The International Honor Society in History was organized at the University of Arkansas on March 17, 1921. Since that time it has grown to over six hundred and fifty chapters in fifty states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the Philippine Islands. It is the largest, in number of chapters, of the accredited honor societies holding membership in the Association of College Honor Societies. Phi Alpha Theta was one of the original three honor societies admitted to the association at the time of its organization in 1945. The membership in Phi Alpha Theta has grown to more than 150,000 initiates since 1921.
     The Gamma Eta chapter was organized at the University of Florida in 1948. In July of 1991, we were awarded one of the six annual 'Best Chapter Awards' (Universities with enrollment in excess of 18,000), given out by the International Society.
     The International Society offers several graduate scholarships to its members. Varying in amount, they are available for students either just beginning or in advanced graduate study.
     One of the additional benefits to membership in the International Society in History is that it maintains a placement bureau at its national headquarters for its members who are available for college teaching positions. Also, membership in Phi Alpha Theta is recognized by the U.S. Civil Service Commission as a credit qualifying the member for grade GS-7 (rather than GS-5).
 
 

     The Gamma Eta Chapter of the International Honor Society in History was established during the 1948/49 academic year. Since then the chapter has seen outstanding achievements by many of its members. Notable among them is Dr. Donald E. Worcester, one of our initial members, who in addition to having served as chapter faculty advisor, also served as both the International Society's National Vice-President and President between 1958 and 1962. Additionally Dr. Worcester served on the National Council and Advisory Committee. 
     Three other distinguished members of this chapter are Dr. Samuel Proctor, Dr. Manning J. Dauer, and Mr. Julien C. Yonge. Dr. Proctor and Dr. Dauer joined Phi Alpha Theta at the inception of the chapter. Dr. Proctor was at the University has a graduate student and on the History Department staff. Since that time he has had a distinguished career as a member of the Universities History faculty, risen to national prominence as an oral historian, author, and as a member and editor of the Oral History Association. Although retired, Dr. Proctor is still associated with the University as a Professor Emeritus on the staff of the Oral History Program. 
     Dr. Manning J. Dauer was an eminent political science professor at the University. Dauer Hall, which was until 1965 the Florida [Students] Union was renamed in honor of him at that date.
     Julien C. Yonge joined the society and this chapter during the 1957/58 academic year. In addition to being an alumni of the University, Mr. Yonge has been one the greatest benefactors of the University's libraries.
     Student members have in the past served both the chapter and the national organization. Members were delegates to the annual national conventions, serving on various committees in the development of the Society's policies and goals. In the past the chapter has been recognized numerous times by the International Society for its activities. For those during the 1986-87 year with the Society's 'Special Commendation Award', and in 1991 was awarded a 'Best Chapter Award' by the Honor Society. 
     The chapter has been in the past, and continues to be, involved in activities closer to home. We have been the hosting chapter for the Society's Regional Conference numerous times, the most recent being in 1994. At several of those conferences, members of this chapter were recognized for their presentations of 'outstanding' undergraduate and graduate papers. 
     Chapter members also assist in coordination of the annual Bridget Phillips Memorial Scholarship Award fund-raiser. The Bridget Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1989 in memory of Bridget Bernadette Phillips, who was an outstanding graduate of the University's History Department, a National Merit Scholar, member of Gold Key and Phi Beta Kappa, and had served as an officer of this chapter. After an exemplary career at UF, including several study-abroad semesters, Bridget went to John Hopkins University on a graduate fellowship. The scholarship was established after her untimely death in March 1989, and is awarded annually to an undergraduate history student for support of tuition or an overseas study program, so that others may participate in some of the educational opportunities that Bridget so enjoyed.
 
 

President                             Elisa F. Lucchi
Vice President                      Patrick J. Boner
Secretary                             Eva Talmadge
Treasurer                             Sharon Hines
Membership Coordinator       Amanda Harbert
Historian                             Todd Williams

Mailing address: University of Florida, Dept. of History, 4131 Turlington Hall PO BOX 117320, Gainesville, FL 32611