#united chapters

By the time the thought of uniting the chapters was brought to light, both the chapter at the College of William and Mary and the Yale chapter had vanished.  Many of the other chapters were losing their drive. Something was needed to “breathe new life into the venerable institution” (Current, 1990, p. 87). The best way to do this would be to bring all the organizations together.

The chapter at Columbia University was the first to bring up a plan for an alumni association. It was looked at as a way to make “the Society more useful to its members” (Current, 1990, p. 88). The [Phi Beta Kappa] Alumni in New York was created by graduates from different institutions creating a constitution. This association set the precedence for other alumni associations of Phi Beta Kappa.

The idea of creating a national convention for Phi Beta Kappa was nothing new to the organization.  The Amherst chapter was bringing it up as early as 1858. They suggested “a general convention of the branches of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, for the purpose of forming a more compact organization,” and to request that each branch appoint a delegate” (Current, 1990, p. 88). Francis Philip Nash, a former Latin professor at Hobart College, was the main catalyst for finally creating a national convention, as well as a national council.

Harvard was the first to provide the necessary steps for a convention,

At the 1880 meeting—the Harvard men drafted up a constitutional amendment to define and limit the chartering power—they also appointed a committee “to arrange a convention of all chapters of the Fraternity,” where they could propose the amendment along with other constitutional reforms. (Current, 1990, p. 88)

The Harvard chapter had their hundredth anniversary coming up on June 30th, 1881. This chapter was also the oldest active chapter. These two circumstances gave them the right to host the first convention for the society.

           In attendance at this convention were chapters from a dozen institutions including: Amherst, Bowdoin, Brown, CCNY, Dartmouth, Hamilton, Hobart, New York University, Vermont, and of course Harvard, as they were the hosting chapter. This outcome equaled fifty-six delegates. On top of the already assigned agenda of the convention, Professor Nash brought up a new proposition that would change the way the society operated:

           Resolved, That this Convention do hereby earnestly recommend to all chapters of Phi Beta Kappa Society to choose delegates to the number of three for each chapter to meet together at…, on the… day of …, 1881, and from day to day thereafter, who when thus assembled shall constitute the National Council of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and shall have power to express the opinion and sentiment of the Society upon all such questions as may from time to time be presented to said Council for consideration. (Current, 1990, p. 90)

This was the beginning of the National Council, “the nucleus of the national organization” (Current, 1990, p. 90). To work in tandem with Professor Nash’s proposal, Professor John A. De Remer of Union College “suggested a committee of one member from every chapter to meet at the University of the City of New York on October 18, 1881” (Current, 1990, p. 90 ). With this new addition, the amendment passed.

           The second Convention meeting happened on September 6th, 1882 in Saratoga Springs. Twenty-eight delegates from fifteen chapters attended, but only seven of those delegates actually had the power to vote. Two other delegates only had the power to vote if there were amendments being added. For the constitution to go into effect, a minimum of twelve chapters were necessary. Because of this, the constitution could not go into effect, which delayed the delegates the opportunity to become members of the National Council. Those present were able to alter some present matters the society was dealing with, resulting in the number needed to ratify changing from twelve to fourteen. Eventually, all the chapters voted in agreeance and delegates were able to start electing members to the Senate. They also elected Charles W. Eliot, the president of Harvard University, the president of the society.

The first meeting on October 18th of the Nation Council had a slow start. The minutes of that day stated that sixteen members were present, but five chapters were not represented. These chapters not present were Amherst, University of Alabama, Madison University, University of Mississippi, and Western Reserve. Unfortunately, there were some issues with those minutes. They completely overlooked the chapters at Kenyon and Marietta. The Western Reserve chapter was inactive. The chapter at Alabama was dead. And there had never been a chapter as Mississippi. The National Council already had many new changes being brought to light.

It was at this meeting that the National Council finally received the official title of “National Council”. This was also the meeting where the National Council voted upon a “Constitution of the National Council of the Phi Beta Kappa Society” (Current, 1990, p. 93).  This plan proposed that the National Council meet every three years. It also proposed a Senate to act along with the National Council. The Senate, which would include twenty members from the whole society, would be chosen by the National Council. They would serve six-year terms which would be staggered. This would allow for ten senators to “be elected every three years” (Current, 1990, p. 93). The National Council would also choose a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer from among those chosen for the Senate.

Because the Senate was such vital part of the National Council, they acquired much of the power while the Council was not in session. It was the Senate’s responsibility to represent Phi Beta Kappa. The Senate was given the ability to grant charters, and even present constitutions to new chapters.

The Senate met again on January 8, 1887. This was the meeting where John A. De Remer “arrived with the draft model of a charter. The Senate quickly adopted it and immediately use it in authorizing a new chapter” (Current, 1990, p. 95).  It was around this time that the term “United Chapters” appeared on an official document. Though no one actually agree on this term to encompass the whole organization, it was not denied. The Senate just approved the charter form that De Remer had created. This same charter that had the term “United Chapters” on it.

By the early 1900s, many of the chapters were dispersed across the United States. Figuring out which college or university deserved the next chapter of Phi Beta Kappa became a question around this time. The National Council was able to come up with some solutions that helped the organization figure out which institutions would be the best options for new chapters.

A new bylaw that was adopted by the 1922 Council laid out the rules for selection of institutions. It started off by dividing the United States into five different districts. The chapters within these districts “would constitute a “district unit or conference”’ (Current, 1990, p. 142). These conferences had the opportunity to nominate up to three institutions every three years from the district. From those nominated institutions, the Senate would “select the ones it deemed “most worthy of immediate consideration,” would “encourage from them applications,” and would transmit these to the Council for approval or disapproval” (Current, 1990, p. 142). The districts were divided into North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Central, South Central, and Western. With the amount of difference between these districts, many chapters were dissatisfied with this system which caused its demise in 1931.

The Committee on Qualifications was created after the idea of districts fell short. The role of this committee was to “investigate and select institutions to recommend for charters” (Current, 1990, p. 144). This committee included six members serving staggered six-year terms. The committee would “request a preliminary statement from each of the inquiring colleges” (Current, 1990, p. 144). The Committee would then visit the institutions with promise and study them to see if they would make a good fit. Those that would make a good fit were sent to the district conferences for their input.

Some chapters began to fear that a centralized control of the organization was coming.  The last thing the Council wanted to do was take more power away from the individual chapters. But the Committee work was interrupted with the war in 1942.