[Phi Beta Kappa: The Key Collection The Phi Beta Kappa key is one of this nation's most distinctive symbols and, in fact, traces its origins to the era of the American Revolution. Conceived in 1776 by a group of talented undergraduates at the College of William and Mary as an emblem of their secret �philosophical society,� the key proclaims Phi Beta Kappa�s centuries-old conviction that �The love of wisdom (is) the guide of Life.� As the Society they created encompassed more of the nation�s finest colleges and universities, its key became a universally recognized mark of academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences.]