Aurelian Honor Society
Encyclopedia
The Aurelian Honor Society (AHS) is a landed senior honor society founded in 1910 at Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut
, USA.
had two separate undergraduate colleges, each with separate facilities, administrations, and student bodies. One of these, the Sheffield Scientific School
, suffered from student divisiveness due to an active Greek system that separated fraternities from each other, and those who were not in fraternities from those who were. In the spring of 1910, Lindell T. Bates, recognizing the fragmentation of the student body and lack of unified leadership, founded the Aurelian Honor Society for seniors “who would not labor under unnecessary handicaps which separated the existing clubs from the student body” . Membership in this Society would be offered to outstanding “Sheff” students of good scholarship and extracurricular achievement. In addition, the Society was to elect three honorary members annually. The purpose of this non-secret organization was to formulate mature undergraduate opinion on those matters affecting the vital interests of the Sheffield Scientific School
, both internally and in its relations with the rest of the University .
These ideals are symbolized by the Society's emblem: a seven-pointed star surrounded by a wreath. The wreath represents a reward of merit, and the star stands for a single body (originally seven members) radiating light in the seven principal lines of college activity—Scientific, Athletic, Literary, Oratorical, Executive, Scholarship, and Religious.
The first official meeting was held on June 6, 1910. The minutes from this meeting and subsequent meetings are collected in books in the Rooms. At each meeting, a paper was read by a member on issues of undergraduate life. These papers have been collected and preserved by the Society’s Historian and can now be found in two locked filing cabinets. Examples of topics discussed by the Society ranged, depending on the time, from how to secure more athletic managers at Yale for Sheff, to questions we still face today, such as the publish-or-perish problem for professors or how to maintain Yale’s traditions .
As a result of these discussions, Aurelian has been on the forefront of fundamental changes in the University, urging, for instance, the adoption of the honor system, participating in the creation of the freshmen counseling program, and being the first society to accept members from all schools within the University upon institution of the unified college system . Aurelian strives to continue this tradition through discussion with honorary members, faculty, and administrators on topics relevant to the university community and the broader world .
Besides discussing issues of the University, Aurelian has, since its inception, overseen a variety of important philanthropic activities in support of the University : a scholarship loan fund (which has recently been revived, now administered by the financial aid office), an undergraduate science contest, the Chester Harding Plimpton award ($100 in gold and the bas-relief medal, the original medal once hung on the wall in the Rooms), a public lecture series, and the prep-school cup award (predecessor to the present book awards). In 1935, the Society voted to give the University $250 to make a film of “Life at Yale” to be sent to alumni meetings throughout the country. The Society also enjoyed many social activities: supper parties in the Rooms, graduate teas after the big games in the fall, a luncheon on Class Day for graduates and their families and occasional theater and athletic events. For many years, the New York alumni invited the Aurelian undergraduates to the Yale Club
for a reception.
After the unification of Yale College
and the Sheffield Scientific School
, and through the tumultuous era of the 1960s, the Aurelian Honor Society’s role in University governance declined . Nevertheless, Aurelian continued to be a supra-senior society, drawing its membership from throughout the University and other societies. Largely due to the sponsorship of Aurelian alumnus Loomis Havemeyer (author of the history of the Society, and whose photo hangs in the main room), Aurelian continued to meet for Tuesday lunches with faculty and honorary members. When Yale went co-ed, Aurelian followed suit, making it one of the only societies to do so at their first opportunity. However, following the death of Loomis Havemeyer, and in the midst of widespread criticism of “elitist, exclusive” organizations, the Society failed to perpetuate itself in 1975. Its reincarnation in 1981, with the help of Dick Shank, then Registrar of Yale College and a successor of Loomis Havemeyer’s, cast Aurelian in a different mold. The Society still seeks to attract members from all walks of student life and maintains contact with the faculty. In this way, Aurelian still maintains the leadership role on which it was founded, emphasizing a sense of history and inquisitiveness that sets the trends, if not for faculty and administrators, for other societies.
of April 29, 1933 read: “The Aurelian Honor Society aims to promote contact and communication between members, to exert an organized force for cooperation with the administration and helpfully to consider problems affecting the University.” At the 25th anniversary of Aurelian, the president of Yale said that the Society had reached a foremost position at Yale through its years of unceasing work to help solve administrative, educational, and social problems. In recognition, the University gave Aurelian its own luxurious quarters when "The Rooms" were constructed in 1932.
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, USA.
Founding Mission
At the beginning of the 20th century, Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
had two separate undergraduate colleges, each with separate facilities, administrations, and student bodies. One of these, the Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
, suffered from student divisiveness due to an active Greek system that separated fraternities from each other, and those who were not in fraternities from those who were. In the spring of 1910, Lindell T. Bates, recognizing the fragmentation of the student body and lack of unified leadership, founded the Aurelian Honor Society for seniors “who would not labor under unnecessary handicaps which separated the existing clubs from the student body” . Membership in this Society would be offered to outstanding “Sheff” students of good scholarship and extracurricular achievement. In addition, the Society was to elect three honorary members annually. The purpose of this non-secret organization was to formulate mature undergraduate opinion on those matters affecting the vital interests of the Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
, both internally and in its relations with the rest of the University .
Name and Emblem
The name was chosen in honor of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, whose career and philosophy represented those ideas for which the organization wished to strive.These ideals are symbolized by the Society's emblem: a seven-pointed star surrounded by a wreath. The wreath represents a reward of merit, and the star stands for a single body (originally seven members) radiating light in the seven principal lines of college activity—Scientific, Athletic, Literary, Oratorical, Executive, Scholarship, and Religious.
History
The Constitution of the society reads: “The object of this Society is to encourage and promote high character, gentlemanly conduct and the molding of one‘s career to a life to the community, and to bring the active members into contact with the honorary members who shall have been selected with the view that their careers shall be a source of inspiration" .The first official meeting was held on June 6, 1910. The minutes from this meeting and subsequent meetings are collected in books in the Rooms. At each meeting, a paper was read by a member on issues of undergraduate life. These papers have been collected and preserved by the Society’s Historian and can now be found in two locked filing cabinets. Examples of topics discussed by the Society ranged, depending on the time, from how to secure more athletic managers at Yale for Sheff, to questions we still face today, such as the publish-or-perish problem for professors or how to maintain Yale’s traditions .
As a result of these discussions, Aurelian has been on the forefront of fundamental changes in the University, urging, for instance, the adoption of the honor system, participating in the creation of the freshmen counseling program, and being the first society to accept members from all schools within the University upon institution of the unified college system . Aurelian strives to continue this tradition through discussion with honorary members, faculty, and administrators on topics relevant to the university community and the broader world .
Besides discussing issues of the University, Aurelian has, since its inception, overseen a variety of important philanthropic activities in support of the University : a scholarship loan fund (which has recently been revived, now administered by the financial aid office), an undergraduate science contest, the Chester Harding Plimpton award ($100 in gold and the bas-relief medal, the original medal once hung on the wall in the Rooms), a public lecture series, and the prep-school cup award (predecessor to the present book awards). In 1935, the Society voted to give the University $250 to make a film of “Life at Yale” to be sent to alumni meetings throughout the country. The Society also enjoyed many social activities: supper parties in the Rooms, graduate teas after the big games in the fall, a luncheon on Class Day for graduates and their families and occasional theater and athletic events. For many years, the New York alumni invited the Aurelian undergraduates to the Yale Club
Yale Club
The Yale Club may be:*The Yale Club of New York City*The Yale Club of Philadelphia*The Yale Glee Club*The Yale Corinthian Yacht Club...
for a reception.
After the unification of Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
and the Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
, and through the tumultuous era of the 1960s, the Aurelian Honor Society’s role in University governance declined . Nevertheless, Aurelian continued to be a supra-senior society, drawing its membership from throughout the University and other societies. Largely due to the sponsorship of Aurelian alumnus Loomis Havemeyer (author of the history of the Society, and whose photo hangs in the main room), Aurelian continued to meet for Tuesday lunches with faculty and honorary members. When Yale went co-ed, Aurelian followed suit, making it one of the only societies to do so at their first opportunity. However, following the death of Loomis Havemeyer, and in the midst of widespread criticism of “elitist, exclusive” organizations, the Society failed to perpetuate itself in 1975. Its reincarnation in 1981, with the help of Dick Shank, then Registrar of Yale College and a successor of Loomis Havemeyer’s, cast Aurelian in a different mold. The Society still seeks to attract members from all walks of student life and maintains contact with the faculty. In this way, Aurelian still maintains the leadership role on which it was founded, emphasizing a sense of history and inquisitiveness that sets the trends, if not for faculty and administrators, for other societies.
Membership
Membership in Aurelian originally did not preclude membership in a senior society but rather supplemented it, bringing together the best people from various fields to promote the high ideals in service to the University. A quote from the Yale Daily NewsYale Daily News
The Yale Daily News is an independent student newspaper published by Yale University students in New Haven, Connecticut since January 28, 1878...
of April 29, 1933 read: “The Aurelian Honor Society aims to promote contact and communication between members, to exert an organized force for cooperation with the administration and helpfully to consider problems affecting the University.” At the 25th anniversary of Aurelian, the president of Yale said that the Society had reached a foremost position at Yale through its years of unceasing work to help solve administrative, educational, and social problems. In recognition, the University gave Aurelian its own luxurious quarters when "The Rooms" were constructed in 1932.
See also
- List of Yale University student organizations
- Collegiate secret societies in North America