Mortar Board, a collegiate national honor society for seniors, recognizes "distinguished ability and achievement in scholarship, leadership, and service." Mortar Board was founded in 1918 as a women's national honor society by groups at Swarthmore College, Cornell University, Ohio State University and the University of Michigan. The University of Minnesota established the Sigma Tau chapter in 1919. The membership of Mortar Board was opened to men and women alike in 1975.
From the guide to the Mortar Board papers, 1899-1968, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])