Records of Phi Kappa Phi

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi was established in 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education". It is the oldest all-discipline honor society and third academic society in the United States for academic excellence. The society's motto is to "let the love of learning rule humanity" and its mission is "to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

The charter for the establishment of the Phi Kappa Phi chapter at Colorado Agricultural College (CAC) was signed on May 5, 1927. The thirty founding chapter members included CAC President Charles M. Lory, Viginia Corbett (the Dean of Women), and professors Allison, Coffin, Durell, Gillette, Glover, House, Johnson, Moorhouse, Newsom, Sandsten, Sargent, and Shepardson. The Chapter President was Albertine Krohn and the Executive Director was Archie Solberg. May 12, 1927, fourteen seniors and one graduate student were initiated at CAC. In 1931, sixteen more students were initiated. To be a member of Phi Kappa Phi the individuals must be part the academic elite of their universities and be of sound character. Kappa Phi Chapter requirements include that juniors have completed seventy-two credit hours and rank in the top seven and a half percent of their class; seniors rank in the top ten percent of their class; and graduate students rank in the top ten percent of their class. Faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also may be eligible for membership.