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Phi Alpha Theta is an international honor society in history. The University of Washington chapter, Delta Iota, was founded in 1951, was most active during the mid-1960's, and had reached a nadir by 1971. This cycle reflects a significant phenomenon in the history of American higher education-the rapid expansion of institutions of higher learning in the 1960's to accommodate students of the post-World War II 'baby boom,' and the resulting increase in graduate students preparing for academic careers. By the early 1970's the expansion had ended, jobs were few, and morale of graduate students had declined. The year 1967 can be seen as the chapter's high point. In that year the chapter sponsored a retirement banquet for Prof. Max Savelle, an eminent American Historian, and organized the Northwest Conference of Phi Alpha Theta Chapters. For subsequent years the records are increasingly scattered. Delta Iota Chapter, Phi Alpha Theta, still exists at the University of Washington.