa | Citizen U Primary Source Nexus

Today in History–December 5–the Library of Congress features America’s first university honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, founded on this day in 1776 at the College of William and Mary. Six years prior, the Governor of Virginia had proclaimed the intention to “give, annually, two gold medals for the honour and merit of literary achievement” to students of the college. When the College of William and Mary closed during the Revolutionary War, Phi Beta Kappa expanded to Harvard and Yale. The organization later spread to colleges throughout New England and by the end of the nineteenth century, the once secretive, exclusively male social group opened to women and became a national honor society dedicated to fostering and recognizing excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related resources.