Owl and Key

Last updated
Owl and Key
Founded1909;115 years ago (1909)
University of Utah
TypeSenior society
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisHonor
ScopeLocal
Chapters1
Headquarters Salt Lake City , Utah
United States

Owl and Key is a student organization at the University of Utah that is a cross between a senior society and an honor society. [1]

Contents

History

Owl and Key, a senior honor society, and Skull and Bones, a junior secret society, were both organized at the University of Utah in 1909. [2] [3] [4] The Utah societies were not affiliated with Yale University but borrowed from its campus traditions. [2] [4]

The purpose of Owl and Key was to foster spirit among the senior class and to uphold the standards and traditions of the University." [5] New members are initiated into the society by alumni of Owl and Key near the start of the spring semester of the senior year. [6] The initiates then plan events such as an annual spring formal. [6]

Owl and Key also acts as the parent organization for Skull and Bones, overseeing the spring recruitment and application process of the juniors who wish to join the secret society. [7] Once applications are received, the active members of Owl and Key select the future members of Skull and Bones. [7]

Membership

Historically, all Owl and Key members were previously members of Skull and Bones, with the latter automatically becoming a member of Owl and Key before graduation. [8] [9] [3] In March 1933, Owl and Key decided to increase its membership by five men so it could also invite worthy students who had not been selected for Skull and Bones. [8] However, its membership is still primarily from Skull and Bones. [9] For example, in its 1940 class, twelve of the fifteen members were from Skull and Bones, with just three new additions. [6] In the 1955 class, eight of the twelve-men members were from Skull and Bones, with four being new additions. [10]

Members are selected the spring semester of their senior year by Owl and Key alumni. [5] [11] Membership was traditionally restricted to senior men; however, women are now members. [1] [12] Invitations are extended students for the academic achievement, leadership, and service in the campus community. [1] [4] Students may also nominate themselves by applying to either Skull and Bones or Owl and Key. [7] Membership to Owl and Key is limited to fifteen initiates per year. [1]

Notable Members

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McConkie, Rochelle (3 February 2009). "Bonesmen celebrate 100 years". Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "2 Men's Honoraries Taking Applications". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1965-05-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Three Students Voted Admission to Owl and Key". Salt Lake Telegram. Utah. 1939-11-09. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "Owl and Key Selects Outstanding Senior Men". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1964-12-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Utonian. University of Utah. 1963. p. 35 – via J. Willard Marriott Digital Library, University of Utah.
  6. 1 2 3 "Owl and Key Initiates 15 Seniors". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1940-02-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 "Deadline Set for Skai-B Applications". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1940-03-21. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Skull and Bones Will Elect Men, New Plan Opens Owl and Key Membership". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1933-03-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Utonian". University of Utah. 1951. p. 226. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via J. Willard Marriott Digital Library, University of Utah.
  10. ↑ "Owl and Key Names 12 Senior Men". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1955-04-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Utonian . University of Utah. 1960. p. 261. via J. Willard Marriott Digital Library, University of Utah.
  12. ↑ Chamberlin, Ralph (1960). The University of Utah: A History of Its First Hundred Years. Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah Press. p. 317.
  13. ↑ "Robert F. Bennett BS'57". Beeline. University of Utah Alumni Association. Spring 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Obituary for J. Thomas Greene, 1929-2011". The Daily Spectrum. Saint George, Utah. 2011-02-16. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Dantzel White Engaged to Russel M. Nelson". The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah. 1945-08-11. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-08-02– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Elder Hugh Pinnock dies at 66". Deseret News . 8 December 2000. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Judge Thornley King Swan". The Salt Lake Tribune. 2002-08-10. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  18. ↑ "Obituary: Judge Thornley King Swan". Deseret News. 2002-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
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