Phi Alpha Theta, the only national honor society in History and the largest honor society devoted to a single academic discipline, was founded at the University of Arkansas. On March 14, 1921, Dr. Andrew Cleven, Assistant Professor of History, met with students in Old Main to form a University Historical Society. A month later it was reorganized as a fraternal honor society, Phi Alpha Theta, open to both men and women. Its purpose was to encourage research and the diffusion of historical information "through socialized avenues." Dr. Cleven founded a second chapter at the University of Pittsburgh in 1922 and Phi Alpha Theta became national in 1924.
This marker is located at the northeast corner of Old Main.
Year Placed: 2000