"Dedicated to the Socratic ideals, that the pursuit of wisdom [proceeds] through education, solid moral living,
and general kindness to one's fellow man." Dedicated by the Hellenic Community of Greater Worcester, 1988

The History and Political Science Department maintains an honor society for students majoring in history called Phi Alpha Theta.  The standards are:

18 credit hours in history,

A G.P.A. of 3.25 (almost a B+) in those history courses,   and

An overall 3.0 (B) in all your college course work.

Students who meet these requirements may be "inducted" (invited) to join the honor society.  If your grades meet the above standards, you will be asked to  submit your latest transcript for Worcester State College as well as transcripts from other colleges you may have attended to the faculty advisor, Prof. Joseph P. Baratta, or to the departmental secretary, Mrs. Lu Houde. The initiations in 2002 will be held on April 6.  Honorees will receive a certificate of lifelong membership and a year's subscription to The Historian.

Phi Alpha Theta is a 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 April meeting will be an awards ceremony combined with the New England regional meeting, which should draw family, friends, and students from our college and others round about. Worcester State College will be the host of the regional Phi Alpha Theta meeting, on 6 April 2002. At that time, our Phi Alpha Theta members will have an opportunity to share their superior student papers on history with comparable students in the Consortium and New England.

Membership in the society is proof of superior achievement and can be cited on applications to graduate school or to jobs.

Congratulations on your progress!

Project to Emplace a Herm of Herodotos,
the "Father of History," on Campus

In 2003, the then president of our chapter, Michael Kacavich, suggested that an appropriate project for the chapter would be to emplace a "herm" (head on plinth) of Herodotos, the author of the first "history" (Greek, "inquiry," 5th century B.C.), on the planned new campus between Sullivan and Administration.  It would complement the statue of Socrates in front of Sullivan, hold up before the whole college an exemplar of a historian, beautify the envisioned new campus, attract art students looking for an authentic work of ancient sculpture, provide a symbol of higher education at Worcester State, and put Phi Alpha Theta on the map.

I have found the oldest surviving sculpture of Herototos in the Museo Archaeologico Nazionale of Naples.  Its director, Maria Luisa Nava, has sent me photos suitable for guiding a sculptor in carving a reproduction (above).  I have found a sculptor, Eric Oberg of Calais, Vermont, who is competent to do the work and is keen to do it.  His cost for sculpting the head is estimated at $6,500.  The cost of the plinth, lettering, and installation, by Empire Granite on Main St., has been given as $2,755.  We are seeking funding, therefore, of about $10,000 to do the job.  The new campus should be ready by 2009.  If you could help, please contact me.

Prof. Joseph P. Baratta
508-929-8632
Jbaratta@worcester.edu

Honorees in Phi Alpha Theta
2006-2007

Worcester City Hall, 15 October 2006

2005-2006

2004-2005

2003-2004

2002-2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

  1992

1991

1990