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| There are many '''collegiate secret societies in North America'''. They vary greatly in their levels of secrecy and independence from their universities. As the term is used in this article, a ''secret society'' is a collegiate society where significant effort is made to keep affairs, membership rolls, signs of recognition, initiation, or other aspects secret from the public. | |||
| There are many '''collegiate secret societies in North America'''. They vary greatly in their level of secrecy and the degree of independence from their universities. A collegiate ''secret society'' makes a significant effort to keep affairs, membership rolls<!--"rolls" here refers to lists of members. Not the job they perform.-->, signs of recognition, initiation, or other aspects secret from the public. | |||
| Some collegiate secret societies are referred to as 'class societies', which restrict membership to one class year. Most class societies are restricted to the senior class, and are therefore also called ''senior societies'' on many campuses. | |||
| Some collegiate secret societies are called "class societies", which restrict membership to one class year. Most class societies are restricted or limited to senior class members, and are therefore called ''senior societies'' on many campuses. Some include junior class members, hence, upperclassmen and women. | |||
| ==Categorization== | ==Categorization== | ||
| There is no strict rule on the categorization of secret societies. Secret societies can have ceremonial |
There is no strict rule on the categorization of secret societies, although a secret membership role is key. Secret societies can have ceremonial ]s, secret signs of recognition (gestures, ], passwords), formal secrets (the 'true' name of the society, a motto, or society history). Traditional ] or sororities, literary societies, honorary groups, and pre-professional fraternal can have similarly secret rituals but do not keep their membership secret. Some secret societies have kept their membership secret until graduation; others never reveal membership until death. Some, like ] at Yale, have published their membership lists in the yearbooks and the '']''. | ||
| One key concept in distinguishing secret societies from fraternities is that, on campuses that have both kinds of organizations, one can be a member of both, (that is, membership is not mutually exclusive). Usually, being a member of more than one fraternity is not considered appropriate, because that member would have divided loyalties; however, typically, there is not an issue being a member of a secret society and a fraternity, because they are not considered similar organizations or competing organizations.<ref name="Bagg">{{cite book|url=http://ia350625.us.archive.org/2/items/fouryearsatyale00bagguoft/fouryearsatyale00bagguoft_djvu.txt|title=Four Years at Yale |last=Bagg |first=Lyman Hotchkiss |year=1871 |publisher=Charles C. Chatfield & Co. |location=New Haven |pages=87–105}}</ref> | |||
| An especially difficult problem is the degree to which any one society is an actual society or is simply an honorary designation. ], for example, was a true secret society, until after its secrets were divulged, the society continued on. It claims today to still be an actual society that has meetings, conducts its affairs, and is a living social entity, however membership for most members consists of one evening's initiation, and no more, which would make the society completely an honorary one in most people's eyes. | |||
| One key concept in distinguishing secret societies from traditional fraternities and sororities is that, on campuses that have both kinds of organizations, one can be a member of both. That is, membership is not mutually exclusive. Usually, being a member of more than one traditional fraternity or sorority is not considered appropriate, because that member would have divided loyalties. However, typically, there is no issue with being a member of a secret society and a fraternity, because they are not considered similar organizations or competing organizations.<ref name="Bagg">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/fouryearsatyale00bagguoft|title=Four Years at Yale |last=Bagg |first=Lyman Hotchkiss |year=1871 |publisher=Charles C. Chatfield & Co. |location=New Haven |pages=–105}}</ref> | |||
| Many such societies exist which operate as honoraries on one campus, and which may have been at one time actual meeting societies, and which are kept alive by one or two dedicated local alumni or an alumni affairs or Dean's office person, who see to it that an annual initiation are held every year. Some of these frankly state that they are honoraries, other seek to perpetuate the image of a continuing active society where there is none. | |||
| Many secret societies exist as honoraries on one campus and may have been actual meeting societies at one time, kept alive by one or two dedicated local alumni or an alumni affairs or dean's office person, who see to it that an annual initiation is held every year. Some of these state that they are honoraries; others seek to perpetuate the image of a continuing active society where there is none. | |||
| While there are some guideline criteria for the neutral observer to understand what sort of society any given organization is, much of the analysis reverts to what any one society has been traditionally understood to be. There are additional means, such as societies that were more or less explicitly established in emulation of some previous secret society, or using historical records to show that society X was created out of society Y. | |||
| ===Common traits=== | ===Common traits=== | ||
| There are several common traits among these societies |
There are several common traits among these societies. For example, many societies have two-part names, such as ] or ]. Many societies also limit their membership to a specific numerical limit in a class year. Extensive mortuary imagery is associated with many secret societies, maintaining a pretense of great seriousness, and clubhouses are often called "tombs". | ||
| === |
===Honoraries=== | ||
| Some historic secret societies are now considered honorary or senior societies. ] is the best-known such example, where it originally operated on a secret chapter basis, and sometime after its secrets were made public in the 1830s, Phi Beta Kappa continued as an honorary. The membership of these groups is not secret but their rituals may be. | |||
| The archetypical selection process for entry into a collegiate secret society began at ] by a process called ''tapping''.<ref name=Bagg/> On a publicly announced evening, Yale undergraduates would assemble informally in the College Yard. Current members of Yale's secret societies would walk through the crowd and literally tap a prospective member on the shoulder and then walk with him up to the tapped man's ]. There, in private, they would ask him to become a member of their secret society, of which the inductee had the choice of accepting or rejecting the offer of membership. During this process, it was publicly known who was being tapped for the coming year. Today, the selection process is not quite as formal, but is still public.<ref name = Mtgdetails>. Retrieved 2008-06-01.</ref> Formal tapping days used to exist at Berkeley, and still exist in a much more formal setting at Missouri. | |||
| ===‘Honoraries’=== | |||
| Several campuses distinguish societies called ‘Honoraries’ from secret societies. Where the society is considered to operate in name only, and membership is an honor given in recognition of some achievement, and that such a society is distinct from a secret society. However, functionally, such organizations can operate identically to secret societies, and historically, most honoraries operated on a secret society basis. ] is the most well-known such example, where it originally operated on a secret chapter basis, and it became the progenitor of all college fraternities, and at the same time, some time after its secrets were made public in the 1830s, Phi Beta Kappa continued on as an honorary. Virtually all the oldest honoraries were once clearly secret societies, and to the extent that they are distinct now is at least ambiguous. | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The first collegiate secret society recorded in North America is that of the ], established on November 11, 1750, at ]. Though the letters stand for a Latin phrase, the society is informally and publicly referred to as the "Flat Hat Club"; its most prominent members included ], ], and ]. The second-oldest Latin-letter society, the P.D.A. Society ("Please Don't Ask"), in 1776 refused entry to John Heath, then a student at the college; rebuffed, he in the same year established the first Greek-letter secret society at the college, the ], modeling it on the two older fraternities (see the ]). The Phi Beta Kappa society had a rudimentary initiation and maintained an uncertain level of secrecy. Those secrets were exposed in the mid-1830s by students at Harvard University acting under the patronage of ]. Since the 1840s, ] has operated openly as an academic ]. | |||
| Often considered the first secret collegiate society in North America, the ] Society, founded in 1776 by students at the College of William and Mary, was in fact antedated by other societies at the College established as long as a generation earlier.<ref>].</ref> The society had a rudimentary initiation and maintained an uncertain level of secrecy. Those secrets were exposed in the mid-1830s by students at Harvard University acting under the patronage of John Quincy Adams. Since the 1840s, Phi Beta Kappa has operated openly as an academic ]. The spread of Phi Beta Kappa to different institutions likely sparked the creation of such competing societies as ] (1824), ] (1825) and ] (1827) many of which continue as American collegiate social fraternities (and, later, sororities) to the present day. Sigma Phi remains the oldest continuously running collegiate secret society, and has been rumored to have declined the founding members of Skull & Bones a charter prior to their becoming their own society. Yet there was also a second strain of development, when at Yale University, ] (1821) and ] (1832) were founded — ultimately serving as antecedents for what would become known as ''class societies.'' | |||
| The spread of ] to different colleges and universities likely sparked the creation of such competing societies as ] (1824), ] (1825), and ] Society (1827); many continue today as American collegiate social fraternities (and, later, sororities). Sigma Phi remains the oldest continuously operating national collegiate secret society; it may have declined the founding members of Skull & Bones a charter before they formed their society. A second line of development took place at ], with the creation of ] (1821) and ] (1832): antecedents of what would become known as ''class societies.'' | |||
| Skull & Bones aroused competition on campus, bringing forth ] (1841), and later ] (1883), among students in the senior class. But the prestige of the senior societies was able to keep the very influential fraternities ] and ] from ever becoming full four-year institutions at Yale. They remained junior class societies there. There were sophomore and freshman societies at Yale as well. A stable system of eight class societies (two competing chains of four class societies each) was in place by the late 1840s. | |||
| Skull & Bones aroused competition on campus, bringing forth ] (1841), and later ] (1883), among students in the senior class. But the prestige of the senior societies was able to keep the very influential fraternities ] and ] from ever becoming full four-year institutions at Yale. They remained junior class societies there. There were sophomore and freshman societies at Yale as well. A stable system of eight class societies (two competing chains of four class societies each) was in place by the late 1840s. | |||
| ] is actually a highly successful junior class society, founded at Yale in 1844. None of the 51 chapters the parent chapter spawned operates as a junior society, but DKE did come from the class society system. Likewise, ] started out as a Yale sophomore society and now has 68 chapters (although, again, none of Alpha Sigma Phi's chapters have remained sophomore societies). | |||
| ] is a highly successful junior class society, founded at Yale in 1844. None of the 51 chapters the parent chapter spawned operates as a junior society, but DKE did come from the class society system. Likewise, ] started as a Yale sophomore society and now has 68 chapters (although, again, none of Alpha Sigma Phi's chapters have remained sophomore societies). | |||
| The development of class societies spread from Yale to other campusses in the northeastern States. Seniors at neighboring ] established a senior society, Skull & Serpent (1865), and a second society, originally a chapter of Skull and Bones, but then independent as a sophomore society, ] (1870), which began to drastically increase the number of campuses with class societies. ] noted in the 1905 edition of his ''Manual'' that, "In addition to the regular fraternities, there are in the Eastern colleges many societies which draw members from only one of the undergraduate classes, and which have only a few features of the general fraternity system."<ref name=baird>{{cite book |author =] |year = 1905 |title= Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. A descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the Colleges of United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity |url = http://books.google.com/?id=BwMTAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0k7RWXtROuULLMfMYl0SvLb |publisher = The Alcolm Company |page = 426}}</ref> From Wesleyan, the practice spread more widely across the Northeast, with full systems soon in place at Brown, Rutgers, and other institutions. | |||
| The development of class societies spread from Yale to other campuses in the northeastern States. Seniors at neighboring ] established a senior society, Skull & Serpent (1865), and a second society, originally a chapter of Skull and Bones, but then independent as a sophomore society, ] (1870), which began to drastically increase the number of campuses with class societies. ] noted in the 1905 edition of his ''Manual'' that, "In addition to the regular fraternities, there are Eastern college societies which draw members from only one of the undergraduate classes, and which have only a few features of the general fraternity system."<ref name="baird">{{cite book |author=Baird |first=William Raimond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwMTAAAAIAAJ&q=editions:0k7RWXtROuULLMfMYl0SvLb |title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. A descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the Colleges of the United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity |publisher=The Alcolm Company |year=1905 |page=426 |author-link=William Raimond Baird }}. Baird's Manual is also available online here: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610014203/https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/welcome/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ |date=2021-06-10 }}.</ref> From Wesleyan, the practice spread more widely across the Northeast, with full systems soon in place at Brown, Rutgers, and other institutions. | |||
| Kappa Sigma Theta, Phi Theta Psi, Delta Beta Xi, Delta Sigma Phi,<ref>{{cite book |author=Baird |first=William Raimond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwMTAAAAIAAJ&q=editions:0k7RWXtROuULLMfMYl0SvLb |title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. A descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the Colleges of the United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity |publisher=The Alcolm Company |year=1905 |page=428}}</ref> were all sophomore societies at Yale, and the two large freshman societies of Delta Kappa and Kappa Sigma Epsilon lived until 1880.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book |author=Baird |first=William Raimond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwMTAAAAIAAJ&q=editions:0k7RWXtROuULLMfMYl0SvLb |title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. A descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the Colleges of the United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity |publisher=The Alcolm Company |year=1905 |page=429 |access-date=2020-11-26 |archive-date=2024-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714040638/https://books.google.com/books?id=BwMTAAAAIAAJ&q=editions:0k7RWXtROuULLMfMYl0SvLb |url-status=live }}. Baird's Manual is also available online here: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610014203/https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/welcome/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ |date=2021-06-10 }}.</ref> Delta Kappa established chapters at ], the ], ], ], ], and ]. Kappa Sigma Epsilon had chapters at Amherst, ] and Dartmouth.<ref name="books.google.com"/> Other class societies existed at Brown, Harvard, Syracuse, Colgate, Cornell, and other Northeastern institutions. At universities such as Colgate University, these secret societies have evolved and morphed over the years. | |||
| Theta Nu Epsilon spread to about 120 colleges and universities, but many of its chapters operated as three-year societies where operating as a class year society was inappropriate. | |||
| Theta Nu Epsilon spread to about 120 colleges and universities, but many of its chapters operated as three-year societies where a class-year society was inappropriate. | |||
| It is from this class society historical base and the desire to emulate the most well-known of all the class societies, Skull & Bones, that senior societies in particular began to spread nationally between 1900 and 1930. Junior, sophomore, and freshman class societies also are to be found at campusses across the country today. | |||
| It is from this class society's historical base and the desire to emulate the best-known of all the class societies, Skull & Bones, that senior societies in particular began to spread nationally between 1900 and 1930. Junior, sophomore, and freshman class societies also are to be found at campuses across the country today. | |||
| ==Significant individual institutions== | |||
| ==Individual institutions== | |||
| ===The College of William & Mary=== | |||
| ===Clemson University=== | |||
| ] is an honorary service fraternity at ]. It was established in 1924 as a non-secretive student group but soon went defunct.<ref name=":9" /> It was reformed in 1928 and encourages standards of social and ethical conduct and a commitment to Clemson.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barker |first1=Jacob |title=Tiger Brotherhood |url=https://clemsontigers.com/tiger-brotherhood/ |website=Clemson Tigers |date=15 July 2012 |access-date=8 August 2021 |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209222046/https://clemsontigers.com/tiger-brotherhood/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite web |last1=Simon |first1=Molly R. |title=A secretive 90-year-old fraternity is among groups suspended from Clemson's campus |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/06/17/clemson-university-secret-tiger-brotherhood-could-return-suspension/1257567001/ |website=The Greenville News |access-date=2021-08-08 |archive-date=2024-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629135514/https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/06/17/clemson-university-secret-tiger-brotherhood-could-return-suspension/1257567001/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=In the Beginning · The, Not so Secret, Secret, Fraternity at Clemson University · |url=https://localhistorymatters.org/exhibits/show/the-not-so-secret--secret-frat/in-the-beginning |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Local History Matters}}</ref> Although most of its members are unknown, former members include two Clemson president—] and ]—and Clemson football coach ].<ref name=":9" /> The university suspended the fraternity for three years in 2017 for hazing.<ref name=":9" /> | |||
| ===Colgate University=== | |||
| {{see also|Societies at Colgate University}} | |||
| Although there have been many underground organizations at ], the first secret honor society on record is the Skull and Scroll Society founded in 1908. Members of the Skull and Scroll wore white hats with a black skull and scroll added to them. The Gorgon's Head was founded in 1912 and chose people for traits such as character, distinguished service, and achievement. Its members wore black hats with a golden emblem. These two organizations competed with each other until 1934 when they merged to create the Konosioni senior honor society, now called Tredecim Senior Honor Society.<ref name="issuu.com">{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/colgateuniversity/docs/spring_scene_final/15 |title=Spring Scene 2013 |date=19 April 2013 |access-date=2014-08-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319030109/https://issuu.com/colgateuniversity/docs/spring_scene_final/15 |archive-date=2016-03-19 }}</ref> Tredecim is no longer a secret society but is now seen as a leadership society. | |||
| ===College of William & Mary=== | |||
| {{Main|Secret societies at the College of William & Mary}} | {{Main|Secret societies at the College of William & Mary}} | ||
| The ] in ], was home to the first known secret collegiate society in the United States, the F.H.C. Society (founded in 1750). |
The ] in ], was home to the first known secret collegiate society in the United States, the F.H.C. Society (founded in 1750). The initials of the society stand for a Latin phrase, likely ''{{lang|la|Fraternitas, Humanitas, et Cognitio}}'' or ''{{lang|la|Fraternitas Humanitas Cognitioque}}'' (two renderings of "brotherhood, humaneness, and knowledge"), but is publicly nicknamed the Flat Hat Club. William & Mary alumnus and third American president, ], was perhaps the most famous member of the F.H.C. Society.<ref name="dogstreet-fhc">{{cite web|url=http://www.dogstreetjournal.com/story/2049 |title=Shhh! The Secret Side to the College's Lesser Known Societies |last=Milfeld |first=Becca |date=2004-11-04 |access-date=2008-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928112053/http://www.dogstreetjournal.com/story/2049 |archive-date=2011-09-28 }}</ref> The best opinion is that the society did not survive the British invasion of Virginia at the end of the ]. Going dormant during the ], the society was revived in 1916 as the ].<ref name="dogstreet-fhc" /> | ||
| William & Mary students ] and ] |
William & Mary students ] and ] founded the nation's first collegiate Greek-letter organization, ], on December 5, 1776, as a secret literary and philosophical society. Additional chapters were established in 1780 and 1781 at ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/frat_hist.html |title=Phi Beta Kappa: The First Fraternity |work=Sigma Chi/Brief History of Fraternities |access-date=2008-07-09 |archive-date=2008-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513091007/http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/frat_hist.html |url-status=live }}</ref> With nearly 300 chapters across the country and no longer secret, ] has grown to become the nation's premier academic honor society.<ref name="pbkabout">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbk.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=History&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2345 |title=Phi Beta Kappa Society – History |work=Phi Beta Kappa homepage |access-date=2008-07-09 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> | ||
| Although the pressures of the American Civil War forced several societies to disappear, many were revived during the 20th century. Some of the secret societies known to currently exist at the |
Although the pressures of the ] forced several societies to disappear, many were revived during the 20th century. Some of the secret societies known to currently exist at the college are: ], 13 Club, Alpha Club, ], The Cord, ], The Spades, ], and ].<ref name="dogstreet-fhc" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.flathatnews.com/variety/2284/peeking-into-closed-societies |title=Peeking Into Closed Societies |work=The Flat Hat |date=2008-04-08 |last=Johnson |first=Chase |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930180325/http://www.flathatnews.com/variety/2284/peeking-into-closed-societies |archive-date=2011-09-30 }}</ref> | ||
| === |
=== Columbia University === | ||
| Three secret societies were formed at ]: ] (1847) and the ] (1898 and 1915, respectively). St. Anthony Hall is now a traditional fraternal organization and literary society that has ten other chapters, notably at ], ], and the ].<ref>Becque, Fran (February 2022). " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610014203/https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/welcome/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ |date=2021-06-10 }}". ''University of Illinois Library''. Retrieved March 7, 2022.</ref> The Nacoms and Sachems are senior societies of fifteen members each. Though efforts have been made by the university's student body to force them to abolish their secrecy and register with the administration, efforts have been unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 11, 1955|title=Deans Take Reins Of Senior Societies|work=Columbia Daily Spectator|url=http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/?a=d&d=cs19550111-01.2.2&srpos=186&e=-------en-20--181-byDA-txt-txIN-sachems------|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713090537/http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/?a=d&d=cs19550111-01.2.2&srpos=186&e=-------en-20--181-byDA-txt-txIN-sachems------|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| In 1903, a group of Jesuits are said to have convened due to rising concerns that Georgetown was losing its Jesuit values as it gained national prominence. The Jesuits formed an all-male secret society called the Society of Stewards to work anonymously and in the shadows to ensure that the core traditions that established Georgetown as a Jesuit university are kept safe.<ref>{{cite web | title=After 100 Years, Still Professing a Will to Serve | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-264200.html | work= | publisher=The Washington Post | date=2003-05-19 | accessdate=2012-11-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Miranda's Plight | url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0704.TMS.html | work= | publisher=Washington Monthly | date=2004-03-09 | accessdate=2012-11-08}}</ref> Since then, the Society of Stewards has been known to tap promising student leaders in their junior and senior year to join them in order to uphold Georgetown's Catholic identity amidst American secularization. While not much is known about the secret society, a Georgetown student newspaper leaked details of their existence in 1988 which sparked outcry from students who protested that the society promoted elitism and exclusivity.<ref>{{cite web | title=Stewards Uncovered, Will Dissolve | url=http://georgetownvoice.com/2009/03/26/the-voice-turns-40/ | work= | publisher=The Voice | date=1988-02-08 | accessdate=2012-11-08}}</ref> Rifts have since then formed. In the early nineties, the Society of Stewards split in two over ideological reasons, one group claiming to be the "true line" of stewards, while the other taking up the name the "Second Society of Stewards." The original group dwindled and died out during the 1990s, but leaks and exposes throughout the past decade show that the Second Society of Stewards is still very much active and at the forefront of the Georgetown community.<ref>{{cite web | title=Alumni Donation | url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/16858/alumni-donation | work= | publisher=Washington City Paper | date=1999-03-05 | accessdate=2012-11-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Steward Ties Surface in Scandal | url=http://www.thehoya.com/steward-ties-surface-in-scandal-1.1885977#.UJyu72l26c8 | work= | publisher=The Hoya | date=2004-03-19 | accessdate=2012-11-08}}</ref> At their purported meeting place in the dark cellars of Healy Hall, the words "Circuli Crux Non Orbis Prosunt" are grafitied in blood red along the walls.<ref>{{cite web | title=Controversial Catholics…and the third coming of The Georgetown Academy | url=http://georgetownvoice.com/2008/10/23/controversial-catholics-and-the-third-coming-of-the-georgetown-academy/ | work= | publisher=The Voice | date=2008-10-23 | accessdate=2012-11-08}}</ref> | |||
| === Cornell University === | |||
| ] has a long history of secret societies on campus. ], the first president of ] and himself a ], is said to have encouraged the formation of a "secret society" on campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cornellsun.com/node/21711 |title=The Secret Life of A.D. White |last=Earle |first=Corey |newspaper=The Cornell Daily Sun |date=2007-02-28 |access-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430172050/http://cornellsun.com/node/21711 |archive-date=2011-04-30 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In the early years, all fraternities were called the "secret societies", but as the Greek system developed into a larger, more public entity, "secret society" began to refer only to the class societies, except for the ] on campus. | |||
| In the early twentieth century, Cornell students belonged to sophomore, junior, and senior societies, as well as honorary societies for particular fields of study. Liberalization of the 1960s spelled the end of these organizations as students rebelled against the establishment. The majority of the societies disappeared or became inactive in a very short period.<ref name="Bishop">{{cite book|title=A History of Cornell |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofcornell00bish_0 |url-access=registration |last=Bishop |first=Morris |year=1962 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, NY |page=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Dear Uncle Ezra | url=http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1193292000#question2 | date=2007-10-25 |access-date=2021-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606171546/http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1193292000 |archive-date=2013-06-06}}</ref> | |||
| ===Cornell University=== | |||
| ] on the ] campus]] | |||
| ] has a rich history of secret societies on campus. ], the first President of ] and himself a ], is said to have encouraged the formation of a "secret society" on campus.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Secret Life of A.D. White | url=http://cornellsun.com/node/21711 | work= | publisher=The Cornell Daily Sun | date=2007-02-28 | accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref> In the early years, the fraternities were called the "secret societies," but as the Greek system developed into a larger, more public entity, "secret society" began to refer only to the class societies. In the early twentieth century, Cornell students belonged to sophomore, junior, and senior societies, as well as honorary societies for particular fields of study. Liberalization of the 1960s spelled the end of these organizations as students rebelled against the establishment. The majority of the societies disappeared or became inactive in a very short time period, and today, the two organizations which operate on campus are: ] (founded in 1890) and ] (founded in 1893).<ref name="Bishop">{{cite book|title=A History of Cornell |last=Bishop |first=Morris |year=1962 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, NY |page=343}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Dear Uncle Ezra | url=http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1193292000#question2 | work= | publisher= | date=2007-10-25 | accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref> | |||
| ===Dartmouth College=== | ===Dartmouth College=== | ||
| ] secret society at Dartmouth College]] | ] secret society at Dartmouth College]] | ||
| {{Main|Dartmouth College student groups#Senior societies|l1=Dartmouth College student groups}} | {{Main|Dartmouth College student groups#Senior societies|l1=Dartmouth College student groups}} | ||
| ]'s Office of Residential Life states that the earliest senior societies on campus date to 1783 and "continue to be a vibrant tradition within the campus community. |
]'s Office of Residential Life states that the earliest senior societies on campus date to 1783 and "continue to be a vibrant tradition within the campus community". Six of the eight senior societies keep their membership secret, while the other societies maintain secretive elements. According to the college, 25% of the senior class members join a senior society.<ref name="DORL">{{cite web |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~orl/greek-soc/societies/senior.html |title=Senior Societies |publisher=Trustees of Dartmouth College |access-date=2007-02-14 |archive-date=2007-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206122016/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~orl/greek-soc/societies/senior.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The college's administration tracks membership and tapping lists, and differs from that of Yale's, though there are historical parallels between the two colleges' societies.<ref name="DHalls">{{cite web |url=http://www.dartmo.com/halls/ |title=Halls, Tombs, and Houses: Student Society Architecture at Dartmouth |access-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112204238/http://www.dartmo.com/halls/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Efn|Secret societies at the College include Dragon, Sphinx and Fire and Skoal. Gomstyn, Alice (2001-05-18). "Secret societies remain veiled in mystery". The Dartmouth. Archived from the original on 2 January 2002. Retrieved 24 May 2022.}} | ||
| === |
===Duke University=== | ||
| ] has hosted several secret societies. The Tombs was founded in 1903. Its members were known to tie bells around their ankles. Details regarding its purpose, selection of members, and the importance of the bells are still unknown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dukemagazine.duke.edu/issues/030411/depret.html |title=Duke Magazine | Duke |access-date=2016-08-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504102155/http://dukemagazine.duke.edu/issues/030411/depret.html |archive-date=2016-05-04 }}</ref> | |||
| The ] is an all-male senior honorary society at Dickinson College. It was founded in 1896, making it the first society unique to ]. Membership is limited to seven senior men who are selected by the seven previous members. The new members are chosen based on a variety of factors, these include: campus leadership, a solid academic record, and athletic participation. New members are inducted in a "Tapping Ceremony" which is held on the "Old Stone Steps of Old West." The ceremony is traditionally conducted during commencement weekend. They are called "claws" or "white hats", denoting the white caps they wear around campus to signify unity and loyalty. While the members of the group are known, the majority of their actions and traditions are concealed. The group prides itself in serving the Dickinson College and Carlisle, Pennsylvania communities through discreet service activities. The group's alumni organization is also responsible for founding one of the college's largest scholarship funds and the McAndrews Fund for athletics. | |||
| The ] was founded in 1913 with the initial purpose of promoting school spirit. Later, the group changed its mission to focus more on fostering loyalty to Duke University. The Order, as it was colloquially known, was semi-secret. This is because the selection of new members, known as tapping, was held on the steps of ] in broad daylight. As the years went on, the rites of tapping became more elaborate; in the final and most traditional form of the rite, a red-hooded and robed figure publicly tapped new men into membership on the steps of the chapel. President ] was a member of the order | |||
| Founded in 2001, The Order of Scroll and Key is a senior honor society at Dickinson College which recognizes seven senior men each year. Every member is tapped at the end of their junior year on the basis of their dedication to the College and the surrounding Carlisle community. Their current membership includes fraternity presidents, community advisers, community service leaders, as well as many other individuals. Their alumni have gone on to be successful community leaders, businessmen, artists, etc. The Order of Scroll and Key works to benefit numerous area charities and philanthropies, and in recent years has supported Carlisle C.A.R.E.S., Safe Harbor, and Sadler Health Clinic, among others. As one of Dickinson's distinctive "hat" societies, members can always be recognized by the gray hats that they wear.<ref name="Dickinson College"/><ref>{{Cite journal|title=The Order of Scroll and Key |url=http://users.dickinson.edu/~grayhats |publisher=Dickinson College |accessdate=2011-02-28|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> | |||
| The ] was founded in May 1925 by the Order of the Red Friars as an organization for outstanding females. From 1925 on, new members were tapped into the order by the seven members of the White Duchy from the previous year. Members were known by the white carnation they wore on specific days of the year. Throughout the 1960s, both societies faced charges of elitism and struggled to tap students at an increasingly hostile university. In 1968, the White Duchy disbanded, and in 1971, the Order of the Red Friars was disbanded by alumni who determined that the group had outlived its usefulness.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Barr |first=Krispin Wagoner |title=The Historical Legacy of a Secret Society at Duke University (1913-1971): Cultural Hegemony and the Tenacious Ideals of the "Big Man on Campus" |date=2013 |degree=PhD |publisher=North Carolina State University |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1459736227 |via=ProQuest |id={{ProQuest|1459736227|access=free}} |access-date=2022-03-27 |archive-date=2022-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327085524/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1459736227 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, rumors surrounding its continued, albeit modified, form exist today. | |||
| '''Wheel and Chain''' is Dickinson College's Senior Women's Honorary Society. Founded in 1924, members are elected in the spring of their junior year on the basis of participation in campus activities, service to the college and community, leadership skills and personal character. Membership is limited to ten senior women. New members are inducted in a "Tapping Ceremony" which is held on the "Old Stone Steps of Old West" in April. In May, each incoming Wheel and Chain class ceremoniously rings the bell in Denny Hall during Commencement ceremonies. Colloquially known as the "blue hats", members are known to the public; however, the society's activities remain secret.<ref name="Dickinson College">{{Cite journal|title=Dickinson College Office of Communications |url=http://www.dickinson.edu/news-and-events/features/2009-10/Honor-Society-Tappings |publisher=Dickinson College |accessdate=2011-02-28|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> | |||
| Two current secret societies - the Trident Society and the Old Trinity Club - are both thought to have been founded in the wake of the disbanding of the Order of the Red Friars. The Old Trinity Club is rumored to have started when an editor-in-chief of the '']'' was passed up for membership and decided to create his own, rival society. The Old Trinity Club is the most visible society on campus today, as its members are seen walking around campus wearing black graduation gowns and sunglasses on certain days of the year. They follow a set pattern, holding their arms in symbols in the air and routinely stopping and shouting "''{{lang|la|Eruditio et Religio}}''." A November 2007 edition of ''Rival Magazine'' quoted Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Sue Wasiolek T'r76, claiming that "the Old Trinity Club has died, or at least in terms of its original manifestation. The way it manifests today is very different than when it was at its finest." It is said that students do not take society seriously, viewing it more as a social fraternity than a secret society. | |||
| ===East Carolina University=== | |||
| See also: ] | |||
| For years, there were rumors of a secret society called "TS" on campus, as a continuation of the Order of the Red Friars' original mission. Only recently has it come to light that "TS" stands for ]. This society keeps the strictest silence about its membership and mission. As such, its members are not well-known on campus. The secrecy around this group drove Samantha Lachman to investigate the society in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/rivalmagazine/docs/secretsocietyissue |title=November 2007 |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=2016-08-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920171349/https://issuu.com/rivalmagazine/docs/secretsocietyissue |archive-date=2016-09-20 }}</ref> Her subsequent article, "Trasked with Secrecy", revealed many of the secrets of the group. She discovered the names of several prominent members, that the red roses & white carnations sometimes found at the base of the James B. Duke statue on West Campus are their calling card, and even that they have uninhibited access to the Duke University Chapel for their Initiation Rites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2013/03/trasked-secrecy |title=Trasked with secrecy |access-date=2016-08-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217205703/http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2013/03/trasked-secrecy |archive-date=2016-12-17 }}</ref> | |||
| Secret Societies are a relatively new concept at East Carolina University collectively known and accused as "the ''']'''' or ''']''' with ] being the most significant of them and sometimes by itself also referred to as such. Although the earliest are thought to have formed in the earliest 2013 and probably 2014, their is estimated to be many secret societies on campus, possibly over 100. They are ], ], ], ], ], and others whose names are not known, but which may be illusions of existence from the other 5. ], ], and even ] and ], are currently in the process of being annexed by ], which some suggest could be economically motivated. People from a wide range of legal institutionalized groups within the university are members in the secret societies including even some professors. | |||
| ===Emory University=== | |||
| The ] are said to have a strong connection with ], the top rival of ], with some members being at that University and likewise calling themselves the "Illuminati of NC State" as is the convention at each school. There are also projects of recruitment for members at universities in Texas. | |||
| ] in ] has five secret societies, including the ], ], and ]. In 2021, Ducemus was accused of attempting to manipulate Emory's student government elections by a member of its legislature, which led to a trial presided by the student judicial council. The accusatory plaintiff claimed that members of the secret society, who allegedly held positions in student government and various student organizations, attempted to sway the elections in their favor and secure positions for their members.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deuskar |first1=Tanika |last2=Imran |first2=Jareer |title=Here's What You Need to Know About the SGA Elections Debacle |url=https://emorywheel.com/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-sga-elections-debacle/ |website=Emory Wheel |date=7 April 2021 |access-date=17 October 2022 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017230844/https://emorywheel.com/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-sga-elections-debacle/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The student judicial council ruled in the plaintiff's favor and disqualified the allegedly Ducemus-backed candidates.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deuskar |first1=Tanika |last2=Imran |first2=Jareer |title=Constitutional Council Orders New SGA Elections, Recommends that BBA Council Begin Impeachment Procedures Against Lee |url=https://emorywheel.com/constitutional-council-orders-new-sga-elections-recommends-that-bba-council-begin-impeachment-procedures-against-lee/ |website=Emory Wheel |date=13 April 2021 |access-date=17 October 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714040639/https://emorywheel.com/constitutional-council-orders-new-sga-elections-recommends-that-bba-council-begin-impeachment-procedures-against-lee/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| ===Florida State University=== | |||
| ====Clubagroup==== | |||
| The ] is a secret society at ]. Burning Spear was founded on July 14, 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kostidakis|first=Perry|title=Let's take a look at Burning Spear, Florida State's secret society|url=https://www.fsunews.com/story/news/2017/02/27/lets-take-look-burning-spear-florida-state-secret-society/98488520/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=FSView & Florida Flambeau|language=en|archive-date=2020-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929233425/https://www.fsunews.com/story/news/2017/02/27/lets-take-look-burning-spear-florida-state-secret-society/98488520/|url-status=live}}</ref> Though not much is publicly available on the dealings of the organization, members often cite the provision of political, professional, and financial support of FSU community members and efforts that strengthen the university's traditions as two of their most basic ambitions. | |||
| {{Main|Clubagroup}} | |||
| ===Fordham University=== | |||
| ''']''', thought of in February 2014 and founded in March 2014, is the first confirmed secret society formed at ]. It is estimated to have at least 60 members, with the exact number impossible to calculate and probably much higher. Their insignia is a 3 by 3 checkerboard of 5 black squares and 4 white squares. Abundant information about ] is public information, as is obvious on Misplaced Pages, but legend goes that "For every fact or factoid on Clubagroup, there are about 100 more secrets.". All members join through invitation and initiation. It is completely optional to join and for members all activities and levels of commitment are completely optional, very unusual for secret societies. Membership is for life. It is considered simultaneously a social, honor, and service society. | |||
| ] was long accused of being involved with secret societies and covert activities due to ] and ] sentiments against the Irish and Italian immigrants it historically served. ], successor to ] as Grand Sachem of ], was the nephew-in-law of ], the first president of Fordham, and many Fordham students and alumni were involved with Tammany Hall, including ], 20th-century chair of the ]. | |||
| Fr. Leo McLaughlin S.J. founded the ] in 1954. Membership is reserved to about thirty members of the Fordham College at Rose Hill senior class "recommended by their prominence and influence in extracurricular endeavors during their first three college years, having contributed in a significant and preeminent way to the vibrant spirit of Fordham."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fordham College at Rose Hill Fordham Club {{!}} Fordham |url=https://www.fordham.edu/fordham-college-at-rose-hill/honors-programs-societies-and-awards/honor-societies/fordham-club/ |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=www.fordham.edu |archive-date=2022-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102152923/https://www.fordham.edu/fordham-college-at-rose-hill/honors-programs-societies-and-awards/honor-societies/fordham-club/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They have a robust alumni network with regular reunions and influence in the university. | |||
| ] has extremely complex structural organization. Information on its characteristics has multiple levels of secrecy, with some of their activities being the only secret that are very sensitive. Strategically no member knows who all the other members are. There is also various levels of autonomy as well as depth within ]. Members are organized in layered groups in at least 3 ways, assignment, regions, and cores. Assignments is just the activities that various groups of members are assigned. Regions are that strategic areas of geopolitical strongholds for members to be positioned, of they might be anyway if they were not members. Cores is a system for subgroups within ] as "secret societies within the secret society" that are nested and are allowed to overlap. To be a core the group must contain at least 2 members, be completely within a larger core, unless ] in total, and exclude at least 1 member of the larger group it is a part of, again unless ] in total. If some members are in larger core, but some members are not in that larger core it may be considered an affiliated core, but not a core. A core is 1 level deeper than any core it is a core of with by default overall ], considered to be its largest core, Core Level 1, or Level 1 Core. A member is considered to be up to the level hardcore that member chooses of whatever level most core he is of. This is analogous to how deeper cores are thought of as being harder, and of the increasingly deeper involvement of activities that is associated with people who are considered increasingly hardcore in other groups, such as gangs. The number of possible paths a member could reach his level of hardcore through the cores, made possible through core overlap, is considered the number of way that member is hardcore. For example, a member could be Hardcore Level 1 in 1 way, Hardcore Level 2 in 3 ways, and Hardcore Level 3 in 3 ways. The mathematically highest hardcore level for a member with these rules is the number of members in ] minus 1, although would be theoretically impractically anywhere near that. Although even with well over 50 members as of 3 March 2014 the highest estimated Hardcore level for any member is only known to be at least 2 and estimated to be likely most 4. Measure of Hardcore through path is thought to be more important than Level although this is debated. It is suspected that all the secret societies at ] may be a cover-up for ] in its "Hardcore" system. Although many point out that the claimed founding of ] is too late for this to be true. Others still note that this is just a claimed official founding, and not exact either. They have been criticized as being a possible ]. | |||
| Founded in 1837, the ] was transferred to Fordham, which was founded in 1841, from ] in Kentucky when the ] took over the administration of Fordham from the ] in 1846. Approval of the transfer was granted by the in 1847. The ], under whose guidance the Parthenian Sodality was, was first founded in Rome in 1584.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections |url=https://www.library.fordham.edu/digital/item/collection/RAM/id/5591 |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=www.library.fordham.edu |archive-date=2022-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102152924/https://www.library.fordham.edu/digital/item/collection/RAM/id/5591 |url-status=live }}</ref> Though no longer held to the Roman sodality after ], the organization is said to exist in some form to this day under the name The Second Sodality, at which point it transitioned to being more identifiable as a secret society: hiding membership, meeting at odd times, and communicating through codes and riddles. The chapel atop the administration building, now known as ], listed over a hundred years of members,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections |url=https://www.library.fordham.edu/digital/item/collection/YEARBOOK/id/7759 |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=www.library.fordham.edu}}</ref> but this practice ended around when the sodality went covert. They leave clues in the form of sonnets around campus and in the student newspapers to attract members. They tap around 25 members per year, of whom half usually figure out the clues. Meetings are usually held in the various chapels around campus, with important ceremonies happening in the ]. | |||
| Clubagroup has had a significant history of annexing other groups completely and partially. ''']''', Frat ΣΨΕΜ, or Sigma Psi Epsilon Mu and ''']''' were implemented as secret societies in May 2014, inspired from ]. Swem is the short name for the library at ]. Some members of ] claim to overlap with and be members of ]. Text from the following link was used for inspiration:(https://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=Secret_societies_at_the_College_of_William_%26_Mary&oldid=606894562#Frat_.CE.A3.CE.A8.CE.95.CE.9C). Some have compared ] to ], named after the short name for the library at ]. ] is older than ], although ] has inspired ] to consider themselves a secret society, of which ] has interest in annexing just like other self-organized groups it has annexed. Through the ] chapter at ] some members claim to self-initiate in the ] fraternity, or at least use their name. The ] chapter at ] is EI so by convention of Club OX Group EI they nickname as COXEI, or "''']'''". Some of the relics of ] were taken from their chapter at ]. ''']''', formed in January or February 2014, is a group formed with their own name and logo later annexed by ]. They are estimated to have only about 8 members with only about 3 being active. Their insignia is as if a black foreground with 4 characters cut out being, a crown, R, E as 3 horizontal lines as in ], and 8, to reveal a background of blue, red, green, and yellow, delineated with black contours. ''']''' overlaps with ], later annexed by ]. They are more secretive than ] and are thought to have more members, probably about 20. It is a mystery whether they have a group insignia. | |||
| There is evidence of a group known as the ], operating in the 1930s and 1940s but there is no evidence of its continued existence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections |url=https://www.library.fordham.edu/digital/item/collection/RAM/id/4137 |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=www.library.fordham.edu |archive-date=2023-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173459/https://www.library.fordham.edu/digital/item/collection/RAM/id/4137 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections |url=https://www.library.fordham.edu/digital/item/collection/RAM/id/3574 |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=www.library.fordham.edu |archive-date=2023-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173502/https://www.library.fordham.edu/digital/item/collection/RAM/id/3574 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| Due to the influence of ] as a sort of ] or largest part of a colluding ] of secret societies, some suggest they may be a secret business or a political group, although this is refuted in that none have any record of money exchanges, and even if they did, would still not be subject to such relevant laws. There was even some exchange of material between ECU and NC State. | |||
| ===Furman University=== | |||
| Legend has it that the idea for ] came from an article on ] about a secret society that someone sneaked into. It is also lore that the meet in sewers at night by the Science and Technology building as one of their activities. | |||
| Until 1992, ] was, to varying degrees, affiliated with the ] which banned social organizations of all kinds. This drove students to seek such groups underground. | |||
| The most notable of these early secret societies was called The Star and Lamp; it is known today on more than 100 campuses as ]. Founded at ] in 1904, Pi Kappa Phi operated "sub-rosa", or under the rose of secrecy, for much of the twentieth century to hide their activities from the university's Baptist administrators. During this time ] and ] operated respectively as "The Centaur" and "The Knights Eternal" while a fourth organization, "The Robert E. Lee Fraternity" was concurrently active which would go on to merge with today's ]. For this reason, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity's official flower is today, the rose, their sweetheart is called the rose and one of the group's most cherished songs is "The Rose Song". The rose and "sub-rosa" concepts are present in the group's esoteric literature and rituals. Furthermore, the fraternity's chapter at Furman carries a unique flag that bears a red rose in the upper right-hand corner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pkpdelta.wordpress.com/about/|title=History|date=2009-12-07|access-date=2016-07-18|archive-date=2016-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013173714/https://pkpdelta.wordpress.com/about/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| Some members are known to be interested with their societies presence on ]. An lengthy article about ] was added in April 2014 that was deleted that same month. Some say that editing abut the secret societies on ] may be part of an recruitment process or initiation process. Some students have been reported to 'panic' about forgetting some important edits they wanted to add about the topics. Many edits have been undone or reverted due to neutrality issues. | |||
| On campus today, the only known active secret society is ], although many are rumored to exist. Quaternion, which dates back to 1903, taps four juniors and four seniors each year in the late winter or early spring. The selection process is guarded but is thought to be controlled by current Quaternions currently in residence at the school. The initiation ritual and all group meetings take place in the Old College, the original building where ] taught the university's first courses in ] in 1851. Upon initiation, Quaternions are given lifetime access to this building which houses the controls for the 59 bell Burnside ] inside Furman's bell tower. Famous Quaternions have included U.S. Secretary of Education ], South Carolina Governor ], and ], a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/furman/quaternion.htm|title=Quaternion Club Members |access-date=2016-07-18|archive-date=2016-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818221133/http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/furman/quaternion.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| ====Anti-Clubagroup==== | |||
| ''']''' is the loosely organized association of multiple groups rival to ]. Many outsiders do not consider any of their specific groups to be secret societies, but are overall considered a secret society in that they are directly inspired by and probably intentionally created by ] as a free ]. The society is considered an alternative, counterculture Clubagroup. Its original members were opposed to Clubagroup, but have currently ceased all their activities. | |||
| There are also several strongly rumored secret societies with less documentation including The Magnolia Society, which has formed within the past decade and taps men and women from all classes into something like an elitist supper club. Magnolians, as they are called, can be identified only on their way to or from a "happening" by the sweetgrass rose they wear on their breast. The Black Swan or Paladin Brotherhood was a darker organization rumored to have operated on and off from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s, utilizing the unfinished attic of Judson dormitory for occult rituals. | |||
| ====ECUSGAGL==== | |||
| ''']''' (pronounced "Cuss Gaggle" by whistle-blowers as a criticism of the purported activities and as an abbreviation for "East Carolina University Student Government Association Greek Life") is a confirmed secret society at ] claimed to manipulate ECU SGA elections. ECUSGAGL is their most suspected real name, although unknown as they are so secretive. | |||
| ===George Washington University=== | |||
| It has been criticized that the ECU SGA has been rigged by 1 or more secret societies in cooperation with the Greek life using ] to always elect a president who is someone in Greek life. So far every ECU student body president, at least in modern times, has either been a fraternity brother or a sorority sister. | |||
| ] president ] brought together student leaders from all parts of the university to create The Order of the Hippo as a way to support fellowship, make GW a better university, and behave in slightly frivolous ways. The secret society was named after a bronze statue of a hippo, also known as the ], displayed prominently in the center of campus.<ref name="The GW Hatchet">{{cite news | title=Order of the Hippo's not-so-secret secrets unveiled | url=https://www.gwhatchet.com/2001/02/08/order-of-the-hippos-not-so-secret-secrets-unveiled/ | newspaper=The GW Hatchet | date=2001-02-08 | access-date=2017-02-19 | archive-date=2017-02-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204183702/https://www.gwhatchet.com/2001/02/08/order-of-the-hippos-not-so-secret-secrets-unveiled/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The Order takes its oath from a plaque located on the front of the hippo statue, which reads, "Art for wisdom, Science for joy, Politics for beauty, and a Hippo for hope."<ref name="The GW Hatchet"/> The Order has a ritual book, which is passed down from year to year and the main aim of the group is to enact ] around GW's campus to create a better environment for all students. | |||
| ===Georgetown University=== | |||
| Due to this issue some suspected that there were "''']'''" groups formed, which was later confirmed. ] involvement has been theorized in each and both societies. | |||
| Georgetown College, later ], has been a ] institution or staffed by Jesuits for its entire history. In the school's early days, the Jesuits were hostile to college fraternities and societies that tried to form at Georgetown like at other colleges in the 19th century because they could not control them. But this hostility had waned by 1920. One century later, Georgetown has several fraternities and sororities, independent of the university, and a few all-male, all-female, and co-ed secret societies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greek Life|url=http://www.gustudentassociation.org/greek-life|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Georgetown University Student Association|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622113846/http://www.gustudentassociation.org/greek-life|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| ====Other Rumored Societies==== | |||
| There are other societies rumored or suspected, but they are so secretive about their existence not much more is known. Some believe there may be over 100 others, but most say this is another legend brought on by ] derived through it system of "Hardcore levels" that actually exist. | |||
| The ], or The Stewards at Georgetown is an anonymous, all-male service ], often considered a ]. While generally considered a secret society by the student body, the Stewards have claimed to be a predominantly alumni-built organization.<ref name=":4" /> The original organization was founded in 1982, eventually going public in 1988. The Stewards would continue to operate until the mid-1990s when the organization broke apart and the original group became defunct.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Feinberg |first=Lawrence |date=February 28, 1988 |title=SECRET STEWARDS DISBANDED ON GEORGETOWN CAMPUS |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1988/02/28/secret-stewards-disbanded-on-georgetown-campus/333473d6-feb3-4181-aca1-7c20a3878838/}}</ref> Following this schism, the organization formed The Second and later the Third Stewards Societies, although the groups are not connected organizationally.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=2000-10-27 |title=Stewards: The Best Secret Society GU Can Offer' |url=https://thehoya.com/stewards-the-best-secret-society-gu-can-offer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924015532/https://thehoya.com/stewards-the-best-secret-society-gu-can-offer/ |archive-date=2022-09-24 |access-date=2022-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> The organization would put out public addresses in 2001 and 2020, claiming several service activities and defending their existence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-21 |title=4 Candidates Secret Society Members |url=https://thehoya.com/4-candidates-secret-society-members/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003174454/https://thehoya.com/4-candidates-secret-society-members/ |archive-date=2021-10-03 |access-date=2022-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-06 |title=VIEWPOINT: Speaking for the Second Stewards Society |url=https://thehoya.com/viewpoint-speaking-for-the-second-stewards-society/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408073648/https://thehoya.com/viewpoint-speaking-for-the-second-stewards-society/ |archive-date=2022-04-08 |access-date=2022-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2013, and 2020, the Stewards were the subject of a series of leaks, indicating that undisclosed members of the organization were part of student government. The group has been criticized for pushing a ] on campus and for its exclusion of women.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Shapira |first=Ian |date=2013-03-14 |title=Secret society is again at center of an uproar on Georgetown U. campus |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/secret-society-is-again-at-center-of-an-uproar-on-georgetown-u-campus/2013/03/14/fb86fea8-8738-11e2-98a3-b3db6b9ac586_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028024605/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/secret-society-is-again-at-center-of-an-uproar-on-georgetown-u-campus/2013/03/14/fb86fea8-8738-11e2-98a3-b3db6b9ac586_story.html |archive-date=2020-10-28 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-21 |title=Anonymous Twitter Account Vows To Unmask Secret Society Members |url=https://thehoya.com/anonymous-twitter-account-vows-to-unmask-secret-society-members/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831220903/https://thehoya.com/anonymous-twitter-account-vows-to-unmask-secret-society-members/ |archive-date=2021-08-31 |access-date=2022-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ====References==== | |||
| Misplaced Pages | |||
| *http://en.wikipedia.org/Clubagroup | |||
| *http://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=Collegiate_secret_societies_in_North_America&oldid=607967782#East_Carolina_University | |||
| ===Georgia Institute of Technology=== | ===Georgia Institute of Technology=== | ||
| The ] is the oldest known secret society and honors society at the ] (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1908, Anak's purpose is "to honor outstanding juniors and seniors who have shown both exemplary leadership and a true love for Georgia Tech".<ref name=":7">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/anak/|title=The ANAK Society|publisher=The ANAK Society|access-date=2010-08-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903104058/http://cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/anak/|archive-date=2010-09-03}}</ref> The society's name refers to ], a biblical figure said to be the forefather of a race of giants. Although not founded as a secret society, Anak has kept its activities and membership rosters confidential since 1961. Membership is made public upon a student's graduation or a faculty member's retirement. The Anak Society's membership comprises at least 1,100 Georgia Tech graduates, faculty members, and honorary members. | |||
| {{Main|ANAK Society}} | |||
| The ] is the oldest known secret society and honor society at the ] (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1908, Anak's purpose is "to honor outstanding juniors and seniors who have shown both exemplary leadership and a true love for Georgia Tech."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/anak/|title=The ANAK Society|publisher=The ANAK Society|accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref> The society's name refers to ], a biblical figure said to be the forefather of a race of giants. | |||
| The society was influential in the history of Georgia Tech. Anak played a major role in establishing several of Georgia Tech's most active student organizations – including Georgia Tech's yearbook, the '']''; '']'' newspaper,<ref>{{cite news | work=] | publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology | title=Ramblins | last=Edwards | first=Pat | url=http://technique.library.gatech.edu/issues/spring1997/apr18/campus7-s.html | access-date=2007-12-21 | date=1997-04-18 | archive-date=2007-12-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224021153/http://technique.library.gatech.edu/issues/spring1997/apr18/campus7-s.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> and Tech's Student Government Association – as well as several lasting ]. The society also claims involvement in several ] projects, most notably in peacefully integrating Georgia Tech's first African-American students in 1961, preventing the ] from setting up a student chapter at Georgia Tech.] Clubhouse, ].]] | |||
| Although not originally founded as a secret society, Anak has kept its activities and membership rosters confidential since 1961. Membership is made public upon a student's graduation or a faculty member's retirement. The Anak Society's membership comprises at least 1,100 Georgia Tech graduates, faculty members, and honorary members. | |||
| === Harvard University === | |||
| The society has been influential in the history of Georgia Tech. Anak played a major role in establishing several of Georgia Tech's most active student organizations – including Georgia Tech's yearbook, the '']''; Georgia Tech's student newspaper, '']'',<ref>{{cite news | work=] | publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology | title=Ramblins | last=Edwards | first=Pat | url=http://technique.library.gatech.edu/issues/spring1997/apr18/campus7-s.html | accessdate=2007-12-21 | date=1997-04-18 }}</ref> and Georgia Tech's Student Government Association – as well as several lasting ]. The society also claims involvement in a number of civil rights projects, most notably in peacefully integrating Georgia Tech's first African American students in 1961, preventing the ] from setting up a student chapter at Georgia Tech. | |||
| {{Main|Harvard College social clubs}} | |||
| ] does not have secret societies in the usual sense, though it does have ], ], ], and a variety of other secret or semi-secret organizations. | |||
| ===Harvard University=== | |||
| {{Main|Final club}} | |||
| ] does not have secret societies in the usual sense, though it does have ], ], ], and a variety of other secret or semi-secret organizations. | |||
| Final clubs are secretive about their election procedures, and they have secret initiations and meetings. |
Final clubs are secretive about their election procedures, and they have secret initiations and meetings. However, there is little secrecy about who is a member. They are larger than secret societies generally, with approximately forty students per club. Guests are admitted under restrictions. "Punch Season" and the "Final Dinner" are analogous to "Tap" at Yale. | ||
| Harvard Lodge is a university ] lodge, founded in 1922 by ] Dean/Professor ], members of the Harvard Square & Compass Club, and members of the Harvard Masonic Club (which included ]). It is the oldest academic Masonic lodge in North America, its membership is restricted to males with a Harvard affiliation, and it operates in the building of Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, overlooking ]. | |||
| Final clubs at Harvard include The ] Club (1791), originally called The Argonauts; The Delphic Club (1846); The ], (1836), a successor of ]; ] (1897); The ], originally called Phi Delta Psi, (1896); The ] (1898); The Spee Club; and The ] (2005), a successor of ] (1890) and later The D.U. "Duck" Club (1940). | |||
| Other secretive social groups include the ] and ]. | |||
| There are also five female clubs: The Bee Club (1991), The Isis Club (2000), The Sablière Society (2002), The Pleiades Society (2002), and La Vie Club (2008). | |||
| === James Madison University === | |||
| Harvard also has three fraternities, ], ], and ], and three sororities: ], ], and ]. These organizations are semi-secret in nature, have secret initiation processes and meetings but a more transparent process for gaining membership. All three sororities and the Sigma Chi fraternity also have rules against admitting non-members to many parts of their buildings. | |||
| ] has two known secret societies. The first is called IN8 (pronounced /ɪˈneɪt/). The name references the college's founding in 1908 and the emblem of the organization consists of an infinity sign with an ‘I’ and ‘N’ embedded within the curve. Most notably, IN8 is known for its laud of eight students per semester who have outstanding college careers and fulfill the organization's 8 supposed core values: Loyalty, Benevolence, Service, Justice, Integrity, Intellect, Character, and Spirit.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://jmudailyduke.com/2017/11/08/jmu-secret-society-in8-recognizes-altruistic-students/| title=JMU Secret Society IN8 Recognizes Altruistic Students| date=2017-11-08| access-date=2018-08-15| archive-date=2018-08-15| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815055414/https://jmudailyduke.com/2017/11/08/jmu-secret-society-in8-recognizes-altruistic-students/| url-status=live}}</ref> However, this is not their only known function, IN8 also provides philanthropic gifts to the university. The sundial located by the Quad, which is a famous landmark for many of the students, was donated by the group. IN8 hosts a website bearing their emblem which states “The IN8 Foundation is a benevolent charitable organization supporting the James Madison University community.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.in8foundation.org/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.in8foundation.org}}</ref> | |||
| The IN8 Foundation was mentioned in The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, 2009. Writing on student involvement at James Madison University, Insider Guides states that IN8 is “Not necessarily the most popular but one of the most famed among these is IN8, JMU’s secret society. Every year, it gives out eight letters to students and faculty who have significantly impacted their society to let them know that their work does not go unnoticed. In addition, in 2003, they donated a human sundial, a spot in the middle of campus where a person stands on a particular month’s mark and casts a shadow on plaques six or seven feet away that designates the time.”<ref>{{Cite book |last1= |first1= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PnQ46IG97S4C&q=in8+jmu&pg=PA864 |title=The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, 2009: Students on Campus Tell You What You Really Want to Know |date=2008-06-24 |publisher=St. Martins Press |isbn=9780312366919 |editor-last=Yale Daily News |edition=35th |access-date=2020-11-26 |archive-date=2024-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714040640/https://books.google.com/books?id=PnQ46IG97S4C&q=in8+jmu&pg=PA864#v=snippet&q=in8%20jmu&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| There are also several final clubs and fraternities which are now defunct, including ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
| The second secret society at James Madison University is called Missed Connections. This society is known for its Instagram page that posts anonymous messages from students at James Madison University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JMU Missed Connections |url=https://www.instagram.com/jmumissedconnections/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> These messages can range from talking about acts of kindness that they experienced on campus, to grievances against people or things they encounter. This society was founded in 2019 by Emily Chavez, Casey Brewer, and Angilxander Lonzon,<!--"Angilxander" is the correct spelling.--> and they were known as Bumi, Mort, and Appa, respectively. When they graduated, they revealed themselves and passed the society down to new people. It is believed that whenever a member of Missed Connections graduates, they will reveal themselves to the James Madison University community and further pass their position to a new person.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breeze |first=Evan Moody {{!}} The |date=2023-07-08 |title=After JMU Missed Connections' identity reveal, admins discuss future of account |url=https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/after-jmu-missed-connections-identity-reveal-admins-discuss-future-of-account/article_35c69142-1d1e-11ee-ad3c-6335f001d8b8.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Breeze |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| Approximately 10% of men and 5% of women are in final clubs. Approximately 7% of men and 15% of women are in Greek letter organizations. Additionally, an unknown number of students are in other secretive on-campus groups. | |||
| === Johns Hopkins University === | |||
| Other secretive social groups include the ], ], ], the ], and ]. | |||
| Through the years, many secret societies, senior societies, and other groups have been founded at ]. Most of these societies were founded around the 1890s at the beginning of the university and played a significant role in the early development of the student body. This includes the Cane Club, The Ananias Society, The Senior Society, The Ubiquiteers, the Tau Club, and the De Gang. These historic secret societies are either ]. | |||
| Founded for members who value friendship and privacy to enjoy the arts together, the Blue Jay Supper Society is the only active secret society with open applications at Johns Hopkins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Jay Supper Society |url=https://bluejaysuppersociety.com/ |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=bluejaysuppersociety.com}}</ref> The supper society looks for brilliant misfits and creative types, and accepts applications from undergraduate and graduate students as well as alumni. Membership is capped at 150 globally. | |||
| Finally, Harvard Lodge is a university ] lodge, founded in 1922 by ] Dean/Professor ], members of the Harvard Square & Compass Club, and members of the Harvard Masonic Club (which included ]). It is the oldest academic lodge in North America, its membership is restricted to males with a Harvard affiliation, and it operates in the building of Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, overlooking ]. | |||
| === Loyola University Maryland === | |||
| ] in ] has had a few secret societies The Green and Grey Society, named after the school’s colors, was established in 1989. The school selects “a small number of men and women from the senior class who demonstrated excellence in academic, personal, and spiritual integration and a commitment to leadership and service to Loyola. In the spirit of Jesuit ideals, the Society serves as an advisor to the University executives by identifying and communicating issues of significance. As engaged members of the community, the Society empowers students across the University to live the magis.” <ref>{{Cite web|title=Green & Grey Society - Loyola University Maryland|url=https://www.loyola.edu/join-us/green-grey-society|access-date=2021-09-25|website=www.loyola.edu|archive-date=2021-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925061557/https://www.loyola.edu/join-us/green-grey-society|url-status=live}}</ref> While the society is acknowledged to exist, they members and overall selection process remains elusive. | |||
| === Longwood University === | |||
| ] currently has three secret societies, the oldest of which is CHI, founded on October 15, 1900, by members from three of Longwood's four sorority Alpha chapters-- ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=CHI |url=https://www.longwood.edu/lancer-life/traditions/chi/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Longwood University |language=en}}</ref> The society was originally called the "Society of Societies" whose original intentions were to hold students accountable and enrich the lives of their peers and professors by calling out bad behavior, taking hooded walks called "CHI Walks" and hosting a bonfire at the end of each academic year called "CHI burning" where senior members would reveal themselves to campus. Today, CHI represents something very different and works on behalf of the college to represent the Longwood spirit—the blue and white spirit. Members make their presence known by leaving small "droppings" or tokens around campus, writing letters to Longwood students, faculty, and staff that celebrate their achievements, and the members of CHI "commend" members during their annual "CHI Burning" which remains to this day. The mark of the society can be found on the sidewalks of the campus, where their symbol (a simple geometric version of Ruffner Hall) is painted in blue. Students, faculty, and staff do not step on these symbols as a means of paying respect to the society, the Longwood spirit, and the preservation of said spirit. The physical presence of CHI can also be found on campus because the society has donated generously to many campus fundraising campaigns, and donated the CHI Fountain, located at the center of campus, which along its top stone, reads the public motto of the society. | |||
| The third-oldest and second-longest consistently operating secret society at Longwood is Princeps, which was founded in 1992 on the premise of promoting citizen leadership and academic excellence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Princeps |url=http://www.longwood.edu/lancer-life/traditions/princeps/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Longwood University |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607063938/http://www.longwood.edu/lancer-life/traditions/princeps/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The society is represented by the number seven, with a seven-point crown above the number, most commonly in black. The society's colors are red, gold, and black, and they often commend members of the community with letters, tokens of achievement, and other gifts. Princeps, meaning "leader" in Latin, also awards paper cutout versions of their symbol, the seven, to students who achieve both Dean's List and President's List. Those who achieve Dean's List receive a black seven and those who achieve President's List receive a red seven. Princeps also recognizes students with wooden sevens, and the senior members of the society reveal themselves on graduation morning on the front steps of Lancaster Hall, home to the President's Office, at 7:07{{nbsp}}am, where they appear from within the crowd or from the building wearing a red sash with their symbol, the 7 and crown, stitched on the sash which drapes across their body. Membership selection for this society, just like CHI, remains a secret. | |||
| === New York University === | |||
| Several secret societies have historically existed at ], including ], which only takes both "distinguished" male and female seniors from the ]; Knights of the Lamp, which only takes seniors from the ]; the ] (which operated from 1832 to 1888); the ] (from 1832 to the 1940s); and the Andiron Club.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/archives/andiron/bioghist.html|title=Guide to the Records of the Andiron Club of New York City MC 19|website=dlib.nyu.edu|access-date=2020-04-10|archive-date=2020-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411000346/http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/archives/andiron/bioghist.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Only Red Dragon Society still exists.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Choudhary |first1=Sabrina |title=CAS' Red Dragon Society Emerges From the Shadows |url=https://nyunews.com/culture/2020/04/13/red-dragon-society-nyu/ |website=Washington Square News |date=13 April 2020 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116215139/https://nyunews.com/culture/2020/04/13/red-dragon-society-nyu/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| ===Norwich University=== | ===Norwich University=== | ||
| ] |
Secret societies are banned in all military academies in the United States. ] was the last military academy to outlaw secret societies, doing so in 1998. The stated reason for doing so was controversy regarding hazing and abuse of cadets. Before the ban, Norwich was home to a handful of long-standing secret societies such as the Old Crow Society, Night Riders, and Skull and Swords.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID%3D%2F20060328%2FNEWS%2F603280335%2F1003 |title=Norwich hit with hazing lawsuit |access-date=2010-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331074915/http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060328%2FNEWS%2F603280335%2F1003 |archive-date=2016-03-31 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/1991/05/12/the-night-of-the-taming.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917121623/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/1991/05/12/the-night-of-the-taming.html|url-status=dead|title='The Night Of The Taming' - Newsweek and The Daily Beast|website=]|archive-date=September 17, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenorthfieldnews.com/news/2008-09-25/Front_Page/Norwich_Cadet_Charged_In_Hazing_Incident.html |title=Norwich cadet charged in hazing incident |access-date=2010-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402124039/http://www.thenorthfieldnews.com/news/2008-09-25/Front_Page/Norwich_Cadet_Charged_In_Hazing_Incident.html |archive-date=2016-04-02 }}</ref> | ||
| ===Pennsylvania State University=== | ===Pennsylvania State University=== | ||
| There are currently three well-known societies at |
There are currently three well-known societies at ]: ''Parmi Nous'' (1907), ''Lion's Paw'' (1908), and ''Skull and Bones'' (1912).<ref name="student leaders raise">{{cite news|last=Tully|first=Jessica|title=Student leaders raise questions over secret societies' reach|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2011/04/29/penn_state_secret_societies.aspx|access-date=13 December 2012|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|date=29 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502030741/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2011/04/29/penn_state_secret_societies.aspx|archive-date=2 May 2011}}</ref> Penn State has seen several different honorary societies with varying levels of publicity and activity. In 1907, the first "hat" society, so-named because of such organizations' emblematic headwear, ''Druids'', was formed; similar societies expanded and included dedicated groups for women (e.g. ''Chimes'', ''Scrolls'') and men (e.g. ''Blue Key'', ''Androcles'') based on class standing and extracurricular involvement.<ref name="select only">{{cite news|title=Honor Societies Select Only Outstanding Students|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|date=20 September 1964}}</ref><ref name=druids>{{cite book|title=This is Penn State: An Insider's Guide to the University Park Campus|year=2006|publisher=Penn State Press|location=University Park, PA|isbn=978-0-271-02720-3|pages=85}}</ref> These groups were temporarily governed by a "Hat Society Council" which was made up of representatives from each organization from 1948 to 1958.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kay|first=Leslie|title=Top Penn Staters Honored By University Hat Societies|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|date=30 April 1965}}</ref> Hat societies were involved in University life passing down traditions (called "freshmen customs") for first-year students, forming honor guards for ] as they went on to the field, and recognizing leaders, scholars, and athletes in the Penn State community.<ref name="150 Yearly">{{cite news|title=Men's Hat Groups Initiate 150 Yearly|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|date=11 September 1955}}</ref> The three remaining senior societies no longer operate publicly but continue to serve the university in a variety of functions. ''Lion's Paw'' is closely associated with conservation efforts at ] in ].<ref name=mountnittanylionspaw>{{cite web|last=Bronstein|first=Ben|title=About Lion's Paw: Mount Nittany|url=http://www.lionspaw.org/mount-nittany.html|publisher=Lion's Paw Alumni Association|access-date=28 December 2012|archive-date=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221033221/http://www.lionspaw.org/mount-nittany.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
| === |
===Pomona College=== | ||
| {{excerpt|Traditions of Pomona College|Mufti|hat=no}} | |||
| {{Main|Eating clubs (Princeton University)}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] ] are not fraternities, nor are they secret societies by any standard measure, but they are often seen as being tenuously analogous. | |||
| === Princeton University === | |||
| Additionally, Princeton has fraternities; the most visible is a chapter of ], Delta Psi. The 21 Club, an all-male drinking society, is also a notorious Princeton secret society.<ref>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2009/05/15/23715/</ref> Princeton also has a long tradition of underground societies. While secret society membership is relatively public at some schools, Princeton's historical secret society rolls are very secretive because of ] ban on clandestine organizations and his threat to expel secret fraternity members from Princeton. One such society is Phi (pronounced ''fē''),{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} a society dating to 1929 when members of the Whig society splintered off after the merger of the ] and ] debating societies. Phi's membership is secretive and difficult to discern, because no more than 10 active "Phis" exist at one time: Phis usually receive offers at the end of their 3rd year. As an adaptation to Princeton's stringent anti-society rules, each active class does not meet the preceding class that selected it until the 1st of June (after their first Reunions and before graduation). 1.6... is the ], hence the name ].<ref>andruthsaid.net</ref> | |||
| {{Main|Eating clubs at Princeton University}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] ] are not fraternities, nor are they secret societies by any standard measure, but they are often seen as being tenuously analogous. The 21 Club, an all-male drinking society, is a notorious Princeton secret society.<ref>{{cite web |title=An elusive institution |url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2009/05/15/23715/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614081121/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2009/05/15/23715/ |archive-date=2012-06-14 |access-date=2009-12-07}}</ref> | |||
| ===Rutgers University=== | |||
| ] (1900) Class of '19; ] at far left.]] | |||
| As ], ] has had several secret societies on campus. At the turn of the 20th century, Rutgers had developed two full sets of class year societies based on the Yale model,<ref name="rutgerscap">http://capandskull.rutgers.edu/genhistory.htm</ref> down to the freshman societies such as the Chain and Bones and Serpent and Coffin.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D02E3DE173AE433A25753C2A9679C946696D6CF | work=The New York Times | title=FIGHT ON CLASS SOCIETIES.; Rutgers Follows Princeton's Lead Against Club System | date=1917-01-20 | accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> The senior class societies at Rutgers included the Brotherhood of the Golden Dagger (1898–1940), Casque and Dagger (1901) and ] (1900). The latter is no longer a secret society, having been dissolved in the 1960s after complaints of elitism. In 1982 its name was revived for a university-sanctioned senior-year honor society. | |||
| Princeton also has a long tradition of underground societies. While secret society membership is relatively public at some schools, Princeton's historical secret society rolls are very secretive because of ] ban on clandestine organizations and his threat to expel secret fraternity members from Princeton. | |||
| ===University of Georgia=== | |||
| The University of Georgia is home to a chapter of the ], an honor society which selects the top 3% of Greek Fraternity students for membership.<ref></ref> A group unique to UGA is the men's ] known as the Order of the Greek Horsemen which annually inducts five fraternity men, all leaders of the Greek Fraternity system. Likewise, the highest achievement a male can attain at the University is claimed by the ]. Palladia Secret Society was founded in the early 1960s as the highest honor a woman can attain at the University of Georgia. Palladia inducts approximately 12 women each fall and has an extensive network of alumni, including administrators at the University of Georgia and prominent female leaders across the state. One of the debate societies on campus is said to have a secret society associated with it. The Panhellenic sororities also have a secret society known as Trust of the Pearl, which inducts five accomplished sorority women each spring. | |||
| One such society is Phi (pronounced ''fē''), a society dating to 1929 when members of the Whig society splintered off after the merger of the ] and ] debating societies. Phi's membership is secretive and difficult to discern because no more than ten active "Phis" exist at one time: Phis usually receive offers at the end of their third year. As an adaptation to Princeton's stringent anti-society rules, each active class does not meet the preceding class that selected it until the First of June (after their first Reunions and before graduation). 1.6... is the ], hence the name ]. | |||
| Another society is the exclusively female Foxtail Society, founded in 1974 soon after Princeton began admitting women in 1969. The society was founded in response to the lack of ] open to women. While admittance numbers have changed over the years, Foxtail selects anywhere from 10 to 15 women to become members at the end of their junior year. | |||
| === Rutgers University === | |||
| ], class of 1919; ] at far left]] | |||
| ] has had several secret societies on campus. One of which, a likely hoax, claims to be established in 1834.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Cannon War|author=Kate S. Carroll|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/10/16/16211/|newspaper=]|date=2006-10-16|access-date=July 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207145802/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/10/16/16211/|archive-date=2012-02-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> Students associated with these societies were allegedly involved in the ] in 1876.<ref>{{cite news|title=4 secret societies you probably don't know about|author=Stefanie Becker|url=http://theweek.com/article/index/241465/4-secret-societies-you-probably-dont-know-about|newspaper=]|date=2013-03-18|access-date=July 8, 2013|archive-date=2013-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707231159/http://theweek.com/article/index/241465/4-secret-societies-you-probably-dont-know-about|url-status=live}}</ref> At the turn of the 20th century, Rutgers had developed two full sets of class year societies based on the Yale model,<ref name="rutgerscap">{{cite web |url=http://capandskull.rutgers.edu/genhistory.htm |title=The History of Cap and Skull |access-date=2010-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020123141229/http://capandskull.rutgers.edu/genhistory.htm |archive-date=2002-01-23 }}</ref> down to the freshman societies such as the Chain and Bones and Serpent and Coffin.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/01/20/archives/fight-on-class-societies-rutgers-follows-princetons-lead-against.html | work=The New York Times | title=Fight on Class Societies – Rutgers Follows Princeton's Lead Against Club System | date=1917-01-20 | access-date=2010-04-30 | archive-date=2024-07-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714040640/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/01/20/archives/fight-on-class-societies-rutgers-follows-princetons-lead-against.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The senior class societies at Rutgers included the Brotherhood of the Golden Dagger (1898–1940), Casque and Dagger (1901), and Cap and Skull (1900). ] was dissolved in the 1960s after complaints of elitism. In 1982 the name was revived for the university-sanctioned senior-year honor society. | |||
| === Smith College === | |||
| ] had secret societies from the 1890s until the 1960s. Two of these societies, the Orangemen and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.) were both founded in 1890 and carried out a rivalry throughout their existence at the college.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Collection: Ancient Order of Hibernians records {{!}} Smith College Finding Aids |url=https://findingaids.smith.edu/repositories/4/resources/145 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408000138/https://findingaids.smith.edu/repositories/4/resources/145 |archive-date=2022-04-08 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=findingaids.smith.edu}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Orangemen, c1908-1936, 1986 {{!}} Smith College Finding Aids |url=https://findingaids.smith.edu/repositories/4/archival_objects/14825 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125165242/https://findingaids.smith.edu/repositories/4/archival_objects/14825 |archive-date=2023-11-25 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=findingaids.smith.edu}}</ref> A.O.H. was a parody of the ] fraternal order by the same name, the ], which dates back to 1500s Ireland.<ref name=":2" /> The Orangemen was a parody of the ], a ] Irish organization, which dates back to 1795 Ireland.<ref name=":1" /> A.O.H. did ask for official recognition but was turned down.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Secret Societies « Smithipedia |url=https://sophia.smith.edu/blog/smithipedia/student-life/secret-societies/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=sophia.smith.edu |archive-date=2015-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906191041/http://sophia.smith.edu/blog/smithipedia/student-life/secret-societies/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| A.O.H’s color was green and the Orangemen’s was orange.<ref name=":3" /> The Orangemen wore cloaks with orange hoods and also had orange hats in which they paraded around campus.<ref name=":1" /> A.O.H. also had activities including giving out special names to new members.<ref name=":2" /> According to Smith College Special Collections, both organizations limited membership to twelve from each class year.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> A.O.H. held initiations for new members in the fall of their first year of college.<ref name=":2" /> The Orangemen also held initiations.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
| In 1948, the college's president, ], outlawed secret societies because he believed they were “undemocratic.”<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> Davis required groups to stop “all official activities.”<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> However, Smith College Special Collections says, “records indicate that both organizations continued unofficially until the mid-1960s” with available documentation ceasing during the 1965–1966 academic year.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> | |||
| ===University of Chicago=== | |||
| The University of Chicago has never had a substantial number of active secret societies; indeed, shortly after the university's founding, the faculty of the university released a resolution suggesting that the exclusionary structure of many such societies made them antithetical to the democratic spirit of the university.<ref>{{cite web|title=Secret Societies of the University of Chicago|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1892/11/22/secret-societies-of-the-university-of/|website=The Harvard Crimson|access-date=8 May 2017|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311082446/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1892/11/22/secret-societies-of-the-university-of/|url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, The Society of the Owl and Serpent was founded in 1896 and was active for over 70 years.<ref>{{cite journal|title=To The Members of the University of Chicago|journal=The University of Chicago Magazine|date=July 1913|volume=5|issue=9|page=298|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=rGw9AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PP1|access-date=2017-05-08|archive-date=2021-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930191457/https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=rGw9AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PP1|url-status=live}}</ref> The Society voted to officially disband in 1968 as a sign of its "counterculture" values, electing to donate its office space to the student radio group ] and use its remaining funds for the purchase of an FM transmitter.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Makos|first1=Jeff|title=WHPK: Still spinnin' after all these years|journal=The University of Chicago Chronicle|date=Dec 7, 1995|volume=15|issue=7|url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/951207/whpk.shtml|access-date=5 May 2017|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214745/http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/951207/whpk.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| === University of Florida === | |||
| ] operates as the main collegiate secret society at the ]. Founded in 1923 by student leaders organizing Dad's Day, the group of students decided to create a leadership honorary society. Florida Blue Key eventually came to hold the responsibility of organizing Homecoming, Gator Growl, the Miss UF Beauty Pageant, and the Florida Blue Key High School Speech & Debate Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finnerty |first=David |title=The (Blue) Key That Unlocks Doors |url=https://www.uff.ufl.edu/gatornation/the-blue-key-that-unlocks-doors/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=University of Florida Advancement |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104041456/https://www.uff.ufl.edu/gatornation/the-blue-key-that-unlocks-doors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| Throughout its existence, Florida Blue Key has been caught in numerous scandals concerning its control over UF's student government. The organization paid $85,000 in a settlement to Charles Grapski for defamation in the 1995 UF student government elections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Key pays $85,000 to settle suit |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/09/16/blue-key-pays-85000-to-settle-suit/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309044711/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/09/16/blue-key-pays-85000-to-settle-suit/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The subsequent trial determined that Florida Blue Key "has historically undertaken a political function in connection with student government affairs."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Judicial Notice {{!}} PDF {{!}} Public Sphere {{!}} Separation Of Powers |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/29138637/Judicial-Notice |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Scribd |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104041455/https://www.scribd.com/document/29138637/Judicial-Notice |url-status=live }}</ref> The political machine that Florida Blue Key controls to dominate student government has been given the name "The System."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-17 |title=University of Florida Senior Speaks Out Against Student Government Practices in Troubling Viral Video |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/college/news/a53730/not-my-system-uf-student-government-video/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104041455/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/college/news/a53730/not-my-system-uf-student-government-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| === University of Georgia === | |||
| A group unique to the ] is the men's secret society known as the ] which annually inducts five fraternity men, all leaders of the Greek Fraternity system. Likewise, the highest achievement a male can attain at the university is claimed by the ]. | |||
| Palladia Secret Society was founded in the early 1960s as the highest honor a woman can attain at the University of Georgia. Palladia inducts approximately twelve women each fall and has an extensive network of alumni, including administrators at the University of Georgia and prominent female leaders across the state. | |||
| The Panhellenic sororities also have a secret society known as Trust of the Pearl, which inducts five accomplished sorority women each spring. The Sphinx Club is the oldest honorary society at the University of Georgia, recognizing students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have made significant contributions to the university, the State of Georgia, and the nation. Membership in this organization is not secret; however, all business and happenings of the organization are. | |||
| ===University of Michigan=== | ===University of Michigan=== | ||
| The ] hosts three secret societies: |
The ] hosts three secret societies: ], Phoenix, and the Vulcan Senior Engineering Society. Order of Angell and Phoenix were once under the umbrella group "The Tower Society", the name referring to their location at the top of the Michigan Union Tower. Michigauma (Order of Angell) was all-male while Adara (Phoenix) was all-female. | ||
| Order of Angell, known as "Order", is an evolved version of a previous society Michigauma. |
Order of Angell, known as "Order", is an evolved version of a previous society Michigauma. It was inspired by the rituals and culture of the ]. Since its creation in 1902, the group is credited with creating Dance Marathon, one of the largest charitable events at the University of Michigan, and the construction of the Michigan Union for which it was granted permanent space on the top floors of the tower which they refer to as the "tomb".<ref name="michigamua">{{cite web |url=http://www.goodspeedupdate.com/michigamua-images.html |title=Michigamua Image Gallery |access-date=2008-05-09 |archive-date=2021-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504121125/http://goodspeedupdate.com/michigamua-images.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="michigamuaexposed">{{cite web |url=http://michigamuaexposed.blogspot.com/ |title=Michigamua Exposed |access-date=2008-05-09 |archive-date=2006-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060610151730/http://michigamuaexposed.blogspot.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2007 the group changed its name to Order of Angell and later, in 2021, the group officially disbanded. | ||
| Phoenix, (formerly known as Adara) holding to astrological roots, was formed in the late 1970s by the women leaders on campus. In the early 1980s, they joined the tower society and occupied the sixth floor of the tower just below Michigamua. Phoenix, alongside Order, is now co-ed. Phoenix was disbanded in March 2021 via a vote of an overwhelming majority.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1970-01-01|title=Op-Ed: Disbanding Phoenix — secret societies don't belong on our campus|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/opinion/op-ed-disbanding-phoenix-secret-societies-dont-belong-on-our-campus/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=The Michigan Daily|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ===University of Missouri=== | |||
| ] in 1917]] | |||
| In 1895, the Alpha Theta Chapter of the ] sophomore society was founded under the guidance of faculty member Luther DeFoe. DeFoe also served as a mentor to the founding members of the ] senior men's society, which was founded in 1898. ] was founded in 1907 and has become the second most well known society on campus. Some have suggested that Missouri's Mystical Seven was modeled after Virginia's ], which had been established just a couple years earlier. Other secret societies followed, including Society of the Hidden Eye for junior/senior men, ] for senior women, Thadstek for freshman/sophomore men, Tomb and Key for freshman/sophomore men, and Kappa Kappa whose membership composition was unknown. During this period of rapid expansion of secret societies, a network of ] inter-fraternity organizations also established itself on campus with no purpose other than socializing and mischief making. This network, known commonly as the "Greek Underworld" included organizations such as Seven Equals, Kappa Beta Phi, Sigma Phi Sigma, Kappa Nu Theta, and Sigma Alpha Beta. | |||
| ], known as "the Vulcans", occupied the fifth floor of the Union Tower though were not formally a part of the tower society. They draw their heritage from the Roman god ]. The group that used to do its tapping publicly is known for its long black robes and its financial contributions to the ]. | |||
| ] at Tap Day 2006]] | |||
| ] in 1917]] | |||
| Mizzou is currently home to at least six secret honor societies that still participate in annual public Tap Day ceremonies at the end of each spring semester. QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV, Alpha Xi Chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, Friars Chapter of Mortar Board, and Rollins Society each use the Tap Day ceremony at the conclusion of the year to reveal the members who were initiated over the past year. Missouri is one of few remaining institutions in which the local Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board chapters carry out much of their work in secrecy. In addition to Tap Day activities, several of the societies maintain a public presence during some athletic events. QEBH is the caretaker of the Victory Bell, along with Nebraska's ], awarded to the winner of the ] football game each year. The Friars Chapter of Mortar Board exchanges a gavel with Nebraska (The Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board) at each MU-UNL football game, symbolizing the rivalry between the Universities. Mystical Seven and Oklahoma's Pe-et Society were likewise entrusted with the Peace Pipe trophy that was awarded to the winner of the biennial Missouri-Oklahoma football match. Omicron Delta Kappa previously served as caretaker of the Indian War Drum trophy awarded to the winner of the annual ] football game between Missouri and Kansas.<ref>http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/4/20/secret-societies-reveal-new-members-tap-day/</ref><ref>http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/10/11/case-missing-peace-pipe/</ref> | |||
| ], Tap Day 2006]] | |||
| ===University of |
=== University of Missouri === | ||
| In 1895, the Alpha Theta Chapter of the ] sophomore society was founded under the guidance of faculty member Luther DeFoe. DeFoe also served as a mentor to the founding members of the ] senior men's society, which was founded in 1898. ] was founded in 1907 and has become the second best-known society on campus. Some have suggested that Missouri's Mystical Seven was modeled after Virginia's ], which had been established just a couple of years earlier. | |||
| ]]] | |||
| The library at the ] contains the archives of the ], a secret society headquartered at the Gimghoul Castle.<ref name="gimghoulcastle1">{{cite news |last=West |first=Elliot |url=http://www.raleighchronicle.com/2006103100.html |title=Halloween: Secret Society In Chapel Hill Owns Gimghoul Castle |publisher=Raleigh Chronicle |date=2006-10-31 |accessdate= 2008-05-04}}</ref><ref name="gimghoulcastle2">{{cite web |url=http://www.welcometonc.com/detail/252.cfm |title=Gimghoul Castle |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> The order was founded in 1889 by Robert Worth Bingham, Shepard Bryan, William W. Davies, Edward Wray Martin, and Andrew Henry Patterson, who were students at the time.<ref name="gimghoularchives">{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40262.html |title=Inventory of the Order of Gimghoul Records, 1832-2006 (bulk 1940-1997) |work= |publisher=University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries |accessdate=2008-05-04 }}</ref> | |||
| Other secret societies followed, including Society of the Hidden Eye for junior, and senior men, ] for senior women, Thadstek for freshman, and sophomore men, Tomb and Key for freshman, and sophomore men, and Kappa Kappa whose membership composition was unknown. During this period of rapid expansion of secret societies, a network of ] inter-fraternity organizations also established itself on campus with no purpose other than socializing and mischief-making. This network, known commonly as the "Greek Underworld" included organizations such as Seven Equals, ], ], Kappa Nu Theta, and Sigma Alpha Beta. | |||
| The society is open to male students (rising juniors and higher), and faculty members by invitation. The society centers itself around the legend of Peter Dromgoole, a student who mysteriously disappeared from the UNC campus in 1833.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/ghosts/gimghoul.html |title=The Legend of Gimghoul |work=Ghost Stories of North Carolina|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> The founders originally called themselves the Order of Dromgoole, but later changed it to the Order of Gimghoul to be, "in accord with midnight and graves and weirdness," according to the university's archives.<ref name="gimghoularchives"/> | |||
| It is currently home to at least six secret honor societies that still participate in an annual public Taies Day ceremony at the end of each spring semester. QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV, Alpha Xi chapter of ], Friars chapter of ], and Rollins Society each use the Tap Day ceremony after the year to reveal the members who were initiated over the past year. Missouri is one of the few remaining institutions in which the local Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board chapters carry out much of their work in secrecy. The Jefferson Society, which attempted to take part in Tap Day and was denied, claims to have been around since 1862. In addition to Tap Day activities, several of the societies maintain a public presence during some athletic events. QEBH is the caretaker of the Victory Bell, along with Nebraska's ], awarded to the winner of the ] football game each year. The Friars Chapter of Mortar Board exchanges a gavel with Nebraska (The Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board) at each MU-UNL football game, symbolizing the rivalry between the Universities. Mystical Seven and Oklahoma's Pe-et Society were likewise entrusted with the Peace Pipe trophy that was awarded to the winner of the biennial Missouri-Oklahoma football match. Omicron Delta Kappa previously served as the caretaker of the Indian War Drum trophy awarded to the winner of the annual ] football game between Missouri and Kansas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/4/20/secret-societies-reveal-new-members-tap-day/ |title=Maneater | Secret societies reveal new members on Tap Day |access-date=2013-08-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181028/http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/4/20/secret-societies-reveal-new-members-tap-day/ |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/10/11/case-missing-peace-pipe/|title=Columbia Missourian - The case of the missing peace pipe|date=October 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014113806/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/10/11/case-missing-peace-pipe/|archive-date=2007-10-14}}</ref> | |||
| Tradition has it that the order upheld the "Dromgoole legend and the ideals of Arthurian knighthood and chivalry." From all accounts, the order is social in nature, and has no clandestine agenda. Membership is closed and information about the order is strictly confidential, as is access to archives which are less than 50 years old.<ref name="gimghoularchives"/> | |||
| ===University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill=== | |||
| The Order of the Gorgon's Head, another secret society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was founded in 1896 by Darius Eatman, Edward Kidder Graham, Ralph Henry Graves, Samuel Selden Lamb, Richard Henry Lewis, Jr., and Percy DePonceau Whitaker. Membership has always been limited to male members of the junior, senior, professional, and post-graduate classes along with male faculty members. Inductees may not be members of other societies. Officers include Princeps (chief officer), Quaestor, and Scriptor. The purpose of the Order is to promote friendship, good will, and social fellowship among its members. The Order of the Gorgon's Head was one of two "junior orders" established at the University in the 1890s. The two orders had written agreements that they would not attempt to recruit freshmen or sophomores. Each order had a lodge (the Gimghouls later built a castle), where members gathered for meetings and events. Each had secret rituals based on myths. Those of the Order of the Gorgon's Head centered on the myth of the Gorgons, three monstrous sisters prominent in ancient Greek and Roman lore. | |||
| ]]] | |||
| The library at the ] contains the archives of the ], a secret society headquartered at the Gimghoul Castle.<ref name="gimghoulcastle1">{{cite news |last=West |first=Elliot |url=http://www.raleighchronicle.com/2006103100.html |title=Halloween: Secret Society In Chapel Hill Owns Gimghoul Castle |publisher=Raleigh Chronicle |date=2006-10-31 |access-date=2008-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519212420/http://www.raleighchronicle.com/2006103100.html |archive-date=2008-05-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="gimghoulcastle2">{{cite web |url=http://www.welcometonc.com/detail/252.cfm |title=Gimghoul Castle |access-date=2008-05-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410124409/http://www.welcometonc.com/detail/252.cfm |archive-date=2008-04-10 }}</ref> The order was founded in 1889 and is open to male students (rising juniors and higher), and faculty members by invitation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/ghosts/gimghoul.html |title=The Legend of Gimghoul |work=Ghost Stories of North Carolina |access-date=2008-05-04 |archive-date=2019-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729073000/http://www.ibiblio.org/ghosts/gimghoul.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="gimghoularchives">{{cite web |title=Inventory of the Order of Gimghoul Records, 1832-2006 (bulk 1940-1997) |url=http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40262.html |access-date=2008-05-04 |publisher=University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries |archive-date=2016-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822230757/http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40262.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| The ] was founded in 1896 by Darius Eatman, Edward Kidder Graham, Ralph Henry Graves, Samuel Selden Lamb, Richard Henry Lewis Jr., and Percy DePonceau Whitaker. Membership has always been limited to male members of the junior, senior, professional, and post-graduate classes along with male faculty members. Inductees may not be members of other societies. Officers include Princeps (chief officer), Quaestor, and Scriptor. The purpose of the Order is to promote friendship, goodwill, and social fellowship among its members. The Order of the Gorgon's Head was one of two "junior orders" established at the university in the 1890s. The two orders had written agreements that they would not attempt to recruit freshmen or sophomores. Each order had a lodge (the Gimghouls later built a castle), where members gathered for meetings and events. Each had secret rituals based on myths. Those of the Order of the Gorgon's Head centered on the myth of the Gorgons, three monstrous sisters prominent in ancient Greek and Roman lore. | |||
| The University's library also contains the archives of the ]. The Societies were founded in 1795 by some of the first students to attend the University, and are the oldest public school societies in the nation. While at first maintaining strict secrecy in their proceedings, the Societies' meetings are now generally open to the public; however, the Societies reserve the right at all times to call an "Executive Session", at which point all non-members are escorted from the chambers. All undergraduates may attempt to join one of the two societies by petitioning, but only a select few are admitted, upon mutual agreement between current Society members. | |||
| In 2011, '']'' reported the first of two donations to campus entities by a secret society named Infinity. In 2011, the society gifted $888.88 to the Eve Carson Scholarship fund, which honors the late Student Body President ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Secret society donates to Eve Carson Scholarship|url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2011/01/secret_society_donates_to_eve_carson_scholarship|newspaper=The Daily Tar Heel|access-date=October 3, 2011|archive-date=July 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714040643/https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2011/01/secret_society_donates_to_eve_carson_scholarship|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, the society gifted $888.88 to the Student Enrichment Fund, a student-created fund allowing students to apply for grants to attend off-campus events such as speeches, conferences or other academic or extracurricular opportunities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Secret society donates to Student Enrichment Fund|url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2012/04/secret_society_donates_to_student_enrichment_fund|access-date=2012-04-24|archive-date=2012-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427030513/http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2012/04/secret_society_donates_to_student_enrichment_fund|url-status=live}}</ref> The significance of the digit '8' comes from the symbol for infinity that resembles an eight on its side. | |||
| ===University of Pennsylvania=== | ===University of Pennsylvania=== | ||
| {{Main|Senior societies at University of Pennsylvania}} | |||
| At UPenn, secret societies are smaller than their Greek counterparts, and tend to vary in degree of secrecy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2006/11/08/Opinion/Gabe-Oppenheim.The.Jekyll.And.Hyde.Of.Zbt-2446294.shtml|title=The Jekyll and Hyde of ZBT|last=Oppenheim|first=Gabe|date=2006-08-11|publisher=The Daily Pennsylvanian|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2003/01/14/News/Mystique.Of.Secret.Societies.No.Secret.Among.College.Students-2156078.shtml|title=Mystique of secret societies no secret among college students|last=Ghiselli|first=Margherita|date=2003-01-14|publisher=The Daily Pennsylvanian|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref> There are three senior honorary societies. The Sphinx Senior Society and the ] were both founded at the turn of the 20th century, while The ] Senior Society was founded in 1922. None of these societies was intended to be secret, in that their undergraduate and alumni membership were and continue to be publicly known, they share many of the characteristics of undergraduate secret societies of the time; they tap a diverse group of campus leaders to become members during their senior year, organize social and service activities throughout the year, and maintain an extensive network of successful and notable alumni. Alumni of Friars, for example, include ] and ]; the Sphinx alumni roster boasts ] and ]. In addition, there are several other groups called "secret societies". These groups generally denote a social club that is independent of any official organization. For this reason, the society is not regulated by the university and is not accountable to a national organization. | |||
| Senior societies at the University of Pennsylvania are smaller than their Greek counterparts and tend to vary in degree of secrecy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2006/11/08/Opinion/Gabe-Oppenheim.The.Jekyll.And.Hyde.Of.Zbt-2446294.shtml|title=The Jekyll and Hyde of ZBT|last=Oppenheim|first=Gabe|date=2006-08-11|newspaper=The Daily Pennsylvanian|access-date=2008-05-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517223725/http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2006/11/08/Opinion/Gabe-Oppenheim.The.Jekyll.And.Hyde.Of.Zbt-2446294.shtml|archive-date=2008-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2003/01/14/News/Mystique.Of.Secret.Societies.No.Secret.Among.College.Students-2156078.shtml|title=Mystique of secret societies no secret among college students|last=Ghiselli|first=Margherita|date=2003-01-14|newspaper=The Daily Pennsylvanian|access-date=2008-05-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517223720/http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2003/01/14/News/Mystique.Of.Secret.Societies.No.Secret.Among.College.Students-2156078.shtml|archive-date=2008-05-17}}</ref> There are three senior honorary societies. The Sphinx Senior Society and the ] were both founded at the turn of the 20th century, while The ] Senior Society was founded in 1922. None of these societies was intended to be secret, in that their undergraduate and alumni membership were and continue to be publicly known, they share many of the characteristics of undergraduate secret societies of the time; they tap a diverse group of campus leaders to become members during their senior year, organize social and service activities throughout the year, and maintain an extensive network of successful and notable alumni. In addition, there are several other groups called "secret societies". These groups generally denote a social club that is independent of any official organization. For this reason, the society is not regulated by the university and is not accountable to a national organization. | |||
| ===University of |
===University of Texas=== | ||
| The ] is home to the ], an all-male secret society founded in 1925 that is one of the oldest student organizations on campus. The three pillars of Tejas are scholarship, leadership, and friendship, representing a desire to attract and mold male student leaders on campus. Its membership process is secretive and closed to the public. | |||
| ===University of South Carolina=== | |||
| The ] is a literary society founded in 1806 at the University of South Carolina, then known as South Carolina College. It was formed after the splitting of the Philomathic Society, which had been formed within weeks of the opening of the college in 1805 and included virtually all students. At the Synapian Convention in February 1806, the members of Philomathic voted to split into two societies, Clariosophic and Euphradian. Two blood brothers picked the members for the new groups like choosing sides for an impromptu baseball game. John Goodwin became the first president of Clariosophic. Other early presidents include Stephen Elliott, Hugh S. Legaré, George McDuffie, and Richard I. Manning. The Society was reactivated in 2013 and became co-ed. The membership process and society roster are secretive and closed to the public. Members are identified by a key insignia on their diplomas. | |||
| ] | |||
| === University of Virginia === | |||
| {{Main|Secret societies at the University of Virginia}} | {{Main|Secret societies at the University of Virginia}} | ||
| ] | |||
| Secret societies have been a part of ] student life since the founding of the ] society in 1878.<ref name="bruce">{{cite book | |||
| | url=http://books.google.com/?id=ns0zAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq=%22eli+banana | |||
| | title=History of the University of Virginia: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man |volume=IV |pages=97–99, 338 |last=Bruce |first=Philip Alexander |authorlink=Philip Alexander Bruce |year=1921 |publisher=] |location=New York }}</ref> Early secret societies, such as Eli Banana and ], had secret initiations but public membership; some, such as the ], now the ], were very public, incurring the wrath of the administration for public revels.<ref name="bruce-hotfeet-disband">{{cite book|last=Bruce|first=Philip Alexander|authorlink=Philip Alexander Bruce|title=History of the University of Virginia: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man|publisher=]|location=New York|year=1922|volume=V|url=http://books.google.com/?id=i68VAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0QijWlKe5gOccv#PPA283,M1|page=283}}</ref> | |||
| Secret societies have been a part of ] student life since the founding of the ] society in 1878.<ref name="bruce">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ns0zAAAAIAAJ&q=%22eli+banana&pg=PA97 |title=History of the University of Virginia: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man |volume=IV |pages=97–99, 338 |last=Bruce |first=Philip Alexander |author-link=Philip Alexander Bruce |year=1921 |publisher=] |location=New York |access-date=2020-11-26 |archive-date=2024-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714040641/https://books.google.com/books?id=ns0zAAAAIAAJ&q=%22eli+banana&pg=PA97#v=snippet&q=%22eli%20banana&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Early secret societies, such as Eli Banana and ], had secret initiations but public membership; some, such as the ], now the ], were very public, incurring the wrath of the administration for public reveals.<ref name="bruce-hotfeet-disband">{{cite book|last=Bruce|first=Philip Alexander|author-link=Philip Alexander Bruce|title=History of the University of Virginia: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man|publisher=]|location=New York|year=1922|volume=V|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i68VAAAAIAAJ&q=editions:0QijWlKe5gOccv|page=283|access-date=2020-11-26|archive-date=2024-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714040641/https://books.google.com/books?id=i68VAAAAIAAJ&q=editions:0QijWlKe5gOccv|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| The first truly "secret society" was the ], founded circa 1905.<ref name="dabney">{{cite book|last=Dabney|first=Virginius|authorlink=Virginius Dabney |title=Mr. Jefferson's University: A History |url=http://repo.lib.virginia.edu:18080/fedora/get/uva-lib:178665/uva-lib-bdef:100/getFullView |publisher=]|location=]|year=1981|pages=305–306|isbn=978-0-8139-0904-2}}</ref> Two decades before, there had been a chapter of the Mystical 7 society at Virginia, which may have been an inspiration. Nothing is known about the Seven Society except for their philanthropy to the University; members are revealed at their death. A few other societies that flourished around the turn of the 20th century, such as the ] (formerly Zeta), who were founded in 1892,<ref name="bruce-z">Bruce, IV:100.</ref> the IMP Society, reformulated in 1913 after the Hot Feet were banned in 1908, and Eli Banana, are still active at the University today. | |||
| The first truly "secret society" was the ], founded circa 1905.<ref name="dabney">{{cite book|last=Dabney |first=Virginius |author-link=Virginius Dabney |title=Mr. Jefferson's University: A History |url=http://repo.lib.virginia.edu:18080/fedora/get/uva-lib:178665/uva-lib-bdef:100/getFullView |publisher=] |location=] |year=1981 |pages=305–306 |isbn=978-0-8139-0904-2 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Two decades before, there had been a chapter of the Mystical 7 society at Virginia, which may have been an inspiration. Nothing is known about the Seven Society except for their philanthropy to the university; members are revealed at their death. A few other societies flourished around the turn of the 20th century, such as the ] (formerly Zeta), which was founded in 1892,<ref>] (1922). ''History of the University of Virginia: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man''. Vol. IV. New York: ]. p. 100.</ref> the IMP Society, reformulated in 1913 after the Hot Feet were banned in 1908, and Eli Banana, are still active at the university today. The Thirteen Society was founded on February 13, 1889. After an unknown period of inactivity, they reemerged in 2004. Currently, The Thirteen Society operates as a mainly honorary society for those who demonstrate "unselfish service to the University and excellence in their respective fields of activity."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uvamagazine.org/articles/wrapped_in_mystery |title=Wrapped in Mystery |last=Viccellio |first=Robert |access-date=March 31, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520160212/http://uvamagazine.org/articles/wrapped_in_mystery |archive-date=2016-05-20 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
| New societies have periodically appeared at the University during the 20th century. The most notable are the ], a secret group that rewards contributions to the University and which was founded prior to 1970;<ref name="pumpkin-cd">{{cite news |url=http://scripta.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-textwg/cavdaily.pl?str=pumpkin&offset=35976732&fileid=19701030 |title=P.U.M.P.K.I.N.'s To Make Yearly Roll |work=] |date=1970-10-30}}</ref><ref name="pumpkin-dabney">Dabney, 502.</ref> and the ], founded 1963, who are only seen in public in purple robes and hoods and who seek to "safeguard vigilantly the University traditions".<ref name="dabney-shadows">Dabney, 501.</ref><ref name="cd-purple">{{cite news |url=http://scripta.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-textwg/cavdaily.pl?str=purple%20shadows&offset=9700607&fileid=19680911 |title=Noted For Eccentricity, Mysteriousness: Societies Beneficial to University |last=Steer |first=Jay |work=] |date=1968-09-11}}</ref> The A.N.G.E.L.S. Society started sometime in the late 1900s is known to place white roses and letters on doors of those mourning, needing encouragement, or showing "kind behavior" to others. They are known to promote a stronger community of kindness throughout the University, completing many acts of service for students and faculty. Many of the secret societies listed contribute to the University either financially or through awards or some other form of recognition of excellence at the University. | |||
| New societies have periodically appeared at the university during the 20th century. The most notable is the ], a secret group that rewards contributions to the university and which was founded before 1970;<ref name="pumpkin-cd">{{cite news|url=http://scripta.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-textwg/cavdaily.pl?str=pumpkin&offset=35976732&fileid=19701030 |title=P.U.M.P.K.I.N.'s To Make Yearly Roll |work=] |date=1970-10-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519003025/http://scripta.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-textwg/cavdaily.pl?str=pumpkin&offset=35976732&fileid=19701030 |archive-date=2008-05-19 }}</ref><ref name="pumpkin-dabney">{{cite book |last=Dabney |first=Virginius |url=http://repo.lib.virginia.edu:18080/fedora/get/uva-lib:178665/uva-lib-bdef:100/getFullView |title=Mr. Jefferson's University: A History |publisher=] |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-8139-0904-2 |location=] |page=502 |author-link=Virginius Dabney }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the ], founded 1963, who are only seen in public in purple robes and hoods and who seek to "safeguard vigilantly the University traditions".<ref name="dabney-shadows">{{cite book |last=Dabney |first=Virginius |url=http://repo.lib.virginia.edu:18080/fedora/get/uva-lib:178665/uva-lib-bdef:100/getFullView |title=Mr. Jefferson's University: A History |publisher=] |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-8139-0904-2 |location=] |page=501 |author-link=Virginius Dabney }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Dabney, 501.</ref><ref name="cd-purple">{{cite news |url=http://scripta.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-textwg/cavdaily.pl?str=purple%20shadows&offset=9700607&fileid=19680911 |title=Noted For Eccentricity, Mysteriousness: Societies Beneficial to University |last=Steer |first=Jay |work=] |date=1968-09-11 |access-date=2008-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519003030/http://scripta.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-textwg/cavdaily.pl?str=purple%20shadows&offset=9700607&fileid=19680911 |archive-date=2008-05-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The A.N.G.E.L.S. Society started sometime in the late 1900s is known to place white roses and letters on doors of those mourning, needing encouragement, or showing "kind behavior" to others. They are known to promote a stronger community of kindness throughout the university, completing many acts of service for students and faculty. Many of the secret societies listed contribute to the university either financially or through awards or some other form of recognition of excellence at the university. | |||
| === University of Washington === | |||
| The ] in ] is known for one secret society, the Oval Club. Founded in 1907, the Oval Club was founded to "promote student unity and cooperation, develop cultural leaders and preserve traditions of the University of Washington".<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=1907–1963|title=Oval Club Records|url=http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv78466/pdf|journal=University of Washington Library|volume=Special Collections|via=Archives West|access-date=2020-10-27|archive-date=2020-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101141656/http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv78466/pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Records for Oval Club meetings have been kept by the University of Washington Library's Special Collection dating up to 1963,<ref name=":0" /> and membership is publicly acknowledged for Oval Club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Class of 1958: Setting the standard for involvement with the UW|url=https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/uwdocs/id/30771/|website=University of Washington Alumni Association|access-date=2020-10-27|archive-date=2020-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031123437/https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/uwdocs/id/30771/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ===Washington and Lee University=== | ===Washington and Lee University=== | ||
| ] in ], has two secret societies: the ] and the ]. Founded in 1880, the ] is one of Washington and Lee's "oldest, continuous social organizations".<ref>Sigma plaque located outside of the Science Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia</ref><ref name="L Secret Clubs 1966, p.2">"History of W&L Secret Clubs", Ring-tum Phi, 4 October 1966, p.2.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://journalism.wlu.edu/rrarchive/11-17-2005/Photogallery/photo00028611/real.htm |title=Journalism and Mass Communications: Washington and Lee University |access-date=2009-07-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801175844/http://journalism.wlu.edu/rrarchive/11-17-2005/Photogallery/photo00028611/real.htm |archive-date=2016-08-01 }}</ref> While membership information is not necessarily anonymous, the group's purpose and inner workings remain a secret. The group has long had a connection to President ], though the extent of that relationship is unknown to the public at large.<ref name="L Secret Clubs 1966, p.2" /><ref>"Sigma Initiation Washington's Birthday", Ring-tum Phi, 2 March 1910, p. 4.</ref> Similarly, the acronym P.A.M.O.L.A. R.Y.E.—which is inscribed on buildings and in classrooms throughout the Lexington area—also bears an unknown significance to the group. The group has largely gone underground since 1994 when University officials tore down the Sigma cabin and paid the Sigmas $15,000. Associate Justice to the Supreme Court ] is one of the group's most prominent members.<ref>Powell's inclusion in the Sigma Society is acknowledged by Chief Justice William Rehnquist: Rehnquist, William H "A tribute to Lewis F. Powell Jr." Washington and Lee Law Review. 01 February 2011. .</ref> | |||
| ] in ] is known for two secret societies, the ] and the ]. | |||
| The membership and organizational structure of the ] are largely unknown. Cadaver has been in continuous operation since its founding in 1957. The Cadavers have a bridge that bears their name, connecting the main campus to Wilson Field, as well as their symbol in many prominent places throughout the campus. Cadavers are known for donating large sums of money to the university and for upholding the school’s historic values. They have been criticized for their secrecy and many of their activities include running around dressed in all black and masks late at night as well as drawing their symbol all over campus.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Alicia |title=Cadaver Society: Lack "class and character" (Letters to the Editor) |url=http://www.thetrident.org/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=276495 |access-date=June 22, 2022 |work=Trident Online |date=September 18, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050112204439/http://www.thetrident.org/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=276495 |archive-date=2005-01-12}}</ref> They have been known to run through the Sorority houses, talking in high voices and attempting to wake everyone in the houses up. | |||
| Founded in 1880, the ] is one of Washington and Lee's "oldest, continuous social organizations."<ref>Sigma plaque located outside of the Science Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia</ref><ref name="L Secret Clubs 1966, p.2">“History of W&L Secret Clubs,” Ring-tum Phi, 4 October 1966, p.2.</ref><ref>http://journalism.wlu.edu/rrarchive/11-17-2005/Photogallery/photo00028611/real.htm</ref> While membership information is not necessarily anonymous, the group's purpose and inner workings remain a secret. The group has long had a connection to President ], though the extent of that relationship is unknown to the public at large.<ref name="L Secret Clubs 1966, p.2"/><ref>“Sigma Initiation Washington’s Birthday,” Ring-tum Phi, 2 March 1910, p. 4.</ref> Similarly, the acronym P.A.M.O.L.A. R.Y.E. - which can seen inscribed on buildings and in classrooms throughout the Lexington area - also bears an unknown significance to the group. The group has largely gone underground since undergoing a public spat with the University in 1994 when University officials paid the Sigmas $15,000 after it tore down the Sigma cabin. As noted by Chief Justice ], Associate Justice to the Supreme Court ] is one of the group's most prominent members.<ref>Powell's inclusion in the Sigma Society is acknowledged by Chief Justice William Rehnquist: Rehnquist, William H "A tribute to Lewis F. Powell, Jr.". Washington and Lee Law Review. 01 Feb, 2011. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3655/is_199901/ai_n8829121/.</ref> | |||
| === Washington University in St. Louis === | |||
| The membership and organizational structure of the ] are largely unknown. Cadaver has been in continuous operation since its founding in 1957. The Cadavers have a bridge that bears their name, connecting the main campus to Wilson Field, as well as their symbol in many prominent places throughout the campus. The society has been criticized for their secrecy and many of their activities which include running around dressed in all black and masks late at night as well as drawing their symbol all over campus.<ref>http://media.www.thetrident.org/media/storage/paper467/news/2002/09/18/Opinion/Letters.To.The.Editor-276495-page3.shtml</ref> They have been known to run through the Sorority houses, talking in high voices and attempting to wake everyone in the houses up. | |||
| Three known secret societies operate at ]: ThurtenE, Lock & Chain, and Chimes. Instead of "secret societies", they are called Honoraries because of the public nature of their members and their purposes within the community. | |||
| ThurtenE was formed in 1904 as a secret society of junior men chosen for their leadership, character, and participation in campus activities. Not much is known about the founding of the group or its selection process from the early years other than the fact that only the members themselves knew who belonged to ThurtenE and membership varied from 4 to 14, before finally settling on a consistent 13. Members made themselves known at the end of their senior year during graduation by wearing a small skull pin and having the number “13” listed next to their names in Washington University's yearbook "The Hatchet". In recent years, the 13 new members are revealed when pieces of paper listing the names and the honorary symbol are posted around campus. ThurtenE found its purpose in 1935 when it was approached by the Chancellor to rescue the floundering student circus from the senior honorary, which had merged with another group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wupeopleshistory.weebly.com/resources-on-washursquos-original-secret-society-thurtene.html|title=Resources on WashU's Original Secret Society: Thurtene|website=A People's History of Washington University|access-date=2017-05-05|archive-date=2017-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425064141/http://wupeopleshistory.weebly.com/resources-on-washursquos-original-secret-society-thurtene.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1935, ThurtenE has held the ], which is the largest and oldest student-run Carnival in the nation. The society has been co-ed since 1991.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.studlife.com/scene/2017/04/20/challenging-an-institution/|title=Challenging an institution|work=Student Life|access-date=2017-05-05|archive-date=2017-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425105630/http://www.studlife.com/scene/2017/04/20/challenging-an-institution/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thurtene.org/|title=ThurtenE Carnival|website=ThurtenE|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-05|archive-date=2017-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402165242/http://www.thurtene.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| Lock & Chain was created in 1904 by six sophomore men. Since then, the honorary has expanded to 15 members from different backgrounds. Students are chosen during the spring from the freshman class based on academic merit, extracurricular involvement, leadership capabilities and roles, and personal qualities through an application and interview process. New members can be seen around campus wearing chains across their chests. Lock & Chain sponsors various events throughout the year and does community engagement and philanthropic programming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lockandchain.org/about|title=lockandchain|website=lockandchain|access-date=2017-05-05|archive-date=2019-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101118/https://www.lockandchain.org/about|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| Chapter of Chimes Junior Honorary, founded in 1948 as a women's group, is a group of juniors who share values of scholarship, leadership, and service. Each class works together for one year on programming for Wash U's campus, the internal Chapter, and the chosen partner philanthropy, with the freedom to follow their path for the year. Each member has a name assigned to them that represents an aspect of what they bring to the Honorary (such as intrepidity or flair). Their main campus program is Chimes Week, which explores a particular theme. Like ThurtenE, Chimes has been co-ed since 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chimes.wustl.edu/|title=Chimes Junior Honorary|website=chimes.wustl.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.studlife.com/scene/2017/04/20/challenging-an-institution/|title=Challenging an institution|work=Student Life|access-date=2017-05-13|archive-date=2017-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524164626/http://www.studlife.com/scene/2017/04/20/challenging-an-institution|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ===Yale University=== | ===Yale University=== | ||
| {{Main| |
{{Main|Yale University#Student organizations|l1 = }} | ||
| The term "Secret society" at ] encompasses organizations with many shared but not identical characteristics. The oldest surviving undergraduate secret societies at Yale parallel various 19th century fraternal organizations. | |||
| The term "secret society" at ] encompasses organizations with many shared but not identical characteristics. The oldest surviving undergraduate secret societies at Yale parallel various 19th-century fraternal organizations. In the traditional Yale system, societies were organized by class year.<ref>"Four Years at Yale", Lyman Hotchkiss Bagg, '69, (New Haven, Conn.: Charles Chatfield & Co.), 1871, pgs. 87–105.</ref> There were two, (then three), senior societies, three junior societies, two sophomore societies, and two freshman societies. All the societies were independent, all had their traditions, and each class-year pair or trio shared common traits appropriate to their class year; the freshmen societies were rambunctious and owned little real property, the sophomore and junior ones were progressively more elaborate, (the sophomore ones regularly maintained live theater in their halls), and the senior ones were extremely small and elite, and with quite expensive property and celebrations.{{citation needed|date = December 2024}} | |||
| Each of the societies had a link in the class year before and after it; that is, members of one freshman society would all get elected to the same sophomore society year after year, and so on so that there were two or three parallel sets of linked societies. From time to time, there would be a coup, and one society would break the pattern, forcing the other societies to likewise change election strategies, or cause the creation of a new society. ], a junior society that is now a national traditional fraternity, was created in reaction to a botched election process to the junior class societies in 1844.{{citation needed|date = December 2024}} | |||
| This process lasted from the 1840s to the 1910s. This system kept Yale out of the more typical intercollegiate college fraternity system, although some regular college fraternities were created out of the Yale system. Yale-type class societies also extended across northeastern colleges. This system has not survived the introduction of regular fraternities and other changes. The senior-class societies continue to prosper today without any of the lower-class societies.<ref>{{cite journal|year=2001|title=Tombs and Taps: An inside look at Yale's Fraternities, Sororities and Societies|journal=Light & Truth: The Yale Journal of Opinion and Investigative Reporting|volume=8|issue=1|url=http://www.yale.edu/lt/archives/v8n1/index.htm|access-date=2008-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020306142114/http://www.yale.edu/lt/archives/v8n1/index.htm|archive-date=2002-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Francis-Wright|first=Tim|year=2001|title=These are Charities? The Seamy Side of Yale's Most Exclusive Clubs|journal=Bear Left!|volume=1|url=http://www.bear-left.com/original/2001/0506yale.html|access-date=2008-05-09|archive-date=2008-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509055519/http://www.bear-left.com/original/2001/0506yale.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| In the past century, the size of Yale has allowed for a wider variety of student societies, including regular college fraternity chapters, and other models, so it can be challenging to categorize the organizations. There are societies like ] and ] which cross ordinary categories.{{citation needed|date = December 2024}} | |||
| There are typical attributes of the Yale societies. They are often restricted by class year, especially the senior class. They usually have fifteen members per class year. They "tap" their members, mostly on the same "Tap Night", and a member is off-limits to recruitment by another secret society, (i.e. reciprocal exclusivity). The normal pattern now is that a group of secret societies places an advertisement in the ''Yale Daily News'' in early spring that informs students when Tap Night is taking place and when students should expect to receive formal offers (usually one week before official Tap Night). Tap Night is typically held on a Thursday in mid-April; for the Class of 2024, Tap Night was April 20, 2023.{{citation needed|date = December 2024}} | |||
| In the traditional Yale system societies were organized by class year.<ref>"Four Years at Yale," Lyman Hotchkiss Bagg, ’69, (New Haven, Conn.: Charles Chatfield & Co.), 1871, pgs. 87 - 105.</ref> There were two, (then three), senior societies, three junior societies, two sophomore societies, and two freshman societies. All the societies were independent, all had their own traditions, and each class-year pair or trio shared common traits appropriate to their class year; the freshmen societies were rambunctious and owned little real property, the sophomore and junior ones were progressively more elaborate, (the sophomore ones regularly maintained live theater in their halls), and the senior ones were extremely small and elite, and with quite expensive property and celebrations. | |||
| ] | |||
| During 1854–1956, the ] was the sciences and engineering college of Yale University, and it also had a fraternal culture that differed in some respects from the humanities campus.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/popup/landmarks/22.html |title=Yale's Lost Landmarks |journal=Yale Alumni Magazine |last=Branch |first=Mark Alden |date=March 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227153048/http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/popup/landmarks/22.html |archive-date=2007-02-27 }}</ref> Many societies have owned meeting halls, with different accommodations. Following the example of Skull & Bones, the halls are often referred to as tombs. A series of articles on Dartmouth and Yale secret-society architecture provides an overview of the buildings.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Branch|first=Mark Alden|year=2001|title=Yale's Lost Landmarks: Delta Kappa Epsilon "Tomb", 1861-1927|journal=Yale Alumni Magazine|url=http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/popup/landmarks/11.html|access-date=2008-05-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420045846/http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/popup/landmarks/11.html|archive-date=2008-04-20}}</ref> Societies that own tombs or halls are sometimes known as "landed' societies. | |||
| Each of the societies had a link to a society in the class year before it and after it; that is, members of one freshman society would all get elected to the same sophomore society year after year, and so on, so that there were two or three parallel sets of linked societies. From time to time, there would be a coup, and one society would break the pattern, forcing the other societies to likewise change election strategies, or cause the creation of a new society. ], a junior society, was created in reaction to a botched election process to the junior class societies in 1844. | |||
| The five oldest landed societies are ] (1832); ] (1841); ] (1864); ] (1867), which calls itself a "final society";<ref name="finalsociety">{{cite journal|url=http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/groups.html |title=An Irrepressible Urge to Join |journal=Yale Alumni Magazine |date=March 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709064237/http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/groups.html |archive-date=2011-07-09 }}</ref> and ] (1883). The surviving landed Sheffield societies are ] (1848), ] (1863), ] (1889), and the ] (1910). Three newer societies that own property include ] (1903), ] (1952), and ] (1956). Yale's Buildings and Grounds Department lists the societies with halls in its online architectural database.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facilities.yale.edu/Campus/Buildings.asp |title=Buildings and Grounds |publisher=Yale University Office of Facilities |access-date=2008-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514203430/http://www.facilities.yale.edu/Campus/Buildings.asp |archive-date=May 14, 2008 }}</ref> | |||
| This process held from the 1840s to the 1910s. This system kept Yale out of the more typical intercollegiate college fraternity system, although some regular college fraternities were created out of the Yale system. Yale-type class societies also extended across northeastern colleges. | |||
| ==List of North American collegiate secret societies== | |||
| {| class="wikitable" | |||
| <!-- Please help keep this list sorted appropriately by the title of organization--> | |||
| <!-- This list is limited to societies with a) their own Misplaced Pages articles, or b) independent third-party citation links. Editors are invited to add to this list as long as they can provide adequate verifiable citations. --> | |||
| {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; | |||
| ! Name | |||
| ! Charter date and | |||
| Range | |||
| ! Founding institution | |||
| ! State or province | |||
| ! Membership | |||
| ! Reference | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| ! Class year<ref>http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/YHO/ExtracurricularandSocialOrganizations.pdf</ref> | |||
| |1836 | |||
| ! Society | |||
| |] | |||
| ! years | |||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |All male | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1998 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1833–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| |<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Viccellio |first=Robert |title=Wrapped in Mystery: A guide to secret—and not-so-secret—student organizations at UVA |url=https://uvamagazine.org/articles/wrapped_in_mystery |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Virginia Magazine |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208172039/https://uvamagazine.org/articles/wrapped_in_mystery |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1996 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1841–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206122016/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~orl/greek-soc/societies/senior.html |date=2007-02-06 }}. Retrieved 2008-05-16.</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1908 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1863–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}} | |||
| |Junior and seniors | |||
| |<ref name=":7" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1907 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1883–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |All male | |||
| |<ref name=":8" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1910 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1889–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name=":5"> | |||
| {{Cite web |last=Havemeyer |first=Loomis |author-link=Loomis Havemeyer |date=January 1961 |title=Yale's Extracurricular & Social Organizations: 1780-1960 |url=https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=yale_history_pubs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318223940/http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/YHO/ExtracurricularandSocialOrganizations.pdf |archive-date=March 18, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1848 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1903–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1812 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1910–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1923 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1916–1960s, 1990s-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name="Bisonhead2">{{cite web |title=Bisonhead at UB |url=http://bisonhead.org |access-date=23 February 2013}}{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1863 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1952–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1768–1878, 2021 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1956-1960s, 1990s-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |Four Year | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1993 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1980-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Florida}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1957 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1990s-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1819–1853, 1950 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1990s-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |Four year | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1900 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1947-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Jersey}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1886 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 2000s-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1982 | |||
| | ]<ref name="YaleHerald"> March 30, 2012</ref> | |||
| |] | |||
| | 2000s-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Alabama}} | |||
| |Senior women | |||
| |<ref name="diglib.auburn.edu">{{Cite web |title=Auburn University Sesquicentennial Lecture Series - Auburn University: A Photographic History |url=http://diglib.auburn.edu/150th/series/photographic_history.htm |access-date=2021-02-06 |website=diglib.auburn.edu |archive-date=2020-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204065916/http://diglib.auburn.edu/150th/series/photographic_history.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior | |||
| |1900 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 2000s-present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |Coeducational | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-05-17 |title=Longwood Magazine Winter 2001 |url=http://www.longwood.edu/longwood/Winter01/oncampus2.html |access-date=2023-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030517164438/http://www.longwood.edu/longwood/Winter01/oncampus2.html |archive-date=2003-05-17 }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Senior & Graduate | |||
| |1914 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1753–1872, 1945–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Junior | |||
| |1806 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1836–1873, 1888–1935, 1990–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|South Carolina}} | |||
| |Coeducational | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Junior | |||
| |1978 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1839–1934, 2004–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |Senior women | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Junior | |||
| |1916 | |||
| | ] | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1844–1935, 1982–present | |||
| |{{Flagu|Nevada}} | |||
| |All male | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandbox |first=Reynolds |date=2021-04-02 |title=Coffin and Keys: A Secret Society "Solely for the Betterment" of UNR, or something more Unsettling? |url=https://medium.com/the-reynolds-media-lab/coffin-and-keys-a-secret-society-solely-for-the-betterment-of-unr-or-something-more-unsettling-984375fb880a |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The Reynolds Sandbox |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Sophomore | |||
| |1979 | |||
| | Kappa Sigma Theta | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1838–1857 | |||
| |{{Flagu|Ohio}} | |||
| |All female | |||
| |<ref name="CWEST2">{{cite web |title=CWEST Alumni Network: Cincinnati Women in Excellence and Spirit Together |url=https://www.alumni.uc.edu/cwest |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=Cincinnati Alumni Association |archive-date=2018-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203000020/https://www.alumni.uc.edu/cwest |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Sophomore | |||
| |1898 | |||
| | Alpha Sigma Phi | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1846–1864 | |||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |All male | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Sophomore | |||
| |1896 | |||
| | Phi Theta Psi | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1864 - ? | |||
| |{{Flagu|Illinois}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref>{{cite web |date=15 February 2011 |title=Inside Focus: Deru |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2011/02/15/campus/campusarchived/in-focus-inside-deru/ |access-date=November 8, 2021 |website=The Daily Northwestern |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108060933/https://dailynorthwestern.com/2011/02/15/campus/campusarchived/in-focus-inside-deru/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Sophomore | |||
| |1951 | |||
| | Delta Beta Xi | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1864–1875 | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Freshman | |||
| |1950 | |||
| | Kappa Sigma Epsilon | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1840–1880 | |||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |Upperclassmen | |||
| |<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hammond |first1=Karen T. |title=From Vision to Excellence: A Popular History of Binghamton University |date=Feb 1996 |publisher=The Donning Company/Publishers |isbn=978-0898659603 |location=Virginia Beach, VA |page=55 |chapter=Harpur College: Setting the Standard}}<!--|access-date=2015-04-19--></ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Freshman | |||
| |1898 | |||
| | Delta Kappa | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1845–1880 | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |Senior men | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Freshman | |||
| |1878 | |||
| | Sigma Delta | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1849–1860 | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| | Freshman | |||
| |1903 | |||
| | Gamma Nu | |||
| |] | |||
| | 1860 - ? | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| This system has not survived the introduction of regular fraternities and other changes. The senior class societies continue prosper today without any of the lower class societies. A similar system was introduced at ] in nearby ], but with a pair of societies in each class year and dual memberships between class societies and college fraternities, so that most class society members were also fraternity members. The older societies survived because of their endowments, real estate, and the vigor of their respective alumni organizations and their charitable Trusts.<ref>{{cite journal|year=2001|title=Tombs and Taps: An inside look at Yale's Fraternities, Sororities and Societies|journal=Light & Truth: the Yale Journal of Opinion and Investigative Reporting|volume=8|issue=1|url=http://www.yale.edu/lt/archives/v8n1/index.htm|accessdate=2008-05-09|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20020306142114/http://www.yale.edu/lt/archives/v8n1/index.htm|archivedate=2002-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Francis-Wright|first=Tim|year=2001|title=These are Charities? The Seamy Side of Yale's Most Exclusive Clubs|journal=Bear Left!|volume=1|url=http://www.bear-left.com/original/2001/0506yale.html|accessdate=2008-05-09}}</ref> | |||
| In the past century, the size of Yale has allowed for a wider variety of student societies, including regular college fraternity chapters, and other models, so that it can be difficult to categorize the organizations. And there are societies like Sage and Chalice and St. Anthony Hall which cross ordinary categories. | |||
| There are typical attributes of the Yale societies. They are often restricted by class year, especially the senior class. They usually have fifteen members per class year. They "tap" their members, mostly on the same "Tap Night," and a member is off-limits to recruitment by another secret society, (i.e. reciprocal exclusivity) The normal pattern now is that a group of secret societies places an advertisement in the ''Yale Daily News'' in early spring that informs students when Tap Night is taking place and when students should expect to receive formal offers (usually 1 week before official Tap Night). Tap Night is typically held on a Thursday in mid April; the most recently held Tap Night was April 10, 2014. | |||
| From 1854-1956, "'Sheff'," the ] was the sciences and engineering college of Yale University, and it also had a fraternal culture that differed in some respects from the humanities campus.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/popup/landmarks/22.html |title=Yale's Lost Landmarks |journal=Yale Alumni Magazine |last=Branch |first=Mark Alden |date=March 2001}}</ref> ] | |||
| Many societies have owned meeting halls, with different accommodations. Following the example of Skull & Bones, the halls are often referred to as 'tombs'. A series of articles on Dartmouth and Yale secret society architecture provides an overview of the buildings.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Branch|first=Mark Alden|year=2001|title=Yale's Lost Landmarks: Delta Kappa Epsilon "Tomb," 1861-1927|journal=Yale Alumni Magazine |url=http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/popup/landmarks/11.html|accessdate=2008-05-09}}</ref> Societies that own tombs or halls are sometimes known as 'landed' societies. The three oldest landed societies are ] (1832), ], (1841) and ], (1883). The surviving landed Sheffield societies are ] (1848) and ] (1863), ] (1889), and the ] (1910). ] (1867) calls itself a "final society".<ref name="finalsociety">{{cite journal |url=http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/01_03/groups.html |title=An Irrepressible Urge to Join |journal=Yale Alumni Magazine |date=March 2001}}</ref> Three newer societies that own property include ] (1903) – whose building is the oldest of the senior society buildings at Yale – ] (1952), and ] (1956). Yale's Buildings and Grounds Department lists the societies with halls in its online architectural database.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facilities.yale.edu/Campus/Buildings.asp|title=Buildings and Grounds|publisher=Yale University Office of Facilities|accessdate=2008-05-09}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> | |||
| There may be any number of unknown or underground secret societies at Yale. Any group of students may self-constitute themselves as a society at any time. Certainly there have been many which did not last long enough to leave any significant records. Indeed, the ''Yale Rumpus'' has in recent years published names of students it believes are in various secret societies.<ref>http://www.yalerumpus.com</ref> According to the Rumpus, in addition to the secret societies listed in this Misplaced Pages page, numerous other societies (such as Cup and Crown,<ref name=YaleHerald /> Phoenix ("Cage and Feather"), Nathan Hale, WIPS, L&C, Looking Glass, Spade and Grave, Boar and Rampant, Ox, Truth and Courage, ], Llama and Cardigan, Red Mask, Crab and Bell, Ceres Athena, Gryphon, Fork and Knife, Ink and Needle, etc.) are either active or have been active recently. They typically meet in off campus apartments, fraternity common rooms, classrooms, and other available spaces. Some groups have enough resources to rent a permanent meeting space. Given the extracurricular zeal and competition for society spots evident in the Yale student body culture, a definitive list of secret societies that exist on the campus (or on any campus) can change year by year. | |||
| ==List of notable North American collegiate secret societies== | |||
| <!-- Please help keep this list sorted appropriately.--> | |||
| {| class="sortable wikitable" | |||
| |+ This list is limited to societies with a) their own Misplaced Pages articles, or b) with independent third-party citation links. Editors are invited to add to this list as long as they can provide adequate verifiable citations. The list is not exhaustive; many known societies are not included because they currently lack verifiable citations. | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| !Name!!Year!!College or University!!Location!!Member Limit | |||
| |1858 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Ontario}} | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1832 | |||
| |1924 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |All male | |||
| |N/A | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1750 | |||
| |1824 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Upperclassmen | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1975 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |Seniors | |Seniors | ||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1923 | |||
| |1905 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Florida}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Upperclassmen | |||
| |''Senior men'' | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Key membership controlled by powerful few |url=https://www.alligator.org/article/2012/04/blue-key-membership-controlled-by-powerful-few |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Independent Florida Alligator |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104041455/https://www.alligator.org/article/2012/04/blue-key-membership-controlled-by-powerful-few |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1836 | |||
| |1916 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |All male | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1899 | |||
| |20th c. | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Pennsylvania}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |<ref name="upenn-friars2">{{cite web |title=Friars Senior Society of the University of Pennsylvania (Home Page) |url=http://www.friarsseniorsociety.com/ |access-date=2008-05-30 |archive-date=2008-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604105724/http://www.friarsseniorsociety.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1908 | |||
| |20th c. | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Georgia (U.S. state)|variant=|name=Georgia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
| | ||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1995 | |||
| |1890 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1893 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |- | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/> | |||
| |1886 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior men'' | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/><ref name="caskgauntlet">{{cite web |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/Library_Bulletin/Apr2000/Good.html |title="King Arthur made new knights": The Founding of Casque & Gauntlet |last=Good |first=Jonathan |work=Dartmouth Library Bulletin |date=April 2000}}</ref> | |||
| |1912 | |||
| |1887 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|California}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Law School | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="The Gun Club2">{{cite journal |last=Peter |first=Kessler |year=2005 |title=Eris Quod Sum, Ergo Bibamus |url=http://www.law.berkeley.edu/alumni/transcript/fall_05/thennow.html |url-status=dead |journal=Boalt Hall Transcript |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515201931/http://www.law.berkeley.edu/alumni/transcript/fall_05/thennow.html |archive-date=2006-05-15}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/> | |||
| |1902 | |||
| |? | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/> | |||
| |1910 | |||
| |1898 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Indiana}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior men'' | |||
| |<ref>{{cite web |title=About Iron Key |url=https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ironkey/aboutironkey.php |access-date=June 21, 2019 |website=The Order of Iron Key |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115235103/http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ironkey/aboutironkey.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/> | |||
| |1902 | |||
| |1975 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Wisconsin}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Junior and seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Iron Cross Society of the University of Wisconsin - Madison |url=https://apps.union.wisc.edu/ironcross/index.html |access-date=2019-11-20 |website=apps.union.wisc.edu}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist>. Retrieved 2008-05-16.</ref> | |||
| |1911–197x ?, 1985 | |||
| |? | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Minnesota}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Junior and seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref>''Minnesota Gopher'' Yearbook, 1925, p.507. Decades later, the ''Minnesota Gopher'' Yearbook of 1959 mentions the "twilight tapping ceremony on the steps of Northrop," and the role of the Iron Wedge in ushering at the President's Reception each year, p.347</ref>{{Efn|Was originally an honor society but is now a secret society.}} | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/> | |||
| |1914 | |||
| |? | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Alabama}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
|Senior | ||
| |<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED476569.pdf#page=243 |title=The Tides of Tradition: Culture and Reform at the University of Alabama |publisher=Alabama Univ., Birmingham. |year=2003 |pages=18 |access-date=2017-08-19 |archive-date=2021-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307220258/https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED476569.pdf#page=243 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/> | |||
| |2000 | |||
| |? | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = Dartlist/> | |||
| |2007 | |||
| |1979 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior women'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1753–1872, 2008 | |||
| |1896 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors and graduate students | |||
| |''Senior men'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1908 | |||
| |1998 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Pennsylvania}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
|Seniors | ||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lion's Paw Senior Society |url=http://www.lionspaw.org/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=The Lion's Paw Senior Society |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307200642/http://www.lionspaw.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1920 | |||
| |1948 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Oklahoma}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Engineering students | |||
| |"Senior Men" | |||
| |<ref name="Old Trusty2">{{cite web |title=OU College of Engineering at a Glance |url=http://catalog.ou.edu/current/Engineering.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081124221030/http://catalog.ou.edu/current/Engineering.htm |archive-date=2008-11-24 |access-date=2008-12-08}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1907 | |||
| |2003 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Missouri}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Senior women | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |<ref>{{cite web |title=Honors Societies |url=http://religiousstudies.missouri.edu/programscourses/undergradhonorsocieties.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518172203/http://religiousstudies.missouri.edu/programscourses/undergradhonorsocieties.html |archive-date=2008-05-18 |access-date=2008-05-10 |publisher=University of Missouri–Columbia Department of Religious Studies}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1912 | |||
| |1993 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Illinois}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="ma-wan-da2">{{cite web |title=Ma-Wan-Da Home |url=https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/Ma-Wan-DaSeniorHonorary/home.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426012021/https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/Ma-Wan-DaSeniorHonorary/home.html |archive-date=2011-04-26 |access-date=2008-05-09}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="100 Years and Still Professing a Will to Serve">{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-264200.html |title=100 Years and Still Professing a Will to Serve |publisher=Washington Post |date=May 19, 2003 |last=Pressley |first=Sue Anne}}</ref><ref name="Alumni Donation">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/16858/alumni-donation |title=Manuel Miranda is always ready to lend Georgetown University conservatives a helping right hand |publisher=Washington City Paper |date=March 5, 1999 |last=Sinderbrand |first=Rebecca}}</ref><ref name="Miranda's Plight">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0704.TMS.html |title=Miranda's Plight |publisher=Washington Monthly |date=April 2007 |last=Sinderbrand |first=Rebecca}}</ref> | |||
| |1956-1960s, 1990s | |||
| |1903 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Junior and Senior men'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1952 | |||
| |1908 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Junior and Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref>http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/0906web/traditio.html</ref> | |||
| |1892 | |||
| |1896 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Men'' | |||
| |<ref name="Trinity College in the Twentieth Century2">. Retrieved 2013-04-10.</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref></ref> | |||
| |1946 | |||
| |1900 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Ohio}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
|Men | ||
| |<ref name="Men of METRO2">. Retrieved 2009-04-14.</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1958 | |||
| |1940 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|California}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
| | ||
| |<ref name="Traditions of Pomona College Mufti Pomona"/><ref name="Traditions of Pomona College Mufti Origins"/><ref name="Traditions of Pomona College Mufti hidden"/> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1917 | |||
| |1900 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="Myskania Records2">{{Cite web |title=Myskania Records, 1915-1984 - M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives |url=https://archives.albany.edu/description/catalog/ua800-001 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=archives.albany.edu |archive-date=2023-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206204816/https://archives.albany.edu/description/catalog/ua800-001 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1907 | |||
| |1909 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Missouri}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = "Trinity College in the Twentieth Century">. Retrieved 2013-4-10.</ref> | |||
| |1867 | |||
| |1840 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |N/A | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1908–1965, 1990s | |||
| |1914 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Fraternity & sorority leaders'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = society-of-thoth>. Retrieved 2012-11-27.</ref> | |||
| |1898 | |||
| |1926 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |N/A | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="berkeley-goldenbear">{{cite journal |url=http://www.berkeley.edu/news/magazine/summer_99/feature_bear.html |title=Order of the Golden Bear |journal=Berkeley Magazine |date=Summer 1999 |last=Frost |first=Jacqueline}}</ref> | |||
| |1924 | |||
| |1900 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Texas}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="berkeley-torchshield">{{cite journal |url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC19080224.2.60.5 |title=Torch and Shield New Coed Society: University Women Form Club Rivaling Golden Bear of Men Students |journal=San Francisco Call |date=Feb 23, 1908 }}</ref><ref name="berkeley-torchshield2"></ref> | |||
| |1960 | |||
| |1908 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|North Carolina}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior women'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="berkeley-goldenrose">{{cite journal |title=Revival of the 'Society of the Golden Rose'? |last=Brownstein |first=Sandra}}</ref> | |||
| |2005 | |||
| |1942 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
|Juniors and seniors | ||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="The Gun Club">{{cite journal |url=http://www.law.berkeley.edu/alumni/transcript/fall_05/thennow.html|title=Eris Quod Sum, Ergo Bibamus |journal=Boalt Hall Transcript |year=2005 |last=Peter|first=Kessler}}</ref> | |||
| |1902 | |||
| |1912 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Michigan}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Law School'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = "Sigma Sigma">. Retrieved 2009-04-13.</ref> | |||
| |1889 | |||
| |1898 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|North Carolina}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Junior and Senior men'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = "Cincinnatus">. Retrieved 2013-01-13.</ref> | |||
| |2006 | |||
| |1917 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |McIntire School of Commerce students | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name = "Men of METRO">. Retrieved 2009-04-14.</ref> | |||
| |1916 | |||
| |1946 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Pennsylvania}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Men'' | |||
| |<ref>{{cite news |last=Kingkade |first=Tyler |date=April 18, 2013 |title=Pitt News Fires Editor For Secret Society Conflict Of Interest |newspaper=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/pitt-news-secret-society-druids_n_3109779.html |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525204110/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/pitt-news-secret-society-druids_n_3109779.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1904 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|North Carolina}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order of the Golden Fleece of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1904-2019 |url=http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40160.html |access-date=2008-12-31 |archive-date=2008-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105184748/http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40160.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Torrye |date=2 July 2008 |title=Golden service brought to light; Order played a historic role at UNC |work=] |url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/2.1383/1.191882 |access-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720091431/http://www.dailytarheel.com/2.1383/golden-service-brought-to-light-1.191882 |archive-date=20 July 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1920 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|North Carolina}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order of the Grail-Valkyries of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1920-2007 |url=https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/40161/ |access-date=2020-07-06 |website=finding-aids.lib.unc.edu |archive-date=2020-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706173749/https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/40161/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1955 | |1955 | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
|Fraternity men | ||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |2003 | |||
| |1908 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Florida}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
|— | ||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="ma-wan-da">{{cite web |url=https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/Ma-Wan-DaSeniorHonorary/home.html |title=Ma-Wan-Da Home |accessdate=2008-05-09}}</ref> | |||
| |1996 | |||
| |1912 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|District of Columbia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |— | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Student Life Awards {{!}} Office of Student Life {{!}} Division for Student Affairs {{!}} The George Washington University |url=https://studentlife.gwu.edu/student-life-awards |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Office of Student Life {{!}} Division for Student Affairs |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="me-seniorskull">{{cite web |url=http://www.mainealumni.com/Skulls/History.html |title=Senior Skull Honor Society |work=University of Maine Alumni Association |accessdate=2008-05-30}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> | |||
| |1904-1969 | |||
| |1906 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior Men'' | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Osiris (Society: Massachusetts Institute of Technology) {{!}} MIT ArchivesSpace |url=https://archivesspace.mit.edu/agents/corporate_entities/1197 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=archivesspace.mit.edu |archive-date=2023-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605235032/https://archivesspace.mit.edu/agents/corporate_entities/1197 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1896 | |||
| |2006 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |All male | |||
| |''Fraternities'' | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1980 | |||
| |1926 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|California}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Juniors | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1887 | |||
| |1902 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1998 | |||
| |1897 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Juniors and seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://religiousstudies.missouri.edu/programscourses/undergradhonorsocieties.html|title=Honors Societies|publisher=University of Missouri–Columbia Department of Religious Studies|accessdate=2008-05-10 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080518172203/http://religiousstudies.missouri.edu/programscourses/undergradhonorsocieties.html |archivedate = 2008-05-18}}</ref> | |||
| |1907 | |1907 | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Pennsylvania}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior women'' | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parmi Nous - Honor & Tradition |url=https://www.parminous.org/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Parmi Nous - Honor & Tradition |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206204813/https://www.parminous.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |''Phoenix'' | |||
| |] | |||
| |1806–1807 | |||
| |1907 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":223">Havemeyer, Loomis. (January 1961) '''' Yale University. p. 6. via ElisScholar. Accessed October 21, 2024.</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1902 | |||
| |1903 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |All male | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1982 | |||
| |? (May 1938 or earlier) | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Senior women | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |2005 | |||
| |1889 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref>http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40160.html</ref><ref>http://www.dailytarheel.com/2.1383/1.191882</ref> | |||
| |1791 | |||
| |1904 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |All male | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref>http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/uars/ead/40161.html</ref> | |||
| |1992 | |||
| |1920 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Coeducational | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |last=University |first=Longwood |title=Princeps |url=http://www.longwood.edu/lancer-life/traditions/princeps/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.longwood.edu |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206170547/http://www.longwood.edu/lancer-life/traditions/princeps/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="Old Trusty">{{cite web |url=http://catalog.ou.edu/current/Engineering.htm |title=OU College of Engineering at a Glance |accessdate=2008-12-08}}</ref> | |||
| |{{Circa|1967}} | |||
| |1920 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Engineering students'' | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |Bisonhead<ref name=Bisonhead>{{cite web|title=Bisonhead at UB|url=http://bisonhead.org|accessdate=23 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| |1884 | |||
| |1923 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="upenn-sphinx">{{cite web |url=http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pharisee/ |title=Sphinx Senior Society of the University of Pennsylvania |accessdate=2008-07-02 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080524135411/http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pharisee/ |archivedate = 2008-05-24}}</ref> | |||
| |1897 | |||
| |1900 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Missouri}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="upenn-friars">{{cite web |url=http://www.friarsseniorsociety.com |title=Friars Senior Society of the University of Pennsylvania (Home Page) |accessdate=2008-05-30}}</ref> | |||
| |1903 | |||
| |1901 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|South Carolina}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |4 junior and 4 senior men | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref>{{cite web |title=Quaternion Club Members |url=http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/furman/quaternion.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818221133/http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/furman/quaternion.htm |archive-date=2016-08-18 |access-date=2016-07-18 |website=library.furman.edu}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="upenn-mortarboard">{{cite web |url=http://www.pennmb.com/ |title=Mortar Board Senior Society of the University of Pennsylvania |accessdate=2009-11-25}}</ref> | |||
| |1898 | |||
| |1922 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors, coeducational | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Circa|1981}} | |||
| |1922 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
| | ||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/pitt-news-secret-society-druids_n_3109779.html|title=Pitt News Fires Editor For Secret Society Conflict Of Interest|newspaper=The Huffington Post |first=Tyler|last=Kingkade|date=April 18, 2013|accessdate=September 7, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| |1893 | |||
| |1916 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Ohio}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Undergraduate and graduate students | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=History, Rutherford B. Hayes Society |url=https://rutherfordbhayesso.wixsite.com/hayes-society/history |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Hayes Society |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://rutherfordbhayesso.wixsite.com/hayes-society/frequently-asked-questions |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Hayes Society |language=en |archive-date=2024-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514165916/https://rutherfordbhayesso.wixsite.com/hayes-society/frequently-asked-questions |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref></ref> | |||
| |1915 | |||
| |2013 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|New York}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |N/A | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref>http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/printarticle.php?articleid=30753</ref> | |||
| |1899 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1915 | |1915 | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Tennessee}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
| | ||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beacon |first=The Daily |title=utdailybeacon.com {{!}} The editorially independent student newspaper at the University of Tennessee, since 1906. |url=http://www.utdailybeacon.com/ |access-date=2020-07-06 |website=The Daily Beacon |language=en |archive-date=2015-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507123019/http://utdailybeacon.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref>https://twitter.com/The_EyesofTexas</ref> | |||
| |1992 | |||
| |1975 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Ohio}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
| | ||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hallow |first1=Lauren |last2=Shambaugh |first2=Jessica |date=2011-03-29 |title=OSU's secret order unearthed |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2011/03/osus-secret-order-unearthed/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=The Lantern |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514165914/https://www.thelantern.com/2011/03/osus-secret-order-unearthed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1842 | |||
| |1858 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1878 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1889 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1892 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1902 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1905 | |1905 | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
| | ||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1905 | |||
| |1963 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Senior men | |||
| |N/A | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1996 | |||
| |1967 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors and graduate students | |||
| |N/A | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |2009 | |||
| |1902 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Illinois}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Writers | |||
| |''Junior and Senior'' | |||
| |<ref>{{cite web |title=Sherman Ave |url=http://shermanave.org/about-us |access-date=November 11, 2021 |website=Sherman Ave |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111080951/http://shermanave.org/about-us |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1996 | |||
| |1957 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Ohio}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Women | |||
| |N/A | |||
| |<ref name="Sigma Phi">{{cite web |title=Inactive - Sigma Phi Alumnae Council |url=https://www.alumni.uc.edu/sigma-phi |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=Cincinnati Alumni Association |archive-date=2018-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202201204/https://www.alumni.uc.edu/sigma-phi |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1880 | |1880 | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | |
| | ||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1911 | |||
| |1867 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Massachusetts}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="wpi-skull2">{{cite web |title=The Skull (Home Page) |url=http://users.wpi.edu/~skull |access-date=2008-05-30 |archive-date=2008-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523232937/http://users.wpi.edu/~skull/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wpi-skulltomb2">{{cite web |title=Virtual Tour: Skull Tomb |url=http://www.wpi.edu/About/Tour/skull.html |access-date=2008-05-30 |work=WPI Virtual Tour |archive-date=2008-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430125043/http://www.wpi.edu/About/Tour/skull.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1832 | |||
| |1870 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Sophomore'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1912 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Pennsylvania}} | |||
| |Juniors and seniors | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skull and Bones Senior HAT Society |url=http://www.skullandbones.org/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Skull and Bones Senior HAT Society |language=en |archive-date=2018-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829082700/http://www.skullandbones.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="skullsofseven">{{cite web |url=http://www2.westminster-mo.edu/current_students/student_life/skulls_of_7/index.asp |title=Skulls of Seven Home |work=Student Life, Westminster College |accessdate=2008-07-09}}</ref> | |||
| |1892 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|California}} | |||
| |Men | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1898 | |1898 | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Missouri}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="skullsofseven2">{{cite web |title=Skulls of Seven Home |url=http://www2.westminster-mo.edu/current_students/student_life/skulls_of_7/index.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201095953/http://www2.westminster-mo.edu/current_students/student_life/skulls_of_7/index.asp |archive-date=2009-02-01 |access-date=2008-07-09 |work=Student Life, Westminster College}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1824 | |||
| |1867 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Rhode Island}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |]<ref name="wpi-skull">{{cite web |url=http://users.wpi.edu/~skull |title=The Skull (Home Page) |accessdate=2008-05-30}}</ref><ref name="wpi-skulltomb">{{cite web |url=http://www.wpi.edu/About/Tour/skull.html |title=Virtual Tour: Skull Tomb |work=WPI Virtual Tour |accessdate=2008-05-30}}</ref> | |||
| |1942 | |||
| |1911 | |||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|California}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Junior and senior women | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="berkeley-goldenrose2">{{cite journal |last=Brownstein |first=Sandra |title=Revival of the 'Society of the Golden Rose'?}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1963 | |||
| |1832 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1926 | |||
| |1842 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|British Columbia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="society-of-thoth2"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430182016/http://cnrs.ubc.ca/reminiscences-well-rounded-man-1926-31-malcolm-f-mcgregor|date=2012-04-30}}. Retrieved 2012-11-27.</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |2003 | |||
| |1848 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1864–1871, 1951 | |||
| |1753 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior & Graduate'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1915 | |||
| |1863 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Alabama}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="diglib.auburn.edu" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1885 | |||
| |1883 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| | |
|{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | ||
| | |
|Senior men | ||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1890 | |||
| |1899 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| | |
|{{Flagu|New York}} | ||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |||
| |] | |||
| |1900 | |||
| |? | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Pennsylvania}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name="upenn-sphinx2">{{cite web |title=Sphinx Senior Society of the University of Pennsylvania |url=http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pharisee/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524135411/http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pharisee/ |archive-date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2008-07-02}}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |''Star and Dart'' | |||
| |] | |||
| |1843–1851 | |||
| |1903 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":223" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1823 | |||
| |1910 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|District of Columbia}} | |||
| |Sophomores, juniors, and seniors | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secret Society of the Stewards, The Georgetown Academy |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/126527224/Secret-Society-of-the-Stewards-The-Georgetown-Academy |access-date=2020-06-23 |website=Scribd |language=en |archive-date=2021-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001052333/https://www.scribd.com/doc/126527224/Secret-Society-of-the-Stewards-The-Georgetown-Academy |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Honoring Don Casper - The Hoya">{{Cite web |date=2012-11-15 |title=Honoring Don Casper - The Hoya |url=http://www.thehoya.com/honoring-don-casper-1.2659782 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115211356/http://www.thehoya.com/honoring-don-casper-1.2659782 |archive-date=2012-11-15 |access-date=2020-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-06 |title=VIEWPOINT: Speaking for the Second Stewards Society |url=https://thehoya.com/viewpoint-speaking-for-the-second-stewards-society/ |access-date=2020-06-23 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408073648/https://thehoya.com/viewpoint-speaking-for-the-second-stewards-society/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| |''Sword and Crown'' | |||
| |1844–1846 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":223" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1889 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1925 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagicon|Texas}} Texas | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1889 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1970s | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1928–2017 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|South Carolina}} | |||
| | | |||
| |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Mollie R. |date=June 17, 2019 |title=A secretive 90-year-old fraternity is among groups suspended from Clemson's campus |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/06/17/clemson-university-secret-tiger-brotherhood-could-return-suspension/1257567001/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The Greenville News |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629135514/https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/06/17/clemson-university-secret-tiger-brotherhood-could-return-suspension/1257567001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1908 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|California}} | |||
| |Senior women | |||
| |<ref name="berkeley-torchshield3">{{cite journal |date=Feb 23, 1908 |title=Torch and Shield New Coed Society: University Women Form Club Rivaling Golden Bear of Men Students |url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC19080224.2.60.5 |journal=San Francisco Call |access-date=September 25, 2013 |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928004424/http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC19080224.2.60.5 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="berkeley-torchshield22">{{Cite web |title=Room One: A Class of Their Own |url=https://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/womenatcal/room_01_inside.html |website=bancroft.berkeley.edu |access-date=2021-08-17 |archive-date=2021-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817131229/https://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/womenatcal/room_01_inside.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1916–1960s, 1995 | |||
| |1916 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1933 | |||
| |1952 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|North Carolina}} | |||
| |] | |||
| | | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |] | |] | ||
| |1999 | |||
| |1956 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1892 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|New Hampshire}} | |||
| |Senior men | |||
| |<ref name="Dartlist2" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1883 | |||
| |] | |] | ||
| |{{Flagu|Connecticut}} | |||
| |] | |||
| |Seniors | |||
| |''Senior'' | |||
| |<ref name=":5" /> | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1832 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| |- | |||
| |] | |||
| |1892 | |||
| |] | |||
| |{{Flagu|Virginia}} | |||
| | | |||
| |<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| |} | |} | ||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{notelist}}{{reflist|group=note}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|30em}} | |||
| ==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
| Line 920: | Line 1,250: | ||
| | year = 2004 | | year = 2004 | ||
| | title = Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities | | title = Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities | ||
| | url = https://archive.org/details/pledgedsecretlif00robb | |||
| | url-access = registration | |||
| | publisher = Hyperion | | publisher = Hyperion | ||
| | location = New York, NY | | location = New York, NY | ||
| Line 934: | Line 1,266: | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| == |
==Further reading== | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * {{Cite book |last=Sutton |first=Antony C. |url=https://archive.org/details/pdfy-2cmFoB22NG1pZnWL/mode/2up |title=America's Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones |publisher=Trine Day |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-9720207-0-1 |author-link=Antony C. Sutton}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| * {{Cite book |last=Robbins |first=Alexandra |title=Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones, the Ivy League, and the Hidden Paths of Power |publisher=] |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-316-73561-2 |author-link=Alexandra Robbins}} | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| * {{Cite book |title=Fleshing Out Skull & Bones: Investigations into America's Most Powerful Secret Society |publisher=Trine Day |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-9752906-0-6 |editor-last=Millegan |editor-first=Kris}} | |||
| {{clear}} | |||
| * {{Cite book |last=Richards |first=David Alan |title=Skulls and Keys: The Hidden History of Yale's Secret Societies |publisher=Pegasus Books |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-68177-517-3}} | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * , ''Yale Alumni Magazine'' (September 2004) | * , ''Yale Alumni Magazine'' (September 2004) | ||
| * | * | ||
| * A late 19th |
* A late 19th-century contemporary account of fraternal societies at two Connecticut Universities: Yale & Wesleyan (courtesy of Google Books) | ||
| * | * | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:51, 22 December 2024
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There are many collegiate secret societies in North America. They vary greatly in their level of secrecy and the degree of independence from their universities. A collegiate secret society makes a significant effort to keep affairs, membership rolls, signs of recognition, initiation, or other aspects secret from the public.
Some collegiate secret societies are called "class societies", which restrict membership to one class year. Most class societies are restricted or limited to senior class members, and are therefore called senior societies on many campuses. Some include junior class members, hence, upperclassmen and women.
Categorization
There is no strict rule on the categorization of secret societies, although a secret membership role is key. Secret societies can have ceremonial initiations, secret signs of recognition (gestures, handshakes, passwords), formal secrets (the 'true' name of the society, a motto, or society history). Traditional college fraternities or sororities, literary societies, honorary groups, and pre-professional fraternal can have similarly secret rituals but do not keep their membership secret. Some secret societies have kept their membership secret until graduation; others never reveal membership until death. Some, like Skull and Bones at Yale, have published their membership lists in the yearbooks and the Yale Daily News.
One key concept in distinguishing secret societies from traditional fraternities and sororities is that, on campuses that have both kinds of organizations, one can be a member of both. That is, membership is not mutually exclusive. Usually, being a member of more than one traditional fraternity or sorority is not considered appropriate, because that member would have divided loyalties. However, typically, there is no issue with being a member of a secret society and a fraternity, because they are not considered similar organizations or competing organizations.
Many secret societies exist as honoraries on one campus and may have been actual meeting societies at one time, kept alive by one or two dedicated local alumni or an alumni affairs or dean's office person, who see to it that an annual initiation is held every year. Some of these state that they are honoraries; others seek to perpetuate the image of a continuing active society where there is none.
Common traits
There are several common traits among these societies. For example, many societies have two-part names, such as Skull and Bones or Scroll and Key. Many societies also limit their membership to a specific numerical limit in a class year. Extensive mortuary imagery is associated with many secret societies, maintaining a pretense of great seriousness, and clubhouses are often called "tombs".
Honoraries
Some historic secret societies are now considered honorary or senior societies. Phi Beta Kappa is the best-known such example, where it originally operated on a secret chapter basis, and sometime after its secrets were made public in the 1830s, Phi Beta Kappa continued as an honorary. The membership of these groups is not secret but their rituals may be.
History
The first collegiate secret society recorded in North America is that of the F.H.C. Society, established on November 11, 1750, at The College of William & Mary. Though the letters stand for a Latin phrase, the society is informally and publicly referred to as the "Flat Hat Club"; its most prominent members included St. George Tucker, Thomas Jefferson, and George Wythe. The second-oldest Latin-letter society, the P.D.A. Society ("Please Don't Ask"), in 1776 refused entry to John Heath, then a student at the college; rebuffed, he in the same year established the first Greek-letter secret society at the college, the Phi Beta Kappa, modeling it on the two older fraternities (see the Flat Hat Club). The Phi Beta Kappa society had a rudimentary initiation and maintained an uncertain level of secrecy. Those secrets were exposed in the mid-1830s by students at Harvard University acting under the patronage of John Quincy Adams. Since the 1840s, Phi Beta Kappa has operated openly as an academic honor society.
The spread of Phi Beta Kappa to different colleges and universities likely sparked the creation of such competing societies as Chi Phi (1824), Kappa Alpha Society (1825), and Sigma Phi Society (1827); many continue today as American collegiate social fraternities (and, later, sororities). Sigma Phi remains the oldest continuously operating national collegiate secret society; it may have declined the founding members of Skull & Bones a charter before they formed their society. A second line of development took place at Yale College, with the creation of Chi Delta Theta (1821) and Skull and Bones (1832): antecedents of what would become known as class societies.
Skull & Bones aroused competition on campus, bringing forth Scroll and Key (1841), and later Wolf's Head (1883), among students in the senior class. But the prestige of the senior societies was able to keep the very influential fraternities Alpha Delta Phi and Psi Upsilon from ever becoming full four-year institutions at Yale. They remained junior class societies there. There were sophomore and freshman societies at Yale as well. A stable system of eight class societies (two competing chains of four class societies each) was in place by the late 1840s.
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a highly successful junior class society, founded at Yale in 1844. None of the 51 chapters the parent chapter spawned operates as a junior society, but DKE did come from the class society system. Likewise, Alpha Sigma Phi started as a Yale sophomore society and now has 68 chapters (although, again, none of Alpha Sigma Phi's chapters have remained sophomore societies).
The development of class societies spread from Yale to other campuses in the northeastern States. Seniors at neighboring Wesleyan established a senior society, Skull & Serpent (1865), and a second society, originally a chapter of Skull and Bones, but then independent as a sophomore society, Theta Nu Epsilon (1870), which began to drastically increase the number of campuses with class societies. William Raimond Baird noted in the 1905 edition of his Manual that, "In addition to the regular fraternities, there are Eastern college societies which draw members from only one of the undergraduate classes, and which have only a few features of the general fraternity system." From Wesleyan, the practice spread more widely across the Northeast, with full systems soon in place at Brown, Rutgers, and other institutions.
Kappa Sigma Theta, Phi Theta Psi, Delta Beta Xi, Delta Sigma Phi, were all sophomore societies at Yale, and the two large freshman societies of Delta Kappa and Kappa Sigma Epsilon lived until 1880. Delta Kappa established chapters at Amherst College, the University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, University of Mississippi, Dartmouth College, and Centre College. Kappa Sigma Epsilon had chapters at Amherst, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Dartmouth. Other class societies existed at Brown, Harvard, Syracuse, Colgate, Cornell, and other Northeastern institutions. At universities such as Colgate University, these secret societies have evolved and morphed over the years.
Theta Nu Epsilon spread to about 120 colleges and universities, but many of its chapters operated as three-year societies where a class-year society was inappropriate.
It is from this class society's historical base and the desire to emulate the best-known of all the class societies, Skull & Bones, that senior societies in particular began to spread nationally between 1900 and 1930. Junior, sophomore, and freshman class societies also are to be found at campuses across the country today.
Individual institutions
Clemson University
Tiger Brotherhood is an honorary service fraternity at Clemson University. It was established in 1924 as a non-secretive student group but soon went defunct. It was reformed in 1928 and encourages standards of social and ethical conduct and a commitment to Clemson. Although most of its members are unknown, former members include two Clemson president—E. Walter Sikes and James Frazier Barker—and Clemson football coach Frank Howard. The university suspended the fraternity for three years in 2017 for hazing.
Colgate University
See also: Societies at Colgate UniversityAlthough there have been many underground organizations at Colgate University, the first secret honor society on record is the Skull and Scroll Society founded in 1908. Members of the Skull and Scroll wore white hats with a black skull and scroll added to them. The Gorgon's Head was founded in 1912 and chose people for traits such as character, distinguished service, and achievement. Its members wore black hats with a golden emblem. These two organizations competed with each other until 1934 when they merged to create the Konosioni senior honor society, now called Tredecim Senior Honor Society. Tredecim is no longer a secret society but is now seen as a leadership society.
College of William & Mary
Main article: Secret societies at the College of William & MaryThe College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, was home to the first known secret collegiate society in the United States, the F.H.C. Society (founded in 1750). The initials of the society stand for a Latin phrase, likely Fraternitas, Humanitas, et Cognitio or Fraternitas Humanitas Cognitioque (two renderings of "brotherhood, humaneness, and knowledge"), but is publicly nicknamed the Flat Hat Club. William & Mary alumnus and third American president, Thomas Jefferson, was perhaps the most famous member of the F.H.C. Society. The best opinion is that the society did not survive the British invasion of Virginia at the end of the American Revolution. Going dormant during the American Revolution, the society was revived in 1916 as the Flat Hat Club.
William & Mary students John Heath and William Short founded the nation's first collegiate Greek-letter organization, Phi Beta Kappa, on December 5, 1776, as a secret literary and philosophical society. Additional chapters were established in 1780 and 1781 at Yale and Harvard. With nearly 300 chapters across the country and no longer secret, Phi Beta Kappa has grown to become the nation's premier academic honor society.
Although the pressures of the American Civil War forced several societies to disappear, many were revived during the 20th century. Some of the secret societies known to currently exist at the college are: The 7 Society, 13 Club, Alpha Club, Bishop James Madison Society, The Cord, Flat Hat Club, The Spades, W Society, and Wren Society.
Columbia University
Three secret societies were formed at Columbia University: St. Anthony Hall (1847) and the Nacoms and Sachems (1898 and 1915, respectively). St. Anthony Hall is now a traditional fraternal organization and literary society that has ten other chapters, notably at Yale, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania. The Nacoms and Sachems are senior societies of fifteen members each. Though efforts have been made by the university's student body to force them to abolish their secrecy and register with the administration, efforts have been unsuccessful.
Cornell University
Cornell University has a long history of secret societies on campus. Andrew Dickson White, the first president of Cornell University and himself a Bonesman, is said to have encouraged the formation of a "secret society" on campus. In the early years, all fraternities were called the "secret societies", but as the Greek system developed into a larger, more public entity, "secret society" began to refer only to the class societies, except for the Sigma Phi Society on campus.
In the early twentieth century, Cornell students belonged to sophomore, junior, and senior societies, as well as honorary societies for particular fields of study. Liberalization of the 1960s spelled the end of these organizations as students rebelled against the establishment. The majority of the societies disappeared or became inactive in a very short period.
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College's Office of Residential Life states that the earliest senior societies on campus date to 1783 and "continue to be a vibrant tradition within the campus community". Six of the eight senior societies keep their membership secret, while the other societies maintain secretive elements. According to the college, 25% of the senior class members join a senior society. The college's administration tracks membership and tapping lists, and differs from that of Yale's, though there are historical parallels between the two colleges' societies.
Duke University
Duke University has hosted several secret societies. The Tombs was founded in 1903. Its members were known to tie bells around their ankles. Details regarding its purpose, selection of members, and the importance of the bells are still unknown.
The Order of the Red Friars was founded in 1913 with the initial purpose of promoting school spirit. Later, the group changed its mission to focus more on fostering loyalty to Duke University. The Order, as it was colloquially known, was semi-secret. This is because the selection of new members, known as tapping, was held on the steps of Duke Chapel in broad daylight. As the years went on, the rites of tapping became more elaborate; in the final and most traditional form of the rite, a red-hooded and robed figure publicly tapped new men into membership on the steps of the chapel. President Richard M. Nixon was a member of the order
The Order of the White Duchy was founded in May 1925 by the Order of the Red Friars as an organization for outstanding females. From 1925 on, new members were tapped into the order by the seven members of the White Duchy from the previous year. Members were known by the white carnation they wore on specific days of the year. Throughout the 1960s, both societies faced charges of elitism and struggled to tap students at an increasingly hostile university. In 1968, the White Duchy disbanded, and in 1971, the Order of the Red Friars was disbanded by alumni who determined that the group had outlived its usefulness. However, rumors surrounding its continued, albeit modified, form exist today.
Two current secret societies - the Trident Society and the Old Trinity Club - are both thought to have been founded in the wake of the disbanding of the Order of the Red Friars. The Old Trinity Club is rumored to have started when an editor-in-chief of the Duke Chronicle was passed up for membership and decided to create his own, rival society. The Old Trinity Club is the most visible society on campus today, as its members are seen walking around campus wearing black graduation gowns and sunglasses on certain days of the year. They follow a set pattern, holding their arms in symbols in the air and routinely stopping and shouting "Eruditio et Religio." A November 2007 edition of Rival Magazine quoted Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Sue Wasiolek T'r76, claiming that "the Old Trinity Club has died, or at least in terms of its original manifestation. The way it manifests today is very different than when it was at its finest." It is said that students do not take society seriously, viewing it more as a social fraternity than a secret society.
For years, there were rumors of a secret society called "TS" on campus, as a continuation of the Order of the Red Friars' original mission. Only recently has it come to light that "TS" stands for Trident Society. This society keeps the strictest silence about its membership and mission. As such, its members are not well-known on campus. The secrecy around this group drove Samantha Lachman to investigate the society in 2013. Her subsequent article, "Trasked with Secrecy", revealed many of the secrets of the group. She discovered the names of several prominent members, that the red roses & white carnations sometimes found at the base of the James B. Duke statue on West Campus are their calling card, and even that they have uninhibited access to the Duke University Chapel for their Initiation Rites.
Emory University
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia has five secret societies, including the Paladin Society, Ducemus, Speculum, and Order of Ammon. In 2021, Ducemus was accused of attempting to manipulate Emory's student government elections by a member of its legislature, which led to a trial presided by the student judicial council. The accusatory plaintiff claimed that members of the secret society, who allegedly held positions in student government and various student organizations, attempted to sway the elections in their favor and secure positions for their members. The student judicial council ruled in the plaintiff's favor and disqualified the allegedly Ducemus-backed candidates.
Florida State University
The Burning Spear Society is a secret society at Florida State University. Burning Spear was founded on July 14, 1993. Though not much is publicly available on the dealings of the organization, members often cite the provision of political, professional, and financial support of FSU community members and efforts that strengthen the university's traditions as two of their most basic ambitions.
Fordham University
Fordham University was long accused of being involved with secret societies and covert activities due to anti-Catholic and nativist sentiments against the Irish and Italian immigrants it historically served. John Kelly, successor to Boss Tweed as Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall, was the nephew-in-law of Cardinal John McCloskey, the first president of Fordham, and many Fordham students and alumni were involved with Tammany Hall, including Edward Flynn, 20th-century chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Fr. Leo McLaughlin S.J. founded the Fordham Club in 1954. Membership is reserved to about thirty members of the Fordham College at Rose Hill senior class "recommended by their prominence and influence in extracurricular endeavors during their first three college years, having contributed in a significant and preeminent way to the vibrant spirit of Fordham." They have a robust alumni network with regular reunions and influence in the university.
Founded in 1837, the Parthenian Sodality was transferred to Fordham, which was founded in 1841, from St. Mary's College in Kentucky when the Jesuits took over the administration of Fordham from the Archdiocese of New York in 1846. Approval of the transfer was granted by the Roman Prima Primaria in 1847. The Roman Sodality, under whose guidance the Parthenian Sodality was, was first founded in Rome in 1584. Though no longer held to the Roman sodality after Vatican II, the organization is said to exist in some form to this day under the name The Second Sodality, at which point it transitioned to being more identifiable as a secret society: hiding membership, meeting at odd times, and communicating through codes and riddles. The chapel atop the administration building, now known as Cunniffe House, listed over a hundred years of members, but this practice ended around when the sodality went covert. They leave clues in the form of sonnets around campus and in the student newspapers to attract members. They tap around 25 members per year, of whom half usually figure out the clues. Meetings are usually held in the various chapels around campus, with important ceremonies happening in the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows.
There is evidence of a group known as the Legion of Hidden Loyalty, operating in the 1930s and 1940s but there is no evidence of its continued existence.
Furman University
Until 1992, Furman University was, to varying degrees, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention which banned social organizations of all kinds. This drove students to seek such groups underground.
The most notable of these early secret societies was called The Star and Lamp; it is known today on more than 100 campuses as Pi Kappa Phi. Founded at The College of Charleston in 1904, Pi Kappa Phi operated "sub-rosa", or under the rose of secrecy, for much of the twentieth century to hide their activities from the university's Baptist administrators. During this time Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Tau Kappa Epsilon operated respectively as "The Centaur" and "The Knights Eternal" while a fourth organization, "The Robert E. Lee Fraternity" was concurrently active which would go on to merge with today's Kappa Alpha Order. For this reason, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity's official flower is today, the rose, their sweetheart is called the rose and one of the group's most cherished songs is "The Rose Song". The rose and "sub-rosa" concepts are present in the group's esoteric literature and rituals. Furthermore, the fraternity's chapter at Furman carries a unique flag that bears a red rose in the upper right-hand corner.
On campus today, the only known active secret society is The Quaternion Club, although many are rumored to exist. Quaternion, which dates back to 1903, taps four juniors and four seniors each year in the late winter or early spring. The selection process is guarded but is thought to be controlled by current Quaternions currently in residence at the school. The initiation ritual and all group meetings take place in the Old College, the original building where James Furman taught the university's first courses in Greenville in 1851. Upon initiation, Quaternions are given lifetime access to this building which houses the controls for the 59 bell Burnside Carillon inside Furman's bell tower. Famous Quaternions have included U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, and Clement Haynsworth, a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
There are also several strongly rumored secret societies with less documentation including The Magnolia Society, which has formed within the past decade and taps men and women from all classes into something like an elitist supper club. Magnolians, as they are called, can be identified only on their way to or from a "happening" by the sweetgrass rose they wear on their breast. The Black Swan or Paladin Brotherhood was a darker organization rumored to have operated on and off from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s, utilizing the unfinished attic of Judson dormitory for occult rituals.
George Washington University
George Washington University president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg brought together student leaders from all parts of the university to create The Order of the Hippo as a way to support fellowship, make GW a better university, and behave in slightly frivolous ways. The secret society was named after a bronze statue of a hippo, also known as the River Horse (sculpture), displayed prominently in the center of campus. The Order takes its oath from a plaque located on the front of the hippo statue, which reads, "Art for wisdom, Science for joy, Politics for beauty, and a Hippo for hope." The Order has a ritual book, which is passed down from year to year and the main aim of the group is to enact random acts of kindness around GW's campus to create a better environment for all students.
Georgetown University
Georgetown College, later Georgetown University, has been a Jesuit institution or staffed by Jesuits for its entire history. In the school's early days, the Jesuits were hostile to college fraternities and societies that tried to form at Georgetown like at other colleges in the 19th century because they could not control them. But this hostility had waned by 1920. One century later, Georgetown has several fraternities and sororities, independent of the university, and a few all-male, all-female, and co-ed secret societies.
The Stewards Society, or The Stewards at Georgetown is an anonymous, all-male service fraternity, often considered a secret society. While generally considered a secret society by the student body, the Stewards have claimed to be a predominantly alumni-built organization. The original organization was founded in 1982, eventually going public in 1988. The Stewards would continue to operate until the mid-1990s when the organization broke apart and the original group became defunct. Following this schism, the organization formed The Second and later the Third Stewards Societies, although the groups are not connected organizationally. The organization would put out public addresses in 2001 and 2020, claiming several service activities and defending their existence. In 2013, and 2020, the Stewards were the subject of a series of leaks, indicating that undisclosed members of the organization were part of student government. The group has been criticized for pushing a conservative agenda on campus and for its exclusion of women.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Anak Society is the oldest known secret society and honors society at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1908, Anak's purpose is "to honor outstanding juniors and seniors who have shown both exemplary leadership and a true love for Georgia Tech". The society's name refers to Anak, a biblical figure said to be the forefather of a race of giants. Although not founded as a secret society, Anak has kept its activities and membership rosters confidential since 1961. Membership is made public upon a student's graduation or a faculty member's retirement. The Anak Society's membership comprises at least 1,100 Georgia Tech graduates, faculty members, and honorary members.
The society was influential in the history of Georgia Tech. Anak played a major role in establishing several of Georgia Tech's most active student organizations – including Georgia Tech's yearbook, the Blueprint; The Technique newspaper, and Tech's Student Government Association – as well as several lasting Georgia Tech traditions. The society also claims involvement in several civil rights projects, most notably in peacefully integrating Georgia Tech's first African-American students in 1961, preventing the Ku Klux Klan from setting up a student chapter at Georgia Tech.
Harvard University
Main article: Harvard College social clubsHarvard University does not have secret societies in the usual sense, though it does have final clubs, fraternities, sororities, and a variety of other secret or semi-secret organizations.
Final clubs are secretive about their election procedures, and they have secret initiations and meetings. However, there is little secrecy about who is a member. They are larger than secret societies generally, with approximately forty students per club. Guests are admitted under restrictions. "Punch Season" and the "Final Dinner" are analogous to "Tap" at Yale.
Harvard Lodge is a university Masonic lodge, founded in 1922 by Harvard Law School Dean/Professor Roscoe Pound, members of the Harvard Square & Compass Club, and members of the Harvard Masonic Club (which included Theodore Roosevelt). It is the oldest academic Masonic lodge in North America, its membership is restricted to males with a Harvard affiliation, and it operates in the building of Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, overlooking Boston Common.
Other secretive social groups include the Hasty Pudding Club and The Seneca.
James Madison University
James Madison University has two known secret societies. The first is called IN8 (pronounced /ɪˈneɪt/). The name references the college's founding in 1908 and the emblem of the organization consists of an infinity sign with an ‘I’ and ‘N’ embedded within the curve. Most notably, IN8 is known for its laud of eight students per semester who have outstanding college careers and fulfill the organization's 8 supposed core values: Loyalty, Benevolence, Service, Justice, Integrity, Intellect, Character, and Spirit. However, this is not their only known function, IN8 also provides philanthropic gifts to the university. The sundial located by the Quad, which is a famous landmark for many of the students, was donated by the group. IN8 hosts a website bearing their emblem which states “The IN8 Foundation is a benevolent charitable organization supporting the James Madison University community.”
The IN8 Foundation was mentioned in The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, 2009. Writing on student involvement at James Madison University, Insider Guides states that IN8 is “Not necessarily the most popular but one of the most famed among these is IN8, JMU’s secret society. Every year, it gives out eight letters to students and faculty who have significantly impacted their society to let them know that their work does not go unnoticed. In addition, in 2003, they donated a human sundial, a spot in the middle of campus where a person stands on a particular month’s mark and casts a shadow on plaques six or seven feet away that designates the time.”
The second secret society at James Madison University is called Missed Connections. This society is known for its Instagram page that posts anonymous messages from students at James Madison University. These messages can range from talking about acts of kindness that they experienced on campus, to grievances against people or things they encounter. This society was founded in 2019 by Emily Chavez, Casey Brewer, and Angilxander Lonzon, and they were known as Bumi, Mort, and Appa, respectively. When they graduated, they revealed themselves and passed the society down to new people. It is believed that whenever a member of Missed Connections graduates, they will reveal themselves to the James Madison University community and further pass their position to a new person.
Johns Hopkins University
Through the years, many secret societies, senior societies, and other groups have been founded at Johns Hopkins University. Most of these societies were founded around the 1890s at the beginning of the university and played a significant role in the early development of the student body. This includes the Cane Club, The Ananias Society, The Senior Society, The Ubiquiteers, the Tau Club, and the De Gang. These historic secret societies are either defunct or non-existent.
Founded for members who value friendship and privacy to enjoy the arts together, the Blue Jay Supper Society is the only active secret society with open applications at Johns Hopkins. The supper society looks for brilliant misfits and creative types, and accepts applications from undergraduate and graduate students as well as alumni. Membership is capped at 150 globally.
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland has had a few secret societies The Green and Grey Society, named after the school’s colors, was established in 1989. The school selects “a small number of men and women from the senior class who demonstrated excellence in academic, personal, and spiritual integration and a commitment to leadership and service to Loyola. In the spirit of Jesuit ideals, the Society serves as an advisor to the University executives by identifying and communicating issues of significance. As engaged members of the community, the Society empowers students across the University to live the magis.” While the society is acknowledged to exist, they members and overall selection process remains elusive.
Longwood University
Longwood University currently has three secret societies, the oldest of which is CHI, founded on October 15, 1900, by members from three of Longwood's four sorority Alpha chapters-- Kappa Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Sigma Sigma Sigma. The society was originally called the "Society of Societies" whose original intentions were to hold students accountable and enrich the lives of their peers and professors by calling out bad behavior, taking hooded walks called "CHI Walks" and hosting a bonfire at the end of each academic year called "CHI burning" where senior members would reveal themselves to campus. Today, CHI represents something very different and works on behalf of the college to represent the Longwood spirit—the blue and white spirit. Members make their presence known by leaving small "droppings" or tokens around campus, writing letters to Longwood students, faculty, and staff that celebrate their achievements, and the members of CHI "commend" members during their annual "CHI Burning" which remains to this day. The mark of the society can be found on the sidewalks of the campus, where their symbol (a simple geometric version of Ruffner Hall) is painted in blue. Students, faculty, and staff do not step on these symbols as a means of paying respect to the society, the Longwood spirit, and the preservation of said spirit. The physical presence of CHI can also be found on campus because the society has donated generously to many campus fundraising campaigns, and donated the CHI Fountain, located at the center of campus, which along its top stone, reads the public motto of the society.
The third-oldest and second-longest consistently operating secret society at Longwood is Princeps, which was founded in 1992 on the premise of promoting citizen leadership and academic excellence. The society is represented by the number seven, with a seven-point crown above the number, most commonly in black. The society's colors are red, gold, and black, and they often commend members of the community with letters, tokens of achievement, and other gifts. Princeps, meaning "leader" in Latin, also awards paper cutout versions of their symbol, the seven, to students who achieve both Dean's List and President's List. Those who achieve Dean's List receive a black seven and those who achieve President's List receive a red seven. Princeps also recognizes students with wooden sevens, and the senior members of the society reveal themselves on graduation morning on the front steps of Lancaster Hall, home to the President's Office, at 7:07 am, where they appear from within the crowd or from the building wearing a red sash with their symbol, the 7 and crown, stitched on the sash which drapes across their body. Membership selection for this society, just like CHI, remains a secret.
New York University
Several secret societies have historically existed at New York University, including Red Dragon Society, which only takes both "distinguished" male and female seniors from the College of Arts and Science; Knights of the Lamp, which only takes seniors from the Stern School of Business; the Philomathean Society (which operated from 1832 to 1888); the Eucleian Society (from 1832 to the 1940s); and the Andiron Club. Only Red Dragon Society still exists.
Norwich University
Secret societies are banned in all military academies in the United States. Norwich University was the last military academy to outlaw secret societies, doing so in 1998. The stated reason for doing so was controversy regarding hazing and abuse of cadets. Before the ban, Norwich was home to a handful of long-standing secret societies such as the Old Crow Society, Night Riders, and Skull and Swords.
Pennsylvania State University
There are currently three well-known societies at Pennsylvania State University: Parmi Nous (1907), Lion's Paw (1908), and Skull and Bones (1912). Penn State has seen several different honorary societies with varying levels of publicity and activity. In 1907, the first "hat" society, so-named because of such organizations' emblematic headwear, Druids, was formed; similar societies expanded and included dedicated groups for women (e.g. Chimes, Scrolls) and men (e.g. Blue Key, Androcles) based on class standing and extracurricular involvement. These groups were temporarily governed by a "Hat Society Council" which was made up of representatives from each organization from 1948 to 1958. Hat societies were involved in University life passing down traditions (called "freshmen customs") for first-year students, forming honor guards for football players as they went on to the field, and recognizing leaders, scholars, and athletes in the Penn State community. The three remaining senior societies no longer operate publicly but continue to serve the university in a variety of functions. Lion's Paw is closely associated with conservation efforts at Mount Nittany in State College, PA.
Pomona College
Princeton University
Main article: Eating clubs at Princeton University
Princeton's eating clubs are not fraternities, nor are they secret societies by any standard measure, but they are often seen as being tenuously analogous. The 21 Club, an all-male drinking society, is a notorious Princeton secret society.
Princeton also has a long tradition of underground societies. While secret society membership is relatively public at some schools, Princeton's historical secret society rolls are very secretive because of Woodrow Wilson's ban on clandestine organizations and his threat to expel secret fraternity members from Princeton.
One such society is Phi (pronounced fē), a society dating to 1929 when members of the Whig society splintered off after the merger of the Whig and Cliosophic debating societies. Phi's membership is secretive and difficult to discern because no more than ten active "Phis" exist at one time: Phis usually receive offers at the end of their third year. As an adaptation to Princeton's stringent anti-society rules, each active class does not meet the preceding class that selected it until the First of June (after their first Reunions and before graduation). 1.6... is the Golden Ratio, hence the name Phi.
Another society is the exclusively female Foxtail Society, founded in 1974 soon after Princeton began admitting women in 1969. The society was founded in response to the lack of eating clubs open to women. While admittance numbers have changed over the years, Foxtail selects anywhere from 10 to 15 women to become members at the end of their junior year.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University has had several secret societies on campus. One of which, a likely hoax, claims to be established in 1834. Students associated with these societies were allegedly involved in the Rutgers-Princeton Cannon War in 1876. At the turn of the 20th century, Rutgers had developed two full sets of class year societies based on the Yale model, down to the freshman societies such as the Chain and Bones and Serpent and Coffin. The senior class societies at Rutgers included the Brotherhood of the Golden Dagger (1898–1940), Casque and Dagger (1901), and Cap and Skull (1900). Cap and Skull was dissolved in the 1960s after complaints of elitism. In 1982 the name was revived for the university-sanctioned senior-year honor society.
Smith College
Smith College had secret societies from the 1890s until the 1960s. Two of these societies, the Orangemen and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.) were both founded in 1890 and carried out a rivalry throughout their existence at the college. A.O.H. was a parody of the Irish Roman Catholic fraternal order by the same name, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which dates back to 1500s Ireland. The Orangemen was a parody of the Loyal Orange Association, a protestant Irish organization, which dates back to 1795 Ireland. A.O.H. did ask for official recognition but was turned down.
A.O.H’s color was green and the Orangemen’s was orange. The Orangemen wore cloaks with orange hoods and also had orange hats in which they paraded around campus. A.O.H. also had activities including giving out special names to new members. According to Smith College Special Collections, both organizations limited membership to twelve from each class year. A.O.H. held initiations for new members in the fall of their first year of college. The Orangemen also held initiations.
In 1948, the college's president, Herbert John Davis, outlawed secret societies because he believed they were “undemocratic.” Davis required groups to stop “all official activities.” However, Smith College Special Collections says, “records indicate that both organizations continued unofficially until the mid-1960s” with available documentation ceasing during the 1965–1966 academic year.
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago has never had a substantial number of active secret societies; indeed, shortly after the university's founding, the faculty of the university released a resolution suggesting that the exclusionary structure of many such societies made them antithetical to the democratic spirit of the university. Nevertheless, The Society of the Owl and Serpent was founded in 1896 and was active for over 70 years. The Society voted to officially disband in 1968 as a sign of its "counterculture" values, electing to donate its office space to the student radio group WHPK and use its remaining funds for the purchase of an FM transmitter.
University of Florida
Florida Blue Key operates as the main collegiate secret society at the University of Florida. Founded in 1923 by student leaders organizing Dad's Day, the group of students decided to create a leadership honorary society. Florida Blue Key eventually came to hold the responsibility of organizing Homecoming, Gator Growl, the Miss UF Beauty Pageant, and the Florida Blue Key High School Speech & Debate Tournament.
Throughout its existence, Florida Blue Key has been caught in numerous scandals concerning its control over UF's student government. The organization paid $85,000 in a settlement to Charles Grapski for defamation in the 1995 UF student government elections. The subsequent trial determined that Florida Blue Key "has historically undertaken a political function in connection with student government affairs." The political machine that Florida Blue Key controls to dominate student government has been given the name "The System."
University of Georgia
A group unique to the University of Georgia is the men's secret society known as the Order of the Greek Horsemen which annually inducts five fraternity men, all leaders of the Greek Fraternity system. Likewise, the highest achievement a male can attain at the university is claimed by the Gridiron Secret Society.
Palladia Secret Society was founded in the early 1960s as the highest honor a woman can attain at the University of Georgia. Palladia inducts approximately twelve women each fall and has an extensive network of alumni, including administrators at the University of Georgia and prominent female leaders across the state.
The Panhellenic sororities also have a secret society known as Trust of the Pearl, which inducts five accomplished sorority women each spring. The Sphinx Club is the oldest honorary society at the University of Georgia, recognizing students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have made significant contributions to the university, the State of Georgia, and the nation. Membership in this organization is not secret; however, all business and happenings of the organization are.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor hosts three secret societies: Order of Angell, Phoenix, and the Vulcan Senior Engineering Society. Order of Angell and Phoenix were once under the umbrella group "The Tower Society", the name referring to their location at the top of the Michigan Union Tower. Michigauma (Order of Angell) was all-male while Adara (Phoenix) was all-female.
Order of Angell, known as "Order", is an evolved version of a previous society Michigauma. It was inspired by the rituals and culture of the Native Americans of the United States. Since its creation in 1902, the group is credited with creating Dance Marathon, one of the largest charitable events at the University of Michigan, and the construction of the Michigan Union for which it was granted permanent space on the top floors of the tower which they refer to as the "tomb". In 2007 the group changed its name to Order of Angell and later, in 2021, the group officially disbanded.
Phoenix, (formerly known as Adara) holding to astrological roots, was formed in the late 1970s by the women leaders on campus. In the early 1980s, they joined the tower society and occupied the sixth floor of the tower just below Michigamua. Phoenix, alongside Order, is now co-ed. Phoenix was disbanded in March 2021 via a vote of an overwhelming majority.
Vulcan Senior Engineering Society, known as "the Vulcans", occupied the fifth floor of the Union Tower though were not formally a part of the tower society. They draw their heritage from the Roman god Vulcan. The group that used to do its tapping publicly is known for its long black robes and its financial contributions to the University of Michigan College of Engineering.
University of Missouri
In 1895, the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Theta Nu Epsilon sophomore society was founded under the guidance of faculty member Luther DeFoe. DeFoe also served as a mentor to the founding members of the QEBH senior men's society, which was founded in 1898. Mystical Seven was founded in 1907 and has become the second best-known society on campus. Some have suggested that Missouri's Mystical Seven was modeled after Virginia's Seven Society, which had been established just a couple of years earlier.
Other secret societies followed, including Society of the Hidden Eye for junior, and senior men, LSV for senior women, Thadstek for freshman, and sophomore men, Tomb and Key for freshman, and sophomore men, and Kappa Kappa whose membership composition was unknown. During this period of rapid expansion of secret societies, a network of sub-rosa inter-fraternity organizations also established itself on campus with no purpose other than socializing and mischief-making. This network, known commonly as the "Greek Underworld" included organizations such as Seven Equals, Kappa Beta Phi, Sigma Phi Sigma, Kappa Nu Theta, and Sigma Alpha Beta.
It is currently home to at least six secret honor societies that still participate in an annual public Taies Day ceremony at the end of each spring semester. QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV, Alpha Xi chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, Friars chapter of Mortar Board, and Rollins Society each use the Tap Day ceremony after the year to reveal the members who were initiated over the past year. Missouri is one of the few remaining institutions in which the local Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board chapters carry out much of their work in secrecy. The Jefferson Society, which attempted to take part in Tap Day and was denied, claims to have been around since 1862. In addition to Tap Day activities, several of the societies maintain a public presence during some athletic events. QEBH is the caretaker of the Victory Bell, along with Nebraska's Society of Innocents, awarded to the winner of the Missouri–Nebraska Rivalry football game each year. The Friars Chapter of Mortar Board exchanges a gavel with Nebraska (The Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board) at each MU-UNL football game, symbolizing the rivalry between the Universities. Mystical Seven and Oklahoma's Pe-et Society were likewise entrusted with the Peace Pipe trophy that was awarded to the winner of the biennial Missouri-Oklahoma football match. Omicron Delta Kappa previously served as the caretaker of the Indian War Drum trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Border War football game between Missouri and Kansas.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill contains the archives of the Order of Gimghoul, a secret society headquartered at the Gimghoul Castle. The order was founded in 1889 and is open to male students (rising juniors and higher), and faculty members by invitation.
The Order of the Gorgon's Head was founded in 1896 by Darius Eatman, Edward Kidder Graham, Ralph Henry Graves, Samuel Selden Lamb, Richard Henry Lewis Jr., and Percy DePonceau Whitaker. Membership has always been limited to male members of the junior, senior, professional, and post-graduate classes along with male faculty members. Inductees may not be members of other societies. Officers include Princeps (chief officer), Quaestor, and Scriptor. The purpose of the Order is to promote friendship, goodwill, and social fellowship among its members. The Order of the Gorgon's Head was one of two "junior orders" established at the university in the 1890s. The two orders had written agreements that they would not attempt to recruit freshmen or sophomores. Each order had a lodge (the Gimghouls later built a castle), where members gathered for meetings and events. Each had secret rituals based on myths. Those of the Order of the Gorgon's Head centered on the myth of the Gorgons, three monstrous sisters prominent in ancient Greek and Roman lore.
In 2011, The Daily Tar Heel reported the first of two donations to campus entities by a secret society named Infinity. In 2011, the society gifted $888.88 to the Eve Carson Scholarship fund, which honors the late Student Body President Eve Carson. In 2012, the society gifted $888.88 to the Student Enrichment Fund, a student-created fund allowing students to apply for grants to attend off-campus events such as speeches, conferences or other academic or extracurricular opportunities. The significance of the digit '8' comes from the symbol for infinity that resembles an eight on its side.
University of Pennsylvania
Main article: Senior societies at University of PennsylvaniaSenior societies at the University of Pennsylvania are smaller than their Greek counterparts and tend to vary in degree of secrecy. There are three senior honorary societies. The Sphinx Senior Society and the Friars Senior Society were both founded at the turn of the 20th century, while The Mortar Board Senior Society was founded in 1922. None of these societies was intended to be secret, in that their undergraduate and alumni membership were and continue to be publicly known, they share many of the characteristics of undergraduate secret societies of the time; they tap a diverse group of campus leaders to become members during their senior year, organize social and service activities throughout the year, and maintain an extensive network of successful and notable alumni. In addition, there are several other groups called "secret societies". These groups generally denote a social club that is independent of any official organization. For this reason, the society is not regulated by the university and is not accountable to a national organization.
University of Texas
The University of Texas at Austin is home to the Tejas Club, an all-male secret society founded in 1925 that is one of the oldest student organizations on campus. The three pillars of Tejas are scholarship, leadership, and friendship, representing a desire to attract and mold male student leaders on campus. Its membership process is secretive and closed to the public.
University of South Carolina
The Clariosophic Society is a literary society founded in 1806 at the University of South Carolina, then known as South Carolina College. It was formed after the splitting of the Philomathic Society, which had been formed within weeks of the opening of the college in 1805 and included virtually all students. At the Synapian Convention in February 1806, the members of Philomathic voted to split into two societies, Clariosophic and Euphradian. Two blood brothers picked the members for the new groups like choosing sides for an impromptu baseball game. John Goodwin became the first president of Clariosophic. Other early presidents include Stephen Elliott, Hugh S. Legaré, George McDuffie, and Richard I. Manning. The Society was reactivated in 2013 and became co-ed. The membership process and society roster are secretive and closed to the public. Members are identified by a key insignia on their diplomas.
University of Virginia
Main article: Secret societies at the University of VirginiaSecret societies have been a part of University of Virginia student life since the founding of the Eli Banana society in 1878. Early secret societies, such as Eli Banana and T.I.L.K.A., had secret initiations but public membership; some, such as the Hot Feet, now the IMP Society, were very public, incurring the wrath of the administration for public reveals.
The first truly "secret society" was the Seven Society, founded circa 1905. Two decades before, there had been a chapter of the Mystical 7 society at Virginia, which may have been an inspiration. Nothing is known about the Seven Society except for their philanthropy to the university; members are revealed at their death. A few other societies flourished around the turn of the 20th century, such as the Z Society (formerly Zeta), which was founded in 1892, the IMP Society, reformulated in 1913 after the Hot Feet were banned in 1908, and Eli Banana, are still active at the university today. The Thirteen Society was founded on February 13, 1889. After an unknown period of inactivity, they reemerged in 2004. Currently, The Thirteen Society operates as a mainly honorary society for those who demonstrate "unselfish service to the University and excellence in their respective fields of activity."
New societies have periodically appeared at the university during the 20th century. The most notable is the P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society, a secret group that rewards contributions to the university and which was founded before 1970; and the Society of the Purple Shadows, founded 1963, who are only seen in public in purple robes and hoods and who seek to "safeguard vigilantly the University traditions". The A.N.G.E.L.S. Society started sometime in the late 1900s is known to place white roses and letters on doors of those mourning, needing encouragement, or showing "kind behavior" to others. They are known to promote a stronger community of kindness throughout the university, completing many acts of service for students and faculty. Many of the secret societies listed contribute to the university either financially or through awards or some other form of recognition of excellence at the university.
University of Washington
The University of Washington in Seattle, Washington is known for one secret society, the Oval Club. Founded in 1907, the Oval Club was founded to "promote student unity and cooperation, develop cultural leaders and preserve traditions of the University of Washington". Records for Oval Club meetings have been kept by the University of Washington Library's Special Collection dating up to 1963, and membership is publicly acknowledged for Oval Club.
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, has two secret societies: the Sigma Society and the Cadaver Society. Founded in 1880, the Sigma Society is one of Washington and Lee's "oldest, continuous social organizations". While membership information is not necessarily anonymous, the group's purpose and inner workings remain a secret. The group has long had a connection to President George Washington, though the extent of that relationship is unknown to the public at large. Similarly, the acronym P.A.M.O.L.A. R.Y.E.—which is inscribed on buildings and in classrooms throughout the Lexington area—also bears an unknown significance to the group. The group has largely gone underground since 1994 when University officials tore down the Sigma cabin and paid the Sigmas $15,000. Associate Justice to the Supreme Court Lewis Powell Jr. is one of the group's most prominent members.
The membership and organizational structure of the Cadaver Society are largely unknown. Cadaver has been in continuous operation since its founding in 1957. The Cadavers have a bridge that bears their name, connecting the main campus to Wilson Field, as well as their symbol in many prominent places throughout the campus. Cadavers are known for donating large sums of money to the university and for upholding the school’s historic values. They have been criticized for their secrecy and many of their activities include running around dressed in all black and masks late at night as well as drawing their symbol all over campus. They have been known to run through the Sorority houses, talking in high voices and attempting to wake everyone in the houses up.
Washington University in St. Louis
Three known secret societies operate at Washington University in St. Louis: ThurtenE, Lock & Chain, and Chimes. Instead of "secret societies", they are called Honoraries because of the public nature of their members and their purposes within the community.
ThurtenE was formed in 1904 as a secret society of junior men chosen for their leadership, character, and participation in campus activities. Not much is known about the founding of the group or its selection process from the early years other than the fact that only the members themselves knew who belonged to ThurtenE and membership varied from 4 to 14, before finally settling on a consistent 13. Members made themselves known at the end of their senior year during graduation by wearing a small skull pin and having the number “13” listed next to their names in Washington University's yearbook "The Hatchet". In recent years, the 13 new members are revealed when pieces of paper listing the names and the honorary symbol are posted around campus. ThurtenE found its purpose in 1935 when it was approached by the Chancellor to rescue the floundering student circus from the senior honorary, which had merged with another group. Since 1935, ThurtenE has held the Thurtene Carnival, which is the largest and oldest student-run Carnival in the nation. The society has been co-ed since 1991.
Lock & Chain was created in 1904 by six sophomore men. Since then, the honorary has expanded to 15 members from different backgrounds. Students are chosen during the spring from the freshman class based on academic merit, extracurricular involvement, leadership capabilities and roles, and personal qualities through an application and interview process. New members can be seen around campus wearing chains across their chests. Lock & Chain sponsors various events throughout the year and does community engagement and philanthropic programming.
Chapter of Chimes Junior Honorary, founded in 1948 as a women's group, is a group of juniors who share values of scholarship, leadership, and service. Each class works together for one year on programming for Wash U's campus, the internal Chapter, and the chosen partner philanthropy, with the freedom to follow their path for the year. Each member has a name assigned to them that represents an aspect of what they bring to the Honorary (such as intrepidity or flair). Their main campus program is Chimes Week, which explores a particular theme. Like ThurtenE, Chimes has been co-ed since 1991.
Yale University
Main article: Yale University § Student organizationsThe term "secret society" at Yale University encompasses organizations with many shared but not identical characteristics. The oldest surviving undergraduate secret societies at Yale parallel various 19th-century fraternal organizations. In the traditional Yale system, societies were organized by class year. There were two, (then three), senior societies, three junior societies, two sophomore societies, and two freshman societies. All the societies were independent, all had their traditions, and each class-year pair or trio shared common traits appropriate to their class year; the freshmen societies were rambunctious and owned little real property, the sophomore and junior ones were progressively more elaborate, (the sophomore ones regularly maintained live theater in their halls), and the senior ones were extremely small and elite, and with quite expensive property and celebrations.
Each of the societies had a link in the class year before and after it; that is, members of one freshman society would all get elected to the same sophomore society year after year, and so on so that there were two or three parallel sets of linked societies. From time to time, there would be a coup, and one society would break the pattern, forcing the other societies to likewise change election strategies, or cause the creation of a new society. Delta Kappa Epsilon, a junior society that is now a national traditional fraternity, was created in reaction to a botched election process to the junior class societies in 1844.
This process lasted from the 1840s to the 1910s. This system kept Yale out of the more typical intercollegiate college fraternity system, although some regular college fraternities were created out of the Yale system. Yale-type class societies also extended across northeastern colleges. This system has not survived the introduction of regular fraternities and other changes. The senior-class societies continue to prosper today without any of the lower-class societies.
In the past century, the size of Yale has allowed for a wider variety of student societies, including regular college fraternity chapters, and other models, so it can be challenging to categorize the organizations. There are societies like Sage and Chalice and Brothers in Unity which cross ordinary categories.
There are typical attributes of the Yale societies. They are often restricted by class year, especially the senior class. They usually have fifteen members per class year. They "tap" their members, mostly on the same "Tap Night", and a member is off-limits to recruitment by another secret society, (i.e. reciprocal exclusivity). The normal pattern now is that a group of secret societies places an advertisement in the Yale Daily News in early spring that informs students when Tap Night is taking place and when students should expect to receive formal offers (usually one week before official Tap Night). Tap Night is typically held on a Thursday in mid-April; for the Class of 2024, Tap Night was April 20, 2023.
During 1854–1956, the Sheffield Scientific School was the sciences and engineering college of Yale University, and it also had a fraternal culture that differed in some respects from the humanities campus. Many societies have owned meeting halls, with different accommodations. Following the example of Skull & Bones, the halls are often referred to as tombs. A series of articles on Dartmouth and Yale secret-society architecture provides an overview of the buildings. Societies that own tombs or halls are sometimes known as "landed' societies.
The five oldest landed societies are Skull and Bones (1832); Scroll and Key (1841); Spade and Grave (1864); St. Anthony Hall (1867), which calls itself a "final society"; and Wolf's Head (1883). The surviving landed Sheffield societies are Berzelius (1848), Book and Snake (1863), St. Elmo (1889), and the Aurelian Honor Society (1910). Three newer societies that own property include Elihu Club (1903), Manuscript Society (1952), and Mace and Chain (1956). Yale's Buildings and Grounds Department lists the societies with halls in its online architectural database.
List of North American collegiate secret societies
Massachusetts
Virginia
New Hampshire
Georgia
New York
Connecticut
Florida
New Jersey
Alabama
South Carolina
Nevada
Ohio
Illinois
Ontario
Pennsylvania
California
Indiana
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Oklahoma
Missouri
Texas
North Carolina
Michigan
District of Columbia
Tennessee
Rhode Island
British Columbia
See also
Notes
- Secret societies at the College include Dragon, Sphinx and Fire and Skoal. Gomstyn, Alice (2001-05-18). "Secret societies remain veiled in mystery". The Dartmouth. Archived from the original on 2 January 2002. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- Was originally an honor society but is now a secret society.
References
- Bagg, Lyman Hotchkiss (1871). Four Years at Yale. New Haven: Charles C. Chatfield & Co. pp. 87–105.
- Baird, William Raimond (1905). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. A descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the Colleges of the United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity. The Alcolm Company. p. 426.. Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage Archived 2021-06-10 at the Wayback Machine.
- Baird, William Raimond (1905). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. A descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the Colleges of the United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity. The Alcolm Company. p. 428.
- ^ Baird, William Raimond (1905). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. A descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the Colleges of the United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity. The Alcolm Company. p. 429. Archived from the original on 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2020-11-26.. Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage Archived 2021-06-10 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Simon, Molly R. "A secretive 90-year-old fraternity is among groups suspended from Clemson's campus". The Greenville News. Archived from the original on 2024-06-29. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- Barker, Jacob (15 July 2012). "Tiger Brotherhood". Clemson Tigers. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- "In the Beginning · The, Not so Secret, Secret, Fraternity at Clemson University ·". Local History Matters. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
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Bibliography
- Robbins, Alexandra (2004). Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities. New York, NY: Hyperion. ISBN 978-0-7868-8859-7.
- Winks, Robin W. (1996). Cloak and Gown: Scholars in the Secret War, 1939-1961. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press; 2nd edition. ISBN 978-0-300-06524-4.
Further reading
- Sutton, Antony C. (2003). America's Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones. Trine Day. ISBN 978-0-9720207-0-1.
- Robbins, Alexandra (2002). Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones, the Ivy League, and the Hidden Paths of Power. Back Bay Books. ISBN 978-0-316-73561-2.
- Millegan, Kris, ed. (2004). Fleshing Out Skull & Bones: Investigations into America's Most Powerful Secret Society. Trine Day. ISBN 978-0-9752906-0-6.
- Richards, David Alan (2017). Skulls and Keys: The Hidden History of Yale's Secret Societies. Pegasus Books. ISBN 978-1-68177-517-3.
External links
- "How the Secret Societies Got That Way", Yale Alumni Magazine (September 2004)
- "Halls, Tombs and Houses: Student Society Architecture at Dartmouth"
- "Four Years at Yale" A late 19th-century contemporary account of fraternal societies at two Connecticut Universities: Yale & Wesleyan (courtesy of Google Books)
- The Peter Dromgoole legend