The Theta Xi chapter of the national history society Phi Alpha Theta was established at Old Dominion College in 1962. One of the charter members was Jack Temple Kirby who is now an historian of the twentieth-century South. Over the years the chapter won "best chapter" awards, sponsored guest lecturers, hosted panel discussions and had forums on careers for history majors. The Theta Xi chapter also published The Old Dominion University Historical Review, which consisted of nine student papers (three in European history and six in American history) in that five of the authors were graduate students and four were undergraduates. The chapter would also meet annually with other Virginia college/university chapters of Phi Alpha Theta to discuss their scholarly research. The Theta Xi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta at Old Dominion University became inactive in the mid-2000s.

Note written by Kathleen Smith