Contents

Descriptive Summary

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE

SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS

SELECTED SEARCH TERMS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Series 1: Founding and Organization

Series 2: Minutes of Annual Meetings

Series 3: Membership

Series 4: Correspondence

Series 5: Financial

Series 6: Miscellaneous

Finding aid for Phi Beta Kappa. Epsilon of Pennsylvania (Swarthmore College) Records, 1893-1942

Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff

2007

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest honors society, founded to promote academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. The Swarthmore College Chapter, Epsilon of Pennsylvania, of the Phi Beta Kappa Society began as a preliminary organization in 1893. After receiving its charter in 1895, it became a full chapter in 1896. In its early years it included a number of alumni retroactively elected to the Society. The Swarthmore Chapter remains active.

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SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS

Contains the records of the Swarthmore College Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa society from it's founding in 1893 until 1942, with gaps in some series. The collection includes an historical sketch of the chapter, Constitution, minutes of annual meetings, membership lists, correspondence, financial records, pamphlets and invitations, and published copies of some annual addresses and poems.

Organized into six series:

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SELECTED SEARCH TERMS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Friends Historical Library (TRIPOD). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings:

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Series 1: Founding and Organization

Series 2: Minutes of Annual Meetings

Series 3: Membership

Series 4: Correspondence

Series 5: Financial

Series 6: Miscellaneous