The Phi Beta chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society at Portland State University has existed continuously since its founding in 1974. In addition to encouraging the study of history and honoring history students with strong academic records, it organizes a wide variety of on-campus events around historical and academic themes, including panel discussions, guest lectures, student colloqui
a, and brown-bag discussions. All such events are free and open to the public. PSU's Phi Beta chapter is part of a national professional society whose 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 PSU chapter and the national organization seek to bring students, teachers, and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways.In addition to organizing a program of public events, Phi Alpha Theta plays a vital role in the operation of the History Department, where its duties include nominating student members to the Promotions Committee, judging annual prizes that the History Department awards to history students, and volunteering to help out with public events organized by the History Department and its alumni association, Friends of History. Finally, every year in April we send a number of student members to present original research papers at the Phi Alpha Theta Northwest Regional Conference in April.
