Secret societies at the College of William & Mary
Encyclopedia
Secret societies at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia
date back to the 18th-century founding of the nation's first known collegiate secret society, The F. H. C. Society (founded on November 11, 1750). Today a number of secret societies are known (or believed) to exist at the university: the Seven Society, the 13 Club, the Alphas, the Bishop James Madison Society
, the Flat Hat Club
, the Phi Society, the Wren Society
, the W Society, one group "simply called the Society."
There are a number of other secret societies with the word "seven" in their name, though there is no known evidence connecting the groups. One such society is the Seven Society
at University of Virginia
, founded in 1905, also noted for its philanthropic practices.
but it was reformed sometime in the 20th century. The society’s activities, which seek to further the reputation, pride, and mirth of the college community, include the promotion of a "Last Lecture" in which it invites a noted faculty member to speak on issues of current social and/or academic importance. Membership in the society is confidential. During the college's annual commencement exercises, some graduating members identify their involvement by wearing medals featuring the society's symbol, an elongated quatrefoil
.
and George Wythe. In 1972, the society was reformed. According to The Flat Hat (a largely unaffiliated student newspaper), "new members are selected by those currently in the group. Historically, the group has tapped student government leaders, as well as several members of The Flat Hat [newspaper], which took its name from the historic group."
, but a chapter has been established at William & Mary. Little is known about this society at the college. Another similarly named organization, the Phi Society of 1883
exists at The University of the South. Outside of the fact that both organizations were created by former members of Phi Delta Theta
, the two societies are unrelated. Both societies branched off from the main organization due to conflicts of interest with the national organization.
birth. Sir Christopher Wren is the presumed designer of the Wren Building
, which is the nation's oldest academic building. The Wren Society, like the Bishop James Madison Society, was forced to disband at the start of the Civil War
. Also like the Bishop James Madison Society, the Wren Society was later restored by students. The society strives for the betterment of the college.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
date back to the 18th-century founding of the nation's first known collegiate secret society, The F. H. C. Society (founded on November 11, 1750). Today a number of secret societies are known (or believed) to exist at the university: the Seven Society, the 13 Club, the Alphas, the Bishop James Madison Society
Bishop James Madison Society
The Bishop James Madison Society is a secret society of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Students founded the society in the year 1812 as a tribute to the life of the late Bishop James Madison, eighth president of William and Mary and cousin to the U.S. president James Madison...
, the Flat Hat Club
Flat Hat Club
The Flat Hat Club is the popular name of a society founded after 1916 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and revived there in 1972. The organization was named after the F.H.C. Society, which had been founded at the College on November 11, 1750, and was itself known...
, the Phi Society, the Wren Society
Wren Society
The Wren Society, is one of the many secret societies on the campus of the College of William and Mary.Founded in 1832, to honor the two hundredth birthday of Sir Christopher Wren, the society quickly grew in prominence . The society, like many other traditions of the Royal College, fell victim to...
, the W Society, one group "simply called the Society."
7 Society
The 7 Society is an all-male, senior class society believed to have been founded in 1826. Its seven members, selected in their junior year, work to honor and encourage those who help strengthen the university, often through gifts. In 2003, for example, the "Sevens" left dozens of umbrellas for the Admissions Office to use during rainy campus tours. Historically, the society formally announced its members' identities as they graduated. In recent years, however, membership has become steeped in mystery -- being only revealed in the event of death.There are a number of other secret societies with the word "seven" in their name, though there is no known evidence connecting the groups. One such society is the 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...
at 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...
, founded in 1905, also noted for its philanthropic practices.
13 Club
Given the society's name, the 13 Club, likely founded in the early twentieth century, is presumed to have thirteen members. Little information has been made public regarding their campus activities. In fact, the society maintains such a high level of secrecy that even members' wives and children are unaware of their membership. Such was the case of Louise Kale Director of William and Mary's Historic Campus, who only became aware of her father's membership after his death.Alpha Society
The all-female Alpha Society was likely created to counteract the college's male-dominated secret societies. Other details surrounding this society remain a mystery.Bishop James Madison Society
The Bishop James Madison Society reports its founding year as 1812. Named in honor of William & Mary's eighth president, the late Bishop James Madison. The original society was forced to disband at the advent of the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
but it was reformed sometime in the 20th century. The society’s activities, which seek to further the reputation, pride, and mirth of the college community, include the promotion of a "Last Lecture" in which it invites a noted faculty member to speak on issues of current social and/or academic importance. Membership in the society is confidential. During the college's annual commencement exercises, some graduating members identify their involvement by wearing medals featuring the society's symbol, an elongated quatrefoil
Quatrefoil
The word quatrefoil etymologically means "four leaves", and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts.-In heraldry:In heraldic terminology, a quatrefoil is a representation of a flower with four petals, or a leaf with four leaflets . It is sometimes shown "slipped", i.e. with an...
.
Flat Hat Club
Founded during the early-20th century (and later revived in 1972), today's all-male Flat Hat Club is named in honor of the historic F. H. C. Society. The original F. H. C. Society was founded in 1750 under a secret Latin name, possibly Fraternitas, Humanitas, et Cognitio, Fraternitas Humanitas Cognitioque, or variations thereof. The club was informally referred to as the Flat Hat Club. Its members included St. George Tucker, Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and George Wythe. In 1972, the society was reformed. According to The Flat Hat (a largely unaffiliated student newspaper), "new members are selected by those currently in the group. Historically, the group has tapped student government leaders, as well as several members of The Flat Hat [newspaper], which took its name from the historic group."
Phi Society
The Phi Society was created at the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, but a chapter has been established at William & Mary. Little is known about this society at the college. Another similarly named organization, the Phi Society of 1883
Phi Society of 1883
The Phi Society was formed in 1883 when the members of Phi Delta Theta left the national fraternity to form a local fraternity because of conflicts of interest with the national organization....
exists at The University of the South. Outside of the fact that both organizations were created by former members of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
, the two societies are unrelated. Both societies branched off from the main organization due to conflicts of interest with the national organization.
W Society
Little is known about the W Society except that it honors one freshman every year for service to the Williamsburg community.Wren Society
The Wren Society is said to have been founded in 1832 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of British architect Sir Christopher Wren'sChristopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
birth. Sir Christopher Wren is the presumed designer of the Wren Building
Wren Building
The Wren Building is the signature building of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Along with the Brafferton and President's House, these buildings form the College's Historic Campus....
, which is the nation's oldest academic building. The Wren Society, like the Bishop James Madison Society, was forced to disband at the start of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Also like the Bishop James Madison Society, the Wren Society was later restored by students. The society strives for the betterment of the college.