Phi Beta Kappa keys, 1793-1952

The PBK keys have been in the hands of PBK officers, beginning with Stephen Freeman. PBK keys have historically come to Middlebury randomly, owned by Middlebury alumni or associated spouses, faculty and administration. Most of the keys have been delivered by families and executors. As a PBK officer and steward of the keys, Freeman introduced the tradition of hanging one of the hisotiric keys around the neck of new PBK members at the fall and spring induction ceremonies. The tradition continues, and the keys are returned at the end of the ceremony and saved for future ceremonies.

In June 2019, former PBK Secretary Jane Chaplin and then Secretary Susan Ward deposited the PBK keys in the College Archives, with the understanding that the keys will be removed for induction ceremonies and then returned to the archives.