Tau Beta Pi, the oldest engineering honor society in the United States, was founded at Lehigh in 1885 by Edward H. Williams Jr., then head of the university’s mining engineering department. Williams, who earned degrees in chemistry and mining engineering from Lehigh before joining the faculty, wanted to recognize technologically minded students as Phi Beta Kappa honors candidates in arts and sciences.

There are now collegiate chapters at 238 institutions and chartered alumni chapters in 59 cities.

The society’s seal features Lehigh’s colors, brown and white. The official symbol is the “Bent,” a watch key in the shape of the bent of a trestle. The “Bent” was installed in front of Williams Hall (named for its founder) in 1885 but was moved in 2010 to a more visible spot outside Packard Lab, home of Lehigh’s engineering college.

At universities across the country, society members “polish the Bent” as ritual or requirement.