Skull & Keys is a men's honor society at the University of California, Berkeley. [1] [2] [3] The organization was started by Theta Nu Epsilon. [4] Much of the society's practices, members, and traditions are kept secret. Skull & Keys is the first of several collegiate secret societies to have originated from the fraternity system at Berkeley, the others being the Sigma Phi Society of the Thorsen House and Sons and Daughters of California.
Skull & Keys was founded in 1892 by, among others, the novelist Frank Norris. [4] [5] Skull & Keys was founded as an upperclassman society for members of Theta Nu Epsilon, with many of its early members having affiliations with societies from Yale. The society intended to hold "Tap Day" ceremonies at Berkeley, in following the traditions of Yale as well. [2] [3] [4] The Zeta or Berkeley chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon was founded as a Sophomore society at Berkeley eleven years before in 1881. Skull & Keys membership was initially drawn from Senior and Junior classes at the university. [2] [5]
Historically, it meets semi-monthly in a facility known only as the Tomb. [6] It is led by the Uncle, who is elected by voice vote of the active members. Invitees endure the initiation ritual known as the Running. [7] [8] [9]
Delta Kappa Epsilon (ΔΚΕ), commonly known as DKE - or - Deke is one of the oldest fraternities in the United States, currently with fifty-six active chapters across North America. Founded at Yale College in 1844 by fifteen sophomores who were discontent with the existing fraternity order on campus. The men established a fellowship where the candidate most favored was he who combined in the most equal proportions the Gentleman, the Scholar and the Jolly Good Fellow.
Zeta Psi (ΖΨ) is one of the world's oldest collegiate fraternities. Its members are known as "Zetes".
Theta Nu Epsilon is a sophomore class society. Founded at Wesleyan University in 1870 as a chapter of Skull and Bones, the society accepts members regardless of their fraternity status.
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.
Alpha Epsilon Delta (ΑΕΔ) is a U.S. health preprofessional honor society. The organization currently has more than 144,000 members within 186 chapters at universities throughout the United States, making it the world's largest Honor Society serving all students from different backgrounds in the pursuit of a career in healthcare.
Theta Upsilon Omega (ΘΥΩ), was a national collegiate fraternity in the United States. Representatives of several local fraternities at a December 1, 1923 meeting of locals, organized by the National Interfraternity Conference, determined to form a new national through amalgamation, resulting in the creation of Theta Upsilon Omega on May 2, 1924.
The expansion of Greek letter organizations into Canada was an important stage of the North American fraternity movement, beginning in 1879 with the establishment of a chapter of Zeta Psi at the University of Toronto. In 1883 the same fraternity established a chapter at McGill University. Other early foundations were Kappa Alpha Society at Toronto in 1892 and at McGill in 1899, and Alpha Delta Phi at Toronto in 1893 and at McGill in 1897. The first sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, was established at Toronto in 1887. In 1902, the first international chapter of Phi Delta Theta was established at McGill University as the Quebec Alpha. The development of the fraternity system in Canada has made great progress in these two universities. In 1927 Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities reported the existence of 42 chapters at the University of Toronto and of 23 chapters at McGill University. A few chapters were also reported from the University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, Carleton University, Dalhousie University, University of Manitoba, Queen's University, University of Western Ontario, McMaster University, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo, Brock University and University of Alberta.
The Phi Epsilon Pi (ΦΕΠ) fraternity, active between 1904 and 1970 with a predominantly Jewish membership, was founded in New York City and eventually opened at least 48 chapters on college campuses across the United States and one in Canada. After several mergers it consolidated into Zeta Beta Tau in 1970.
Theta Sigma Upsilon (ΘΣΥ) was a sorority founded on March 25, 1921 at Emporia State University. It merged with Alpha Gamma Delta at the 22nd international convention of Alpha Gamma Delta at French Lick, Indiana on June 29, 1959.
Phi Rho Sigma (ΦΡΣ) is a professional fraternity founded by medical students at Northwestern University in 1890.
Kappa Nu (ΚΝ) was an American College Fraternity that was active from 1911 to 1961 when it merged with Phi Epsilon Pi.
Beta Kappa (ΒΚ) was a Social Fraternity founded at Hamline University in 1901 and which merged with Theta Chi in 1942.
Beta Sigma Omicron (ΒΣΟ) is a defunct national sorority. It was founded on December 12, 1888 and merged with Zeta Tau Alpha on August 7, 1964.
Kappa Beta Pi (ΚΒΠ) is a Legal Association which was formerly a professional law sorority in the United States.
Phi Epsilon Kappa (ΦΕΚ) is a national professional fraternity for persons engaged in or pursuing careers in the fields of physical education, health, recreation, dance, human performance, exercise science, sports medicine and sports management.
Skull and Keys, one of the oldest honor societies on the campus ...
The eighth annual running of the Skull and Keys society takes place to-day on the campus. The public initiation of this dramatic society chosen from the Senior and Junior classes has come to be one of the great events of the College year.
California, University of — Skull and Keys, 1892
In 1892, the Zeta Chapter created the society of Skull & Keys for senior members. There were probably many reasons for this, one of which is that Berkeley was known for having many of its initial personnel come from Yale, and if Berkeley had a senior society, it would have been possible to recreate the Tap Day ceremonies at Berkeley. ... However, if Theta Nu Epsilon had come from the senior society Skull & Bones, then it only made sense, (to some minds), to create a senior society from it.
Frank Norris took part in the college dramatics and would have made a name for himself upon the professional stage had he chosen that branch of art for his future career. He wrote the ritual and other ceremonials for Skull and Keys -- the junior-senior society at the University of California -- which still ranks as an honor society.
Berkeley; October 5, 1925. University Of California. The Elmhurst district In East Oakland volunteered to clean up the streets ...
Notwithstanding the threatening state of the weather yesterday, the Skull and Keys initiates appeared on the campus at 8:30 in dress suits with duck trousers. After being put through the toils around North Hall they were marched in a body to South Hall. They were marched in to see the President, who gave them a short talk.
Berkeley; April 2, 1920 ... annual Running of the Skull and Keys ...
Berkeley; October 13, 1923. No "Running" of the Skull and Keys Society at the University of California this year. ...