Secret Societies at the University of Virginia

Secret societies have been a part of University of Virginia

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...

student life since the first class of students in 1825. While the number of societies peaked during the 75 year period between 1875 and 1950, there are still five societies (Seven Society

Seven Society

The Seven Society is the most secretive of the University of Virginia's secret societies. Members are only revealed after their death, when a wreath of black magnolias in the shape of a "7" is placed at the gravesite, the bell tower of the University Chapel chimes at seven-second intervals on the...

, Z Society

Z Society

The Z Society is a philanthropic organization that was founded at the University of Virginia in 1892. It comprises outstanding student leaders who give time, talent, and financial contributions to groups and individuals that exemplify the spirit of the society and uphold the ideals of the university...

, IMP Society

IMP Society

The IMP Society is a secret society at the University of Virginia that is notable for combining philanthropy and public mischief.Originally founded in 1902 as a society called the Hot Feet, the society was known primarily for its public ceremonies in which it crowned the society's "king." The Hot...

, Eli Banana

Eli Banana

The Eli Banana Ribbon Society is the oldest secret society at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1878 as a way to encourage the fraternities to engage more directly in the life of the University, the aim of the society was to bring its members to leadership in the University community and to...

, T.I.L.K.A.) active that are over 100 years old, and several newer societies (the Purple Shadows, the A.N.G.E.L.S. Society, 21 Society, P.U.M.P.K.I.N., the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, The Order and the Bondsmen). The earliest societies, Eli and Tilka, functioned as social clubs; the Sevens, IMPs, and Zs have built a record of philanthropy and contribution to the University; and some of the later societies have focused on recognition or disapprobation of positive and negative contributions to the University.

Historical context

The earliest secret society at the University was probably the no-longer-secret Jefferson Literary and Debating Society

Jefferson Literary and Debating Society

The Jefferson Literary and Debating Society is a debating and literary society at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest organization at The University and one of the oldest continuously existing debating societies in North America....

, which at its 1825 founding was secret, with expulsion the penalty to any member who exposed the society's secrets.. Student society activity for the first period of the University appears to have been confined to similar literary societies, including the Patrick Henry Society, Philomathean Society, Parthenon Society, Columbian, and Washington Society, which were not secret societies; only the last is still active.

At the same time, Greek organizations that were purely social in function (today's fraternities) began to play a role in student life. In 1853, students petitioned the Faculty to set up a "secret" colony of Delta Kappa Epsilon. The first request was rejected by the Faculty, coming as it did on the heels of years of riotous behavior; according to University historian Philip Alexander Bruce

Philip Alexander Bruce

Philip Alexander Bruce was an American historian who specialized in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Author of over a dozen volumes of history, Bruce's scope ranged from the first Virginia settlements to the early 20th century...

, the faculty feared "orderly spirit of the student body acting as a whole or in segments, whether organized into secret fraternities or into Calathumpian

Calathumpian

Calathumpian, also spelled "callothumpian", "carathumpian" and "calisthumpian", is used in a non-judgmental way to describe a religion or philosophy when it is relatively original, held by a small group, personally assembled, or not institutionalized. In addition it is sometimes used as a...

bands"; in another session or two, the chapter became established, and other Greek fraternities followed. It can be said generally about the early UVA fraternities that the only "secret" aspect of them was their operation and meeting location; the membership was not kept secret.

The growth of student organizations was interrupted by the Civil War, but resumed thereafter with the establishment of additional fraternities. A few secret societies are recorded during the years 1865 - 1878, of whom the only one of any note is the Dedils, most notable for being shut down by the Faculty after their minutes were found where they had been dropped by the drunken president of the organization.

The Eli Banana

Eli Banana

Society, established in 1878, represented a new kind of secret society at the university. The new "ribbon society" tended to operate as an upperclass society, drew its members from the "upper class", and sought to exercise control of other student groups such as the Jefferson Society. Other ribbon societies included T.I.L.K.A., the Lotus Society, the O.W.L. (a semi-secret society drawing its membership from the newspaper, magazine, and yearbook staff), the Zeta (later the Z Society

Z Society

), and O.N.E.

