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 University, 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.
Society Charter date and range Institution Type References Abaris 1996 Dartmouth College Activity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Agaia Yale University [ 11] Agora Yale University [ 11] Andromeda 2013 Dartmouth College Identity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] The Apostles Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Atlas Dartmouth College Traditional [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Aurelian Honor Society 1910 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 12] B&C Yale University [ 12] BaR Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Bell Senior Society 2014 University of Pennsylvania Activity-based [ 1] [ 13] Belmonte Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Berzelius (secret society) 1848 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 4] Beta Omega 1841–xxxx ? Kenyon College Traditional [ 14] Book and Snake 1863 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 4] C&D Yale University [ 12] Cage and Feather Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Cane Club 1921– xxxx ? Johns Hopkins University Traditional Carriage Senior Society 2013 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [ 1] [ 15] Casque and Gauntlet 1886 Dartmouth College Activity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Ceres Athena Yale University [ 12] [ b] C.C.C. 1876–xxxx ? University of California, Berkely [ 14] Chimera 1914 Dartmouth College Traditional [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Cipactli Latinx Honor Society 2001 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [ 1] [ 16] Cloak and Dagger Yale University [ 11] Cobra 1978 Dartmouth College Identity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Cong Yale University [ 4] Cup and Crown Yale University [ 11] [ 12] De Gang 1891–1910s Johns Hopkins University Traditional Delta Kappa Delta (local) 18xx ?–xxxx ? Marietta College Traditional [ 14] Deru 1896 Northwestern University Activity-based [ 17] Desmos 1950–1967, 2010 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 12] [ 18] [ c] Double Cuffs 2010 Yale University [ 12] [ 5] Dragon Society 1898 Dartmouth College Traditional, secret [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] DSG 1989 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 12] [ d] Elephant and Coffin 18xx ?–xxxx ? City College of New York Traditional [ 14] Elihu Club 1903 Yale University Traditional [ 4] [ 12] Fire and Skoal 1975 Dartmouth College Identity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Fork & Knife Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Friars Senior Society 1899 University of Pennsylvania Traditional [ 19] Griffin 1995 Dartmouth College Activity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Gryphon Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Gryphon Senior Society 2020 University of Pennsylvania School-based [ 20] [ 21] Helios Society 2015 Yale University [ 22] Hexagon 1910 University of Pennsylvania School-based [ 1] Ink and Needle Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Innominatum Yale University [ 11] Iris Yale University [ 11] ISO Yale University [ 12] Kinoki Senior Society 2014 University of Pennsylvania Activity-based [ 23] Lantern Society 1993 University of Pennsylvania School-based [ 1] LC Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Leviathan Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Lincoln Yale University [ 12] Linonian Society 1753–xxxx ?, 19xx ? Yale University Traditional, secret [ 12] [ e] Lion's Paw Senior Society 1908 Pennsylvania State University Activity-based [ 24] Looking Glass Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Mace and Chain 1956 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 4] Manuscript Society 1951 Yale University Traditional [ 11] [ 12] Mortar Board 1918 National Traditional Myth and Sword 1875–1965, 199x ? Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 12] Nacoms 1898 Columbia University Activity-based Nathan Hale Yale University [ 11] Nightingales 2011 University of Pennsylvania School-based [ 1] Octa Yale University [ 12] Olympus 2014 Dartmouth College Traditional [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Onyx Senior Society 1974 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [ 1] [ 25] Oracle Senior Society 2003 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [ 1] [ 26] Order of the Sirens 2007 Dartmouth College Indentity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Osiris 2016 Dartmouth College Traditional [ 10] Osiris Senior Society 2013 University of Pennsylvania Activity-based [ 1] [ 27] Osiris Society 1903 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Traditional [ 28] Owl and Key 1909 University of Utah Traditional Owl and Serpent 18xx ?–xxxx ? Wesleyan University Traditional [ 14] Owl and Wand 1868–1960s Wesleyan University Traditional OX Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Palaeopitus Senior Society 1899 Dartmouth College Traditional [ 29] Pew Yale University [ 4] Phi Chi 18xx ?–xxxx ? Bowdoin College Traditional [ 14] Phoenix 1984 Dartmouth College Identity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] The Pithotomy Club 1893–1992 Johns Hopkins University School-based Phrygian 2005 Dartmouth College Traditional Praetorian Yale University [ 30] Prince Yale University [ 4] The Pundits 1884 Yale University Activity-based Pyxis 2014 Dartmouth College Identity-based [ 2] [ 7] [ 10] Quill and Dagger 1883 Cornell University Traditional [ 8] Red Dragon Society 1898 New York University Traditional, secret Red Mask Yale University [ 11] [ 12] Ring and Candle xxxx ?–c. 1975, 2015 Yale University [ 11] [ 31] Sachems 1915 Columbia University Activity-based Sage and Chalice Yale University Traditional, secret [ 12] St. Elmo Society 1963 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 4] [ 12] Scarabbean Senior Society 1915 University of Tennessee Activity-based, secret Scroll and Key 1842 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 3] The Senior Society 1892 Johns Hopkins University Traditional Shamash Senior Society 2018 University of Pennsylvania Identity-based [ 32] [ 33] Sigma Society 1880 Washington and Lee University Traditional, secret Skull and Bones 1832 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 11] [ 3] Skull & Keys 1882–c. 1980 University of California, Berkeley Traditional, secret Snakes Society 1993 University of Pennsylvania School-based Society of Fox and Chariot 2015 Yale University [ 22] Spade and Grave 1864 Yale University Traditional, secret [ 12] Sphinx 1885 Dartmouth College Traditional, secret [ 2] [ 10] [ 7] [ 8] Sphinx Head 1890 Cornell University Activity-based Sphinx Senior Society 1900 University of Pennsylvania Traditional Society of Saint Thomas Aquinas (aka Aquinas) 2010 Yale University Traditional [ 11] Society of Social Friends 1783–xxxx ? Dartmouth College Traditional [ 7] Tau Club 1891–1911 Johns Hopkins University Traditional TDC Yale University [ 12] Torch Honor Society 1916–196x ?, 1995 Yale University Traditional [ 12] [ 34] Trident and Shell 18xx ?–xxxx ? University of Michigan Traditional [ 14] Tyger 1892 Dartmouth College Senior Men Whiskey and Coke Yale University [ 11] [ 5] [ 12] WIPS (Women in Power Society) Yale University Identity-based [ 11] [ 12] [ 35] Wolf's Head Society 1883 Yale University Traditional [ 11] XV Yale University [ 11]
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