Phi Beta Kappa (Academic Honorary Society)

Tennessee Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honorary society, was installed at the university on January 29, 1965. The first attempt to establish a chapter at UT was made in 1922 by a student, Charles Morse, who collected money from students who would thereby be given membership when the chapter was obtained. His effort was not successful. In 1926 Liberal Arts faculty petitioned for a chapter, but were unsuccessful. Several subsequent attempts were also made, without success. In 1962 a three-year effort by a consortium of university and community leaders who were members of Phi Beta Kappa formed to demonstrate to Phi Beta Kappa that the number of athletic scholarships (a major point in preventing the university from being granted a chapter) did not define the academic quality of the institution and that the university met the requirements for consideration for placement of a chapter. In 1964 the application was approved following the recommendation of an inspection team. Dr. William Devane, dean of Yale University was the installing officer and speaker at the installation ceremony, which took place in the Carolyn P. Brown Memorial University Center’s ballroom. The first president of the UT chapter was Dr. Richard Beal Davis, professor of English. In 1977 the UT chapter had two faculty—Dr. LeRoy P. Graf (history) and Dr. John Fisher (English)—elected to the Senate of the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa.