Ragged Road to a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter

Public Lecture

The Ragged Road to a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter
with Professor Michael Birkner (History) for the Iota of PA Chapter's 100th Anniversary at Gettysburg College.

Gettysburg College’s path to a Phi Beta Kappa charter was not a straight line. In this lecture marking the centennial of the charter granted by the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, Michael Birkner will discuss the people behind Gettysburg’s application and the evidence they presented. His lecture will examine the unexpected roadblocks the college faced: the embarrassing case of granting “dummy diplomas” at several commencements, and the national organization’s oscillation between welcoming denominational connected colleges into membership and some officers’ determination to maintain the United Chapters as an elite club. How Gettysburg navigated towards its goal and how it succeeded after half a dozen frustrated efforts, will be the focus of this lecture.

Co-sponsored by the Iota of Pennsylvania chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Friends of Musselman Library, Musselman Library, and the History department.

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Co-hosted with: Musselman Library, History