The Rho Chi Society traces its origins through two lines of descent: the interest of the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties, in particular Dr. Rufus A. Lyman and Professor Zada M. Cooper; and out of the earlier establishment of an honorary pharmaceutical society, known as the Aristolochite Society, first at the University of Michigan and then at the Oregon Agricultural College.
Generally recognized as the most prestigious national pharmaceutical honor society, Rho Chi was established on June 3, 1922. As early as 1917, Dr. Rufus A. Lyman emphasized the need for such a society in his presidential address to the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties, and he recommended that one be established. At that time, there was only one local pharmaceutical honor society in the United States, the Aristolochite Society, which had been organized in 1908 at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. A conference between a representative of the Pharmaceutical Faculties and the officers of the Michigan group resulted in steps to create a national society. Subsequently, on June 3, 1922, the parent Aristolochite Society ceased to exist and a charter was granted by the State of Michigan to Alpha Chapter of the Rho Chi Society. The Greek letters Rho Chi were selected as emblematic of the prescription sign. By 1970 there were 72 active chapters of the Society.
Rho Chi's fundamental objective is to promote the advancement of the pharmaceutical sciences through the encouragement of scholarship. High standards of scholarship have been demanded for election to membership with the view that scholarly attainment indicates the capacity of the individual for outstanding professional achievement. The Society also seeks to encourage scholarly fellowship in pharmacy by bringing together undergraduate and graduate students and faculty; and to promote pharmaceutical research, for which a Cumulative Research Fund has been established.
This history of the Rho Chi Society has been compiled from “Rho Chi Society, History, Constitution and By-Laws, Revised at the Nineteenth Annual Convention (1942),” 11pp., and from Rho Chi Society; Development of the Honor Society of American Pharmacy, third edition by Roy A. Bowers and David L. Cowen (Columbus, Ohio, 1970, 52pp.)
