Phi Beta Kappa
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of university meetings, administrative records, membership inquiry and bylaws, and various formats of correspondence between chapter secretaries, treasurers, and professors across the years 1901 to 1996. It also contains photographs, a gold society key, stamp blocks, and scrapbooks from different departments and notable chapter figures. Within the collection there are books that encompass a multitude of topics— poetry, bylaws, constitutions, and meeting notes. The collection is arranged chronologically in four series, divided by administrative materials, financial accounts, membership information, and artifacts.
Dates
- Creation: 1787-1996, bulk 1900-1980
Access and Restrictions
Access to this collection requires advance notice. Please contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu for additional information. Materials created less than 40 years ago are restricted for access to the general public. The Phi Beta Kappa collection may still be used for research, but the General Counsel must grant permission for others to view restricted records. Please contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu for additional information.
Research by Appointment
This collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Special Collections. Materials should be requested three days prior to visiting to facilitate easier access. Contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu to schedule an appointment.
Historical Note
Phi Beta Kappa:
The Phi Beta Kappa Society (ΦΒΚ) is an honor society founded in 1776 that serves to uphold high academic standards amongst university students and professionals. There are over 290 chapters throughout the United States. The society inducts top scholars who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and intellectual integrity. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is highly selective, but multiple awards are given throughout the calendar year to its most notable members. While the society was initially created to discuss philosophical and cultural questions amongst students at the College of William and Mary, its modern day practices include supporting academic programs and engaging in activism for the liberal arts.
Phi Beta Kappa Vanderbilt Chapter:
The Vanderbilt University Phi Beta Kappa chapter was founded in 1901 by Dr. Herbert C. Tolman. The Alpha of Tennessee chapter is active in engaging the university in initiatives, award ceremonies, and meetings. Members are considered for election every spring semester and existing members cannot exceed ten percent of the general university population. The chapter recognizes honorary, alumni, and associate members as a part of the society. Vanderbilt’s Phi Beta Kappa society also sponsors lectures, awards, and special events that further promote academic excellence within the community.
Full Extent
8.34 Linear Feet (20 letter sized Hollinger boxes and 1 oversized folder in a drawer)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Phi Beta Kappa collection, 1787-1996, consists of correspondence, finacial, and membership information of the Vanderbilt University Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
Arrangement
This record group contains four series arranged alphabetically by series.
Series
- Series 1: Administrative Material
- Series 2: Artifacts
- Series 3: Financial
- Series 4: Membership
Physical Location
Offsite Storage, Special Collections and Archives
Condition Description
Condition of the materials is average. Many papers are brittle.
Processing Information
Processed by Simmons University MLIS intern Geovanna DeOliveira October-December 2024.
Geographic
Topical
- Removed financial records that were empty receipts, removed FERPA protected grades, empty envelopes, separated individual school materials not related to Vanderbilt, duplicate publications/special event materials
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Phi Beta Kappa Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Geovanna DeOliveira
- Date
- 2025-01
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Vanderbilt University Archives Repository
Vanderbilt University Archives
1101 19th Ave. S.
Nashville TN 37212 United States
archives@vanderbilt.edu
About this Site
This site contains collection guides, or finding aids, to the archival collections held by Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, the History of Medicine Collection, and the Scarritt Bennett Center. Finding aids describe the context, arrangement, and structure of archival materials, allowing users to identify and request materials relevant to their research.
Requesting Materials
Each finding aid contains a link to request materials from the collections. Collections can also be requested by emailing the repository directly through the library website. Each repository has its own location, hours, and contact information. Please consult the repository with questions about using the materials. Collections are non-circulating and must be used in the repository’s reading room. In many cases, the collections are stored off-site and require advance notice for retrieval.