Phi Beta Kappa in American Life: The First Two Hundred Years

On Dec. 5, 1776, five William and Mary students formed a secret club whose motto -- ''Love of wisdom the guide of life'' -- they represented by the Greek letters PBK. The society quickly increased in members; today, Phi Beta Kappa is America's foremost honor society, the forerunner and prototype of all other such groups as well as all Greek-letter fraternities. This book provides a complete history of the society, tracing its growth from a local debating club to a national organization. The author examines its grudging admission of women and blacks, the uproar over Paul Robeson's selection for the editorial board of American Scholar, and many other controversies.