The suppression of Eli Banana in 1894 and of the Hot Feet/IMP Society in 1908 coincided with the rise of academic societies, including the semi-secret Raven Society

Raven Society

The Raven Society is the University of Virginia's oldest honorary society. Founded in 1904 by University student William McCully James, and named in honor of the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe .According to its constitution, one of the Raven Society's main goals is "to bring together the best men...

, whose members are initiated in a secret ceremony but is otherwise public. At around the same time, the Seven Society

Seven Society

, a group so secret that its members are not made known until their death, appeared. The Seven Society established a new model for secret society operation on Grounds. While the ribbon societies were observed to draw their membership from the fraternities, and the IMPs and Zs from the ribbon societies, the Seven Society's extreme secrecy meant that the society had no apparent formal connections to the social secret societies. At the same time, its exclusive focus on philanthropy meant that, unlike the Elis and Hot Feet, it functioned as an important contributor to the aims of the University. The other societies founded after 1905 likewise define themselves in relation to supporting the University, whether through recognizing notable or notorious individuals (P.U.M.P.K.I.N.s, 21 Society, Sons of Liberty) or upholding University traditions (Purple Shadows). The A.N.G.E.L.S. Society both reaches out to students who may be struggling or simply those who display kindness or other laudable characteristics.

T.I.L.K.A.

The T.I.L.K.A. Society, commonly called Tilka, was founded in 1889 as a ribbon society after the model of Eli Banana. The name of the society is said to reference "five mystical words," though these are unknown. The society rose in prominence after the Elis were suppressed in the late 1890s, capturing most of the student offices.

Like Eli Banana, the Tilkas combined a focus on student leadership with a social function. Dabney notes that from the 1920s to the 1950s both organizations regularly sponsored formal dances at the university. The organizations were sufficiently integrated into student life by the late 1940s that a Virginia Glee Club

Virginia Glee Club

The Virginia Glee Club is a critically acclaimed men's chorus based at the University of Virginia. It performs both traditional and contemporary vocal works, typically in TTBB arrangements. Founded in 1871, the Glee Club is the University's oldest musical organization and one of the oldest all-male...

album of University songs included the Tilka anthem ("Come Fill Your Glasses Up for T.I.L.K.A.").

Notable members of T.I.L.K.A. included founding member and UVA Law professor Raleigh C. Minor, past UVA football quarterback and alumni association president Gilbert J. Sullivan

Gilbert J. Sullivan

Gilbert J. "Gilly" Sullivan was the longtime director of the University of Virginia Alumni Association for 35 years. Appointed to the position in 1958 after the retirement of J. Malcolm "Mack" Luck, Sullivan remained in the position until his retirement in 1993...

; and University president Frank Hereford

Frank Hereford (UVa)

Frank Loucks Hereford, Jr. was the president of the University of Virginia from 1974–1985. He died in 2004 at the age of 81...

.

The Tilkas are still active at UVA; a 2004 article in the Cavalier Daily describes their "tapping" ceremony.

Purple Shadows

The Society of the Purple Shadows, named after a line from the poem "The Honor Men" that refers to the purple shadows of The Lawn

The Lawn

The Lawn is a large, terraced grassy court at the historic center of Jefferson's academic community at the University of Virginia. The design shows Jefferson's mastery of Palladian architecture...

, was established in 1963. The group's stated mission is "to contribute to the betterment of the University and to safeguard vigilantly the University traditions." The group is notable for appearing in public in purple hooded robes that have drawn comparison to Ku Klux Klan

Ku Klux Klan

Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...

attire.

Past activities of the Purple Shadows have included anonymous political statements. In the 1970-1971 term, the society gave an ambiguous welcome to Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Annette Gibbs, whose responsibilities included the advising female undergraduate students at the newly coeducational university, by tying the doors to her office shut with a purple ribbon. In 1982, following the decision of Dean of Students Robert Canevari to ban the traditional Easters celebration, the group left a letter and a dagger expressing their displeasure. The Dean filed charges against the group with the University Judiciary Committee, which were never answered.

The principal contribution made by the Purple Shadows today is ongoing support of the honor system. The Shadows leave notecards for first year students during Convocation to formally welcome them to the Honor System; present the James Hay Jr. award for contributions to the honor system; and send letters in defense of the honor system when the existing single sanction system is challenged. The group has taken other stands recently, including encouraging students to end the practice of chanting "not gay" when The Good Old Song

The Good Old Song

The Good Old Song is the de facto alma mater of the University of Virginia. It is set to the music of Auld Lang Syne...

is sung.

P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society

The P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society appeared sometime prior to 1967, when the earliest known dated citation of the group was published in the Cavalier Daily.; its purpose is to recognize "meritorious service" to UVA. The earliest account of the group takes a humorous tone, claiming a connection to a 14th century "Societe de la Citrouillie" and establishing the society's secret "mystic" motto, "When the Corn's in the bin, Gourds are on the vine." The group distributes actual pumpkins, along with letters of commendation, annually. The society historically also presented a rotten gourd to an individual whom it felt deserving of criticism, but this practice was ended in 2000.

A.N.G.E.L.S.

The Angels society is one of the newer societies, possibly founded as recently as 1998. A.N.G.E.L.S. have been known to reach out to individuals within the community who may be grieving or struggling, as well as encourage those who display kindness or other laudable characteristics by presenting them with a white rose.

Recent societies

Other secret societies have appeared on Grounds in the last ten years, including the 21 Society and the Sons of Liberty. The 21 Society
The 21 Society
The 21 Society announced its founding on June 21, 1999, citing "direct challenge to student self-governance" and claiming an intention to "unify the politically active students of the University." Since its inception, the 21 Society has contributed philanthropically to a variety of groups,...

announced its founding on June 21, 1999, citing "direct challenge(s) to student self-governance" and claiming an intention to "unify the politically active students of the University." The society has subsequently contributed to the University of Virginia Center for Politics

University of Virginia Center for Politics

The University of Virginia Center for Politics was founded in 1998 by professor and political analyst Larry J. Sabato to put into practice his belief that "Politics is a good thing!" The Center for Politics is a nonpartisan organization based in Charlottesville, Virginia, which seeks to increase...

.

The Sons and Daughters of Liberty were founded around 2003 and follow the model of the P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society by singling out individuals in the University community for commendation or disapprobation. In 2008, they were criticized for a prank of a University grad student that included pouring tea down his chimney; the same year the group immersed the podium of the Jefferson Society in a trash can full of tea and left a "tarred and feathered" red jacket with a letter on the podium. The group appears to have no connection to the student-organized company of volunteer soldiers, also called the Sons of Liberty, who conducted training drills on the Lawn in 1861 after the outbreak of the Civil War. More recently, the group has been alleged to disrupt other student organizations' meetings, including private elections meetings of those groups. In 2011, on George Washington's birthday, the group marched down the lawn wearing traditional colonial clothing and placed a red, white, and blue wreath at the statue of George Washington and a note about the responsibility of students when electing student leaders. They are also known for their "Rebels/Tyrants" list, which they distribute every year on Thomas Jefferson's birthday. They recognize individuals in the UVA community for "promoting Liberty" and condemn others for "promoting Tyranny." The Jefferson Literary and Debating Society are always included on the list of "Tyrants."

The Rotunda Burning Society is a secret organization, presumably founded sometime after 1974 and before 1993, that commemorates the 1895 burning of the Rotunda

The Rotunda (University of Virginia)

The Rotunda is a building located on The Lawn in the original grounds of the University of Virginia. It was designed by Thomas Jefferson to represent the "authority of nature and power of reason" and was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Construction began in 1822 and was completed in 1826, after...

by burning an effigy of the building each year at the base of the south steps.

Little is known about the Order of the Claw and Dagger, save their contribution to the recent capital campaign for the McIntire School of Commerce

McIntire School of Commerce

The McIntire School of Commerce is the University of Virginia's undergraduate business school and graduate business school for Commerce, Accounting, and Management of Information Technology. It was founded in 1921 through a gift by Paul Goodloe McIntire. The two-year McIntire program offers...

; their logo is now found on the side of Rouss Hall on The Lawn

The Lawn

The Lawn is a large, terraced grassy court at the historic center of Jefferson's academic community at the University of Virginia. The design shows Jefferson's mastery of Palladian architecture...

next to that of the IMP Society

IMP Society

. The Delphi Society is a secret organization apparently connected to the McIntire School of Commerce

McIntire School of Commerce

; They have recognized faculty contributions and have sponsored scholarships for students.

In addition, The Yellow Journal

The Yellow Journal

The Yellow Journal is a student-run humor publication at The University of Virginia. Similar to Harvard's Harvard Lampoon, The Yellow Journal is the longest-running, though not continuously published, humor and satire publication at Jefferson's university...

, the University's humor publication, functions as a secret society in that it is published anonymously and members are publicly unknown. Historically, the publication has always been published anonymously though throughout the 1980's and 1990's the nature of the paper and its members were not secretive.

List of societies

The following is a list of some of the known secret societies at the University of Virginia

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...

. Much of the information has been paraphrased from information compiled by University Guide Service alumni and former University Guide Service historian Charles Irons.

This list includes societies that are well attested by reliable sources. It excludes some societies, such as the Raven Society

Raven Society

, that have public membership and therefore are not secret societies by definition.

Name	Year Established	Type	Status
Philomathean Society Philomathean Society The Philomathean Society of the University of Pennsylvania is a collegiate literary society, the oldest student group at the university, and a claimant to the title of the oldest continuously-existing literary society in the United States.This claim is disputed between the Philomathean Society and...	1849	Semisecret	Inactive
Eli Banana Eli Banana The Eli Banana Ribbon Society is the oldest secret society at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1878 as a way to encourage the fraternities to engage more directly in the life of the University, the aim of the society was to bring its members to leadership in the University community and to...	1878	Semisecret	Active
T.I.L.K.A.	1889	Semisecret	Active
Z Society Z Society The Z Society is a philanthropic organization that was founded at the University of Virginia in 1892. It comprises outstanding student leaders who give time, talent, and financial contributions to groups and individuals that exemplify the spirit of the society and uphold the ideals of the university...	1892	Semisecret	Active
IMP Society IMP Society The IMP Society is a secret society at the University of Virginia that is notable for combining philanthropy and public mischief.Originally founded in 1902 as a society called the Hot Feet, the society was known primarily for its public ceremonies in which it crowned the society's "king." The Hot... (Hot Feet)	1902	Semisecret	Active
Seven Society Seven Society The Seven Society is the most secretive of the University of Virginia's secret societies. Members are only revealed after their death, when a wreath of black magnolias in the shape of a "7" is placed at the gravesite, the bell tower of the University Chapel chimes at seven-second intervals on the...	1905	Secret	Active
Purple Shadows	1963	Secret	Active
P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society	ca. 1967	Secret	Active
Rotunda Burning Society	betw. 1974 and 1993	Secret	Active
A.N.G.E.L.S. Society	1998	Secret	Active
21 Society	1999	Secret	Active
Sons and Daughters of Liberty	bef. 2005	Secret	Active
Order of the Claw and Dagger	bef. 2007	Secret	Active
Society of the Dawn	bef. 2010	Secret	Active
The Delphi Society	2011	Secret	Active

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