TIMELINE OF EVENTS · 2017-12-22 · TIMELINE OF EVENTS. 1818 William H. Seward (UC 1820) is elected to the Alpha Chapter of New York on May 9. The Alpha Chapter of New York begins

1776

The Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Society is

organized at the College of William

and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Established as an intellectual

debating society, Phi Beta Kappa is the

first “Greek-letter” society. The William

and Mary chapter frames the essential

characteristics of PBK’s organization:

secrecy, a badge, mottoes in Greek

and Latin, a constitution, an elaborate

initiation, token of salutation, and a

seal. Regular meetings are held with

attention given to literary exercises,

especially in composition and debate.

Freedom of inquiry is critical for the

Society, so meetings are secretly

held behind closed doors. The

students debate an array of highly

controversial issues, including the

role of religion in government,

whether a public or private education

is more advantageous, and the

issue of African slavery.

1780

The Alpha Chapter of Connecticut

is founded at Yale (granted by the

Alpha Chapter of Virginia at William

and Mary College).

1781

The Alpha Chapter of Virginia at

William and Mary College dissolves

on January 6, due to invading

British forces off the Virginia coast;

members seal up records and

deliver them to the college steward

“until the desirable event of the

Society’s resurrection.”

The Alpha Chapter of Massachusetts

is founded on September 5 at Harvard

College (granted by the Alpha Chapter

of William and Mary with the assistance

of the Alpha Chapter of Connecticut).

1787

The Alpha Chapter of New Hampshire

at Dartmouth College is granted

a charter by the Alpha chapters of

Connecticut at Yale and Massachusetts

at Harvard.

1804

Dr. Eliphalet Nott becomes President

of Union College

1808

Union College’s request for the first

charter in New York is rejected by the

Alpha Chapter of Connecticut at Yale

on the grounds that the College is

“lacking in academic standards.”

1813

With the encouragement of President

Nott, 14 members of Union’s senior

class reapply for the Alpha Chapter

of New York. Dr. Nott endorses the

application in a letter, ensuring that

the students are “young gentleman

of unblemished moral character of

respectable literary acquirements.”

1817

The Alpha of New York chapter

at Union College is granted a

charter by the Alpha Chapters of

Connecticut, Massachusetts and

New Hampshire. Union becomes

the fifth chapter in the nation.

Instead of delivering the charter

to the students, it’s sent to three

friends of the College deemed ‘

commissioners.’ The commissioners

meet in Albany to organize the

“New York Alpha of Union College,”

electing Dr. Eliphalet Nott as the

first chapter president.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

1818

William H. Seward (UC 1820) is

elected to the Alpha Chapter of

New York on May 9.

The Alpha Chapter of New York

begins sponsoring annual addresses

by notable orators.

1838

Responsibility for electing new PBK

members is turned over to the

Union faculty after elections become

increasingly political.

1848

Future U.S. President Chester Arthur

(UC 1848) is elected to the Alpha

Chapter of New York.

1851

Two William and Mary professors,

PBK members from Union College,

successfully revive the Alpha

Chapter of Virginia at William and

Mary College.

1858-1882

The Alpha Chapter of New York

at Union College grants charters

for other PBK chapters in New

York State:

New York University (1858)College of City of New York (1867)Columbia (1869)Hamilton (1870)Hobart (1871)

Colgate (1878)

Cornell (1882)

1861-1863

U.S. Secretary of State William H.

Seward (UC 1820) serves as President

of the Alpha Chapter of New York.

1866

The PBK chapter at the University

of Vermont is the first to admit

African Americans.

1875

The PBK chapter at the University of

Vermont is the first to admit women.

1883

The National Phi Beta Kappa

organization is established.

1914

The Alpha Chapter of New York

launches an organization of

PBK members who live in the

Capital District (now called the

Upper Hudson Association) that

functions independently of Union

College and other chapters.

1917

The Alpha Chapter of New York

celebrates its 100th anniversary.

As part of the ceremonies, former

U.S. President William H. Taft speaks

at the anniversary dinner.

1971

Skidmore College acquires a Phi

Beta Kappa chapter.

1974

State University of New York

at Albany acquires a PBK chapter.

2017

The Alpha Chapter of New York

at Union College celebrates its

200th anniversary.