Phi Beta Kappa Founded: America's First Scholastic Fraternity
Students from the College of William and Mary gathered in the Apollo Room of the Raleigh Tavern to establish Phi Beta Kappa, creating the nation's first scholastic fraternity. This bold move immediately shifted campus culture by prioritizing academic excellence over social clubs, setting a lasting standard for scholarly societies across the United States.
December 5, 1776
250 years ago
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