Phi Beta Kappa Beta of Missouri

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest honorary society, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.  Probably the most prestigious honorary for the liberal arts in the United States, it now has chapters at approximately 270 of our foremost institutions of higher learning. Phi Beta Kappa was the earliest society to adopt Greek letters for a name. These are taken from the first letters of the Greek phrase Philosophia Biou Kubernetes, translated as The Love of Wisdom, the Helmsman of Life.   The living membership of Phi Beta Kappa is about a half million. The goal of Phi Beta Kappa is to encourage humane learning, a  goal which includes not merely superior achievement but also a broad range of interests in the liberal arts, depth of understanding,  and a high regard for intellectual honesty and tolerance. The national Phi Beta Kappa Society webpage gives more information about the Society's history, purpose and activities. Directory of Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Associations

The Washington University Chapter (Beta of Missouri) was established in 1914.  Each spring the chapter elects new undergraduate members from among students pursuing degrees in the College of Arts & Sciences.   Membership and the selection process.

Students who were elected and accepted membership in

Spring 2009 Spring 2008 Spring 2007 Spring 2006 Spring 2005 Spring 2004

Spring 2003 Spring 2002 Spring 2001 Spring 2000 Spring 1999

The Chapter is one of the sponsors of the annual Phi Beta Kappa/Sigma Xi Lecture in the Assembly Series each spring. Newly elected members are usually initiated on the same day as this lecture.

Each spring, the Chapter presents its annual Burton M.Wheeler Book Award to one or more students to honor their outstanding work in the liberal arts during their first three semesters at Washington University.  The winners receive a book of their choosing from among recent national winners of the Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards.  The awards are presented at the annual Phi Beta Kappa Initiation Ceremony.

W.U. Record, Novermber 9, 2006  Professor Gerald L. Early received the Phi Beta Kappa Award for Distinguished Service to the Humanities.

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The officers of the Chapter for the 2007-2008 academic year are  

Ursula Goodenough, President
Department of Biology, Natural Sciences 215A
314-935-6836

Nancy Pope
Secretary
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
314-935-6848

Leonard Green
Department of Psychology, Psychology Building 415B
314-935-6534