Celebrating 45 years of Phi Beta Kappa at Baylor

It took a lot of effort and persistence, but on Dec. 6, 1976 — 45 years ago this month — the Baylor University chapter (Zeta of Texas) of Phi Beta Kappa was chartered.

Phi Beta Kappa, as you may know, is the nation’s oldest scholastic honor society (and the first American society to have a Greek-letter name). Nationally, only about 1 in every 100 college seniors is invited to join PBK, and only 10% of U.S. colleges and universities have even earned their own chapter (including just 10 other schools in Texas).

The journey to charter PBK at Baylor began soon after Dr. Henry L. Robinson came to campus in 1948. Robinson and a small committee of faculty members led Baylor through five application processes. In 1976, with their sixth application, they finally succeeded.

With over 60 active members and dozens of faculty and staff members, Baylor’s chapter sponsors events such as the Albaugh Lectures, which bring distinguished scientists, writers, artists and thinkers to campus. Past guests have included Francis Crick (the Nobel Prize-winning DNA pioneer), Stephen Jay Gould (one of the most widely read science writers of the 20th century) and John Updike (winner of multiple Pulitzer Prize awards).  Phi Beta Kappa also gives back to the community by sponsoring four student scholarships every year.

Sic ’em, Baylor Phi Beta Kappas!