ISU Chapter History

The Iowa State University Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1911 as the sixth chapter organized and the first chapter west of the Alleghenies. Over the intervening years, the Iowa State Chapter has distinguished itself by maintaining a continuously vigorous program that has served to enhance academic excellence throughout the University.

The twenty-nine charter faculty members of the Iowa State chapter were an extremely illustrious group. The first secretary of the Iowa chapter, Louis B. Schmidt, wore many hats, among them providing the leadership which led to the creation of the music department at ISC, and later chairing the combined department of history and government. Herman Knapp, the first chapter president, performed different functions at the college including college treasurer and for a short time, acting president.

Louis Pammel was national secretary at the time and later served as Executive Director and President. Names from the charter group read like a who's who of Iowa State and the City of Ames. Others among the members were: Samual Walker Beyer, Robert Earle Buchanan, Charles Franklin Curtiss, Anson Marston, Louis Hermann Pammel, and Edgar Williams Stanton.

Not long after the chapter was chartered, the practice of holding an annual initiation and awards banquet was established. From the beginning, society records indicate that this was the major society event of the year, often featuring a distinguished speaker from outside the University.

The Iowa State Chapter has utilized many different approaches to accomplish the society's goals. In general, four types of programs have been used: the initiation banquet or reception, awarding of scholarships, sponsoring lectures, and events and publicity to recognize academic excellence.

At Iowa State and elsewhere, the Great Depression brought financial difficulties. Correspondence from that period indicates that the Iowa State Chapter received a loan from the national office during the Bank Holiday in 1933, for $500. The chapter was able to liquidate the entire debt by March 11, 1937.

The 1940s witnessed a reduction in the Phi Kappa Phi membership, but for other reasons. World War II, with large numbers of young men and women serving in the military, brought major change to college campuses all over the nation. Enrollments dropped and many student activities languished. By the 1950s, however, the Iowa State chapter was again actively pursing its main goal of honoring outstanding scholarship on campus.

The 1960s and 1970s brought unrest to many college and university campuses and created an atmosphere where students sometimes questioned the relevancy of campus organizations, including honor societies. While some Iowa State students took part in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, the campus had far less protest than many other institutions. That fact is reflected in the ongoing activities of Phi Kappa Phi ands its continued induction of new members. By 1966, over 5,000 persons had been initiated into the Iowa State Chapter.

Today that number exceeds 21,000 and the Chapter plays a leading role in the ISU Council of Honor Societies that was established in 1986 under the leadership of then Phi Kappa Phi president Harry Weiss.