Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society, was established at the University of Arkansas on March 17, 1921 by Nels Andrew N. Cleven. The organization has over 800 chapters throughout the United States. Phi Alpha Theta recognizes the academic accomplishments of both graduate and undergraduate students in history. Its mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.
The University of Tennessee chapter, Alpha Zeta Kappa, has an active membership. The chapter hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year in which undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty share their research and interests. It also organizes film screenings introduced by history faculty, trips to local historic sites, presentations at regional conferences, and symposia, and other diverse meetings.
Benefits of Membership
Membership in the national organization offers several benefits to students. Every year Phi Alpha Theta sponsors panels at several major historical conferences such as those hosted by the American Historical Association, Southern Historical Association, and the Western History Association. Students at the U.T. chapter can also submit papers for the annual regional conference. Along with conference participation, the national organization provides several scholarships, grants, and paper prizes for undergraduate and graduate students. Please consult the national website at www.phialphatheta.org for information on calls for papers and scholarly awards. The annual chapter fee is $10.
Membership Requirements
To join the Alpha Zeta Kappa chapter, students must complete an application for membership, which can be downloaded here: http://www.phialphatheta.org/data/prc.pdf. The one-time fee to join is $50 (make checks payable to Phi Alpha Theta), which includes a lifetime membership in the honor society as well as a one-year subscription to The Historian. Once the application is approved and the fee is paid, students will attend an initiation ceremony in the late spring. Please send the application form and check to Dr. Lynn Sacco (lsacco@utk.edu) in the History Department on the 6th floor of Dunford Hall.
- Undergraduates— must have completed at least 12 semester hours in History (4 courses) with a GPA of at least 3.1 in History, have a GPA of 3.0 or better overall, and be in the top 35% of the class. Membership is not limited to History majors.
- Graduate Students— should have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours towards their Master’s Degree and have a GPA of better than 3.5.
- Transfer Students— if you would like to transfer your membership to the Alpha Zeta Kappa chapter you must fill out a membership form and pay a one-time fee of $10.
2008-2009 Committee
| NAME | CLASS | |
| Gabriel Fidler | M.A. | gfidler@utk.edu |
| Jesse Tumblin | SR | jtumblin@utk.edu |
| Lauren James | JR | ljames6@utk.edu |
| Dr. Lynn Sacco | lsacco@utk.edu |
Phi Alpha Theta News
Two Students Awarded Prizes at Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference
- Jesse Tumblin (senior), Best Undergraduate Paper in World History: "The Conscription Crisis in County Meath, 1918: A Catalyst for Radicalization in Ireland's Revolutionary Process."
- Gabriel Fidler (master's student), Best Graduate Paper: "Football and the Public Sphere in Nineteenth-Century England."
Spring 2009 Events
February
12 Snacks and historical movies, plus information about the upcoming Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference
(All history majors welcome to attend)—6 p.m.
18 Trivia Night at the Mellow Mushroom. More to be scheduled during the term (All history majors welcome to attend)—8 p.m.
26 Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performs works by Brahms and the world premiere of W.M. Harrell’s
Time Like an Ever Flowing Stream—8 p.m. *We will purchase student rate tickets
27 Titles and abstracts due for Southeast Tennessee Historical Symposium (April 8) to rbarnett@leeuniversity.edu.
28 Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference, Austin-Peay State University, Clarksville, Tenn. We will carpool.
March
4 Trivia Night at the Mellow Mushroom. (All history majors welcome to attend)—8 p.m.
10 Visit to the East Tennessee Historical Society (All history majors welcome to attend)—TBA in the afternoon.
*We will purchase group tickets
26 Scholar’s Bowl—still in the planning stages, but Phi Alpha Theta students will be able to compete
(All history majors welcome to attend)—6 p.m.
April
1 Trivia Night at the Mellow Mushroom. (All history majors welcome to attend)—8 p.m.
7 Induction & History Department Honours Meeting. Presentation of certificates to all new members from 2008-09.—5:00 p.m.
8 Southeast Tennessee Historical Symposium, Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn. Anyone interested in presenting should contact Gabriel
Fidler. Great addition to your CV! We will carpool.—6:30 p.m.
16 Graduate School Talk for 2009-10 senior applying to graduate school. Faculty and graduate students will present brief talks.
(All history majors welcome to attend)—6 p.m.
27 Goodbye Party! Will be potluck style.—6 p.m.