Phi Kappa Phi History

In 1897 a group of 10 students at the University of Maine, who perceived a need for an honor society on broader lines than any then in existence, was assisted by interested professors to organize the Lambda Sigma Eta Society.

A year or so later the name was changed to the Morrill Society, in honor of the sponsor of the Congressional Act that provided for land-grant colleges. In 1900 it was transformed into a national society by the action of a committee composed of the presidents of the University of Maine, the University of Tennessee, and Pennsylvania State College (now The Pennsylvania State University).

The chapters in these institutions are the founding chapters. The society was renamed Phi Kappa Phi, from the initial letters of the Greek words forming its adopted motto: Philosophia Krateito Photon, roughly translated as "Let the love of learning rule humanity."

In 1997, Phi Kappa Phi celebrated its Centennial with a year long series of events culminating in a three-day meeting in New Orleans featuring an array of national speakers and landmark symposia. The Iowa State Chapter held a convocation in Ames where centennial medallions were awarded to 100 of the most outstanding living PKP graduates of the University.

The history of the Society has been recorded in two volumes, Pursuit of Excellence: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, 1897-1971 by Edward Schriver (Paperback - $3.50) and Making Heroes of Scholars: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, 1971-1983 by Neal O'Steen (Paperback - $6.00, Hardcover - $10.00). Both are available from the National Office at LSU.