The original charter of the Harvard chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa, which was lost several years ago and found again at a sale of antiquities last year, has been given by William and Mary College to the College Library. This charter was granted in 1779 by the "the members of the meeting Alpha of William and Mary College, Virginia," to their brother Elisha Parmeli, of the University at Cambridge. Parmeli received the chapter in person from the meeting Alpha in Virginia. He was allowed to stop at New Haven on his homeward journey, that he might organize there a Yale branch. The Yale fraternity is thus older than that of Harvard.

In the earlier years the members were careful to observe the rule requiring each of them to have a medal of the society. Some years ago, however, the dies were lost and the custom of purchasing medals was given up. The dies have now been found, and the medals may be got at Guild's. Photographs of the charter also may be bought at the University book store.