Yale's Extracurricular & Social Organizations, 1780-1960

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1-1961

Loomis Havemeyer

Follow this and additional works at: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/yale_history_pubs r 1 YALE'S EXTRACURRICULAR & SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

Loomis Havemeyer

January 1961 Foreword

Since the eighteenth century there has grown up at Yale a vast number of societies, fraternities and clubs; students have always been great njoinersu. Some of these have lasted a long time and are important while others existed only a brief period and died, leaving, perhaps, only a name with no date available. In going through the old copies of the Banner the names of many of these latter appear only to be omitted in later issues and so we assume that they passed from the scene. A group might get together for some purpose, select a name, be recorded in the Banner, and then in a short time cease to exist. These we have not included for while they may have been important to the founders, they made no impression on the Yale scene. We have not included athletics or the preparatory school and state clubs that as a rule meet infrequently, perhaps for one dinner a year, and usually have an ephemeral existence. After months of research we have compiled a list of the more important extracurricular activities, giving, where possible, the date, when they first appeared and if they dropped out, the year. In some cases there are no adequate records and so we have resorted to ques- tion marks. If only one date appears, it is the time of founding and the organization is still in existence. It is hoped that any graduate who goes over this list and finds important omissions will notify us.

Loomis Havemeyer SENIOR SOCIETIES

Name Founded Skull and Bones 1832 (Russell Trust Association) Quarters: 1. Back room of Courant Building on Chapel Street. 2. Present hall, 44 High Street, built in 1856. Enlar ed, 1883, 1903; 1918 Garden added J. W. Cross, architect. Scroll and Key (Kingsley Trust Association) Quarters: 1. 4th floor of Leffingwell Building on corner of Church and Court Streets, 1847. 2. Built present building, 490 College Street, 1870. Richard M. Hunt, architect. Berzelius (Colony) 1848 (Berzelius Trust Association) (converted Quarters: 1. Whittlesey's Drug- Store, 744 Chapel to senior Street. society, 2. Yale National Bank, Chapel and State 1933) Streets. 3. 96 Prospect Street. (dormitory maintained at 88 Wall Street), between old Canal Railroad Bridge and Prospect Place. (Alpha Sigma Phi bought building in 1910.) 4. Built dormitory on Hillhouse Avenue in 1898. Sold it to Yale University in 1933. Noble Hoggson 1888-5 architect. 5. Tomb on Trumbull Street built in 1910. DOM Barber 1893-5 architect. Book and Snake (Cloister--Sigma Delta Chi) 1863 (Stone Trust Corporation) (converted Quarters: 1. Top floor of building on College and to senior Chapel Streets. society, 2. .Top floor of 953 Chapel Street. 1933) 3. 36 Elm Street, 1876. (First society dormitory at Yale.) 4. Built Dormitory at Hillhouse and Grove Streets, 1888. Enlarged in 1917 and given to the University in 1933. 5. Tomb on Grove and High Streets, built in 1901. Louis Metcalfe 1895-S architect. Wolf's Head (The Phelps Association) Quarters: 1. Prospect and Trumbull Streets, built in 1883. 2. 210 York Street, built in 1924-6. Bertram B. Goodhue architect. SENIOR SOCIETIES (Cont.)

Founded Elihu 1903 (Elihu Club, Inc.) Quarters: 175 Elm Street, occupied in 1911. Manuscript (Wrexham Trust Association) Quarters: 1, 270 College Street. 2. 344 Elm Street, (1956)

OTHER SENIOR SOCIETIES

Desmos Gamma Tau Phoenix Ring and Candle Spade and Grave St. Elmo Senior Society Sword and Gate

SCHOLASTIC SOCIETIES Name Founded Phi Beta Kappa 1780 Quarters: 1. White Hall 2. Durfee Hall 3, Bingham Hall Sigma Chi Quarters: 1. 56 Hillhouse Avenue 2. 51 Prospect Street Tau Beta Pi

HONOR SOCIETIES Name Founded Aurelian (originally Sheff) 1910 Quarters: 1. Houses of honorary members. 2. Old Music School. 3. Townsend House, Grove Street. 4. 405 Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall. Torch (originally Sheff) 1916 Quarters: 1. Rooms on Wall Street 2. 415 Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall. LITERARY SOCIETIES Chi Delta Theta 1821 (associated with the Yale Literary Ma azine and with Manuscript Society in the early 1950~~7 The Pundits 1884 Elizabethan Club Quarters: 459 College Street. .f Jared Eliot Book Collectors and Literary Society 1934 Quarters: Meets in membersf rooms and faculty homes.

OTHER UNDERGRADUATE SOCIETIES AND CLUBS Name Founded Chess Club 1856 Sigma Delta Psi (Athletic Society) Outing Club Cannon & Castle (Military Society) Quarters: 51 Prospect Street. W.I. Y. 0. Radio Club 1931 Film Society 1936 Aviation Club A1 ha Phi Omega (Scouting) Oelta Nu Chapter) Fishing Club Mountaineering Club 1947 Yale Key Yale Film Society Franklin Society Photo Club Sports Car Club, Inc. ACTIVE FRATERNITIES

Founded Psi Upsilon (Beta Chapter) 1838 Reorganized as the Fence Club (Trumbull Trust Association) in 1934. Quarters: 1. Townsend's Block on College and Chapel Streets in 1930's. 2. Former tomb erected at 120 High Street in 1870, enlarged in 1895-6. 3. 224 York Street, 1931. James Gamble Rogers architect. Delta Kappa Epsilon (Phi Chapter) 1844 (Winthrop Trust Association) Quarters: 1. Former tomb on east side of York street, south of Elm. 2. From 1917-192'5, in home on same site. 3. 232 York Street, built in 1930. James Gamble Rogers, architect. Delta Psi (St. Anthony) 1868 (Anthony Trust Association) Quarters: 1. 61 Grove Street. 2. 43 College Street, in 1881. 3. Present site on College and Wall Streets, in 1894, enlarged in 1895. 4. Built present building on same site in 1913. Half of building turned over to University for offices and classrooms in 1945. Charles C Haight, architect. Phi Gamma Delta (Vernon Hall) 1875 (Fowler Trust Association) (Mrst established in 1875; withdrawn, but renewed in 1888) Quarters: 1. 36 Elm Street. 2. