List of senior societies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Senior societies are a type of collegiate student organization that recruits juniors and seniors.[1] Senior societies are associated with Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.[1][2] These societies can be activity-based, identity-based, school-based (departmental or academic field), or traditional.[1] Senior societies may be "landed", owning a building or tomb, or "non-landed".[3][4][5]

Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1883), notes that Phi Beta Kappa, founded at the College of William & Mary in 1776, was the first senior society.[6][a] At Dartmouth College, senior societies date back to 1783 with the founding of an organization called the Society of Social Friends.[7] Dartmouth currently had fourteen active senior societies.[7] Yale has more than forty active senior societies.[3] The oldest senior society at Yale is Skull and Bones, established in 1831, followed by Scroll and Key in 1841.[3] Other colleges have similar organizations but use different terminology. For example, there are Princeton University eating clubs and Harvard University final clubs.[8]

Senior societies tend to be exclusive, and members pay dues to belong.[9] Members are most often recruited by a process called "tapping".[2][7][4] Membership in each senior society tends to be small, averaging around fifteen active members.[5] Some senior societies are also secret societies, where the names of members are kept secret, while others are open and share their membership rolls.[7] Other senior societies are semi-secret, keeping member's names a secret until graduation.[7] Some senior societies also are considered honor societies.[9]

Following is an incomplete list of collegiate senior societies.

More information Society, Charter date and range ...
Society Charter date and range Institution Type Ref.
100 Senior Honorary 2005 Emory University [10]
Abaris 1996 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][11]
Agaia Yale University [12]
Agora Yale University [12]
Andromeda 2013 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][11]
The Apostles Yale University [12][13]
Ananias Society 1892–1907 Johns Hopkins University Traditional, secret [14]
Atlas 2013 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][11]
Aurelian Honor Society 1910 Yale University Traditional, secret [13]
B&C Yale University [13]
BaR Yale University [12][13]
Bell Senior Society 2014 University of Pennsylvania Activity-based [1][15]
Belmonte Yale University [12][13]
Berzelius (secret society) 1848 Yale University Traditional, secret [12][4]
Beta Omega 1841–xxxx ? Kenyon College Traditional [16]
Book and Snake 1863 Yale University Traditional, secret [12][4]
C&D Yale University [13]
Cage and Feather Yale University [12][13]
Calliopean Society 1819–1853, 1950 Yale University Traditional, debating [17]
Cane Club 1921– xxxx ? Johns Hopkins University Traditional [18]
Cap and Skull 1900 Rutgers University Traditional [19]
Carriage Senior Society 2013 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [1][20]
Casque and Gauntlet 1887 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][21]
Ceres Athena Yale University [13][b]
C.C.C. 1876–xxxx ? University of California, Berkeley [16]
Chimera Society 1914 Dartmouth College Traditional, secret [7]
Cipactli Latinx Honor Society 2001 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [1][22]
Clio 2020 Dartmouth College Traditional [11]
Cloak and Dagger Yale University [12]
Cobra 1978 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][21]
Cong Yale University [4]
Cup and Crown Yale University [12][13]
Delta Kappa Delta (local) 18xx ?–xxxx ? Marietta College Traditional [16]
Der Hexenkreis 1892 Cornell University Traditional [23][24][25]
Deru 1896 Northwestern University Activity-based [26]
Desmos 1950–1967, 2010 Yale University Traditional, secret [12][13][27][c]
Double Cuffs 2010 Yale University [13][5]
Dragon Society 1898 Dartmouth College Traditional, secret [7][11]
DSG 1989 Yale University Traditional, secret [12][13][d]
DVS Senior Honor Society 1902 Emory University Activity-based [28]
Elephant and Coffin 18xx ?–xxxx ? City College of New York Traditional [16]
Elihu Club 1903 Yale University Traditional [4][13]
Fire and Skoal 1975 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][21]
Fork & Knife Yale University [12][13]
Friars Senior Society 1899 University of Pennsylvania Traditional [29]
Griffin 1995 Dartmouth College Traditional [2][7][11]
Gryphon Yale University [12][13]
Gryphon Senior Society 2020 University of Pennsylvania School-based [30][31]
Helios Society 2015 Yale University [32]
Hexagon 1910 University of Pennsylvania School-based [1]
Ink and Needle Yale University [12][13]
Innominatum Yale University [12]
Iris Yale University [12]
Iron Key Purdue University Activity based, secret [33][34]
ISO Yale University [13]
Kinoki Senior Society 2014 University of Pennsylvania Activity-based [35]
Lantern Society 1993 University of Pennsylvania School-based [1]
LC Yale University [12][13]
Leviathan Yale University [12][13]
Lincoln Yale University [13]
Linonian Society 1753–xxxx ?, 19xx ? Yale University Traditional, secret [13][e]
Lion's Paw Senior Society 1908 Pennsylvania State University Activity-based [36]
Looking Glass Yale University [12][13]
LSV Society 1907 University of Missouri [37]
Mace and Chain 1956 Yale University Traditional, secret [12][4]
Manuscript Society 1951 Yale University Traditional [12][13]
Myth and Sword 1875–1965, 199x ? Yale University Traditional, secret [12][13]
Nacoms 1898 Columbia University Activity-based [38]
Nathan Hale 1947 Yale University Traditional, secret [12]
Nightingales 2011 University of Pennsylvania School-based [1]
Octa 2008 Yale University [13]
Olympus 2014 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][11]
Onyx Senior Society 1974 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [1][39]
Oracle Senior Society 2003 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [1][40]
Order of the Sirens 2007 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][11]
Osiris 2016 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][11]
Osiris Senior Society 2013 University of Pennsylvania Activity-based [1][41]
Osiris Society 1903 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Traditional [42]
Owl and Key 1909 University of Utah Traditional [43]
Owl and Serpent 18xx ?–xxxx ? Wesleyan University Traditional [16]
Owl and Wand 1868–1960s Wesleyan University Traditional [44]
OX 1980 Yale University Traditional [12][13]
Palaeopitus Senior Society 1899 Dartmouth College Activity-based [45]
Pew Yale University [4]
Phi Chi 18xx ?–xxxx ? Bowdoin College Traditional [16]
Phoenix 1984 Dartmouth College Traditional [7][11]
The Pithotomy Club 1893–1992 Johns Hopkins University School-based [46]
Phrygian 2005 Dartmouth College Traditional, secret [47]
Praetorian Yale University [48]
Prince Yale University [4]
The Pundits 1884 Yale University Activity-based [49]
Pyxis 2014 Dartmouth College Traditional [7]
Quaternion Club 1903–2023 Furman University Traditional, men [50][51]
Quaternion Senior Order 2023 Furman University Traditional, coed [50]
Quill and Dagger 1883 Cornell University Traditional [8][52]
Red Dragon Society 1898 New York University Traditional, secret [53]
Red Mask Yale University [12][13]
Ring and Candle xxxx ?–c. 1975, 2015 Yale University [12][54]
Sachems 1915 Columbia University Activity-based, secret [38]
Sage and Chalice Yale University Traditional, secret [13]
St. Elmo Society 1963 Yale University Traditional, secret [4][13]
Scarabbean Senior Society 1915 University of Tennessee Activity-based, secret [55]
Scroll and Key 1842 Yale University Traditional, secret [12][3]
Senior Order 1937-2023 Furman University Traditional, women [50]
The Senior Society 1892 Johns Hopkins University Traditional [56]
Shamash Senior Society 2018 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [57][58]
Sigma Society 1880 Washington and Lee University Traditional, secret [59]
Skull and Bones 1832 Yale University Traditional, secret [12][3]
Skull & Keys 1882–c. 1980 University of California, Berkeley Traditional, secret [60]
Society of Fox and Chariot 2015 Yale University [32]
Spade and Grave 1864 Yale University Traditional, secret [13]
Sphinx 1886 Dartmouth College Traditional, secret [8][21]
Sphinx Head 1890 Cornell University Activity-based [61]
Sphinx Senior Society 1900 University of Pennsylvania Traditional [62]
Society of Saint Thomas Aquinas (aka Aquinas) 2010 Yale University Traditional [12]
Society of Social Friends 1783–xxxx? Dartmouth College Traditional [7]
TDC Yale University [13]
Tejas Club 1925 University of Texas at Austin [63]
The Order of the Basilisk 1903–1988, 2014 Yale University Secret, traditional
Torch Honor Society 1916–196x ?, 1995 Yale University Traditional [13][64]
Trident and Shell 18xx ?–xxxx ? University of Michigan Traditional [16]
Tyger 1892 Dartmouth College Traditional, secret [11]
Vulcan Senior Engineering Society 1904 University of Michigan School-based [65]
Whiskey and Coke Yale University [12][5][13]
WIPS (Women in Power Society) Yale University Identity-based [12][13][66]
Wolf's Head Society 1883 Yale University Traditional [12]
XV Yale University [12]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Phi Beta Kappa is now considered to be an honor society.
  2. [b]
    Created when women were first admitted to Yale University.
  3. [c]
    Reformed from Key and Stone (local).
  4. [d]
    Rumpus reported that DSG stands for "Drunk Senior Girls" but this is disputed by the organization's members.
  5. [e]
    Originally formed as a literary society, Linonia was revived as a secret senior society in the 20th century.

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI