Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society

05/25/2026

04/01/2026

🎭 Happy April Fools' Day, Fellow Historians!

Before you prank your professor, let's talk about where this tradition actually comes from — because the history is almost as wild as the pranks themselves.

The most popular theory? When France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the new year moved from late March/April 1 to January 1. People who didn't get the news — or refused to accept it — kept celebrating the old new year and became targets for pranks. The French called them "poisson d'avril" (April fish), a term that's STILL used in France today. 🐟

But that's just one theory. Some historians link it to ancient Rome's festival of Hilaria (literally "joyful"), celebrated at the end of March with costumes and mockery. Others point to Chaucer's "Nun's Priest's Tale" from 1392, which may contain the earliest English reference — though scholars still argue about whether Chaucer actually meant April 1st.

By the 18th century, the tradition had spread across Europe. In Scotland, it became a two-day affair: "Huntigowk Day" (sending people on fool's errands) followed by "Tailie Day" (yes, "kick me" signs have been around that long).

And in the modern era? The BBC once convinced millions that Swiss farmers were harvesting spaghetti from trees (1957). Taco Bell announced they'd bought the Liberty Bell (1996). And NPR ran a segment with "Richard Nixon" announcing another presidential run (1992).

We found a fascinating video that covers the FULL history of April Fools' Day through the centuries — definitely worth a watch: 👉 https://phialphatheta.org/how-a-calendar-change-in-1582-created-april-fools-day/

Happy April Fools' Day from Phi Alpha Theta! 😉

Historians trace the tradition back to France's switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar — but the real story is more complicated than you think.

03/30/2026

📅 March Wrap-Up | Q1: "History Is Happening Now"

And just like that, Q1 is in the books! 📖

March gave us Women's History Month, the Triangle Shirtwaist anniversary, St. Patrick's Day, the Ides of March, and so many great moments through your submissions.

Coming in April: our Q2 theme — "Your History, Your Story" — and we can't wait to share what we have planned.

What was your favorite post from March? Tell us below! 👇

Thank you for being part of this community. Here's to an incredible Q2! 🎉

03/27/2026

📢 Regional Conference Season is Here — Don't Miss Your Window!

Two Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conferences are happening TOMORROW, March 28:

📍 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference — Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
📍 Hawaii Regional Conference — University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI

Good luck to all presenting members at both conferences!

And for everyone else — April is packed with opportunities to present your research, compete for awards, and connect with PAT members across the country:

🗓️ April 10-11 — Northeast Texas @ Abilene Christian University, TX
🗓️ April 11 — Colorado @ Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO
🗓️ April 11 — Michigan @ Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
🗓️ April 16-17 — California North @ San Jose State University, CA
🗓️ April 17-18 — Illinois @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
🗓️ April 18 — Virginia @ Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA
🗓️ April 18 — New York West/Central @ Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
🗓️ April 18 — New York/New Jersey @ Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY
🗓️ April 23-25 — Northwest @ Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
🗓️ April 25 — Pennsylvania East @ King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA
🗓️ April 25 — Oklahoma @ Oklahoma Christian University, Edmond, OK

Regional conferences are one of the most rewarding parts of PAT membership — a chance to present your work, receive feedback from experienced historians, and build connections that last well beyond graduation.

Visit phialphatheta.org for full details, submission requirements, and registration links for each conference. 🔗

03/25/2026

🏆 Community Challenge — We Want to See Your History Life!

We're closing out Q1 with a community challenge and we need YOUR participation!

Show us what being a history enthusiast looks like for you — your bookshelf, study space, thesis drafts, chapter events, a favorite historical site you've visited. Anything goes!

Here's how to participate:
📸 Post your photo
🏷️ Tag
#️⃣ Use

We'll be featuring submissions all week in our Stories! 🎉

Share this post to spread the challenge! 👇

03/23/2026

📅 This Week in History | March 25, 1911

146 young women — most of them recent immigrants, many teenagers — died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City.

The exits were locked. The fire escapes collapsed. Help came too late.

The tragedy galvanized the labor movement and led directly to landmark workplace safety legislation that still protects American workers today.

Their names deserve to be remembered. Their story deserves to be shared.

Please share this post. 🕯️

03/18/2026

🤔 History "Would You Rather" Wednesday!

You have a one-way ticket to one of history's greatest cultural moments.

Do you choose:

🎨 Florence during the Renaissance — Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, the Medici...
OR
🏺 Athens at its Golden Age — Socrates, Plato, the Parthenon, democracy in its infancy...

Pick ONE and make your case in the comments. Best argument wins bragging rights! 👇

03/17/2026

🎂 Happy 105th Birthday, Phi Alpha Theta! 🎂

On this day in 1921, Dr. Nels Andrew Nelson Cleven founded our society at the University of Arkansas — and the world of history scholarship was never the same.

Dr. Cleven had a vision: a society open to ALL history students — women and men — built on the idea that knowledge is best spread through community. He noticed a painting of ancient Athens on his classroom wall, saw the crimson-robed scholars within it, and chose red as the symbol of his new fraternity.

105 years later, that vision has become:
✅ 600,000+ members worldwide
✅ 900+ active chapters
✅ Decades of The Historian journal
✅ Hundreds of scholarships awarded
✅ A global community of people who believe history matters

We are so proud of every member, past and present, who has made Phi Alpha Theta what it is today.

Tag a fellow history scholar in the comments and help us celebrate! 🏛️📜

📖 Read the full founding story on our blog: https://phialphatheta.org/105-years-of-history-in-the-making/

03/17/2026

☘️ Happy St. Patrick's Day from Phi Alpha Theta!

Today's the perfect day to appreciate how rich and dramatic Irish history really is.

Beyond the celebrations, Ireland's path to independence is one of the most compelling political stories of the 20th century — the Easter Rising of 1916, the Irish War of Independence, the Anglo-Irish Treaty, and the partition of the island all unfolded within just a few turbulent years.

What's your favorite moment or figure from Irish history? Share below! 🍀

03/13/2026

🚫 History Myth vs. Fact!

MYTH: Columbus set out to prove the Earth was round.

FACT: Educated Europeans had known the Earth was round since ancient Greece — scholars like Eratosthenes even calculated its circumference around 240 BC with impressive accuracy.

The real debate about Columbus's voyage was whether he had correctly estimated the distance to Asia. (He hadn't — he was way off. He got lucky that the Americas were in the way.)

History is full of myths that get repeated so often they become "common knowledge."

What's a history myth you believed for years? Share it below! 👇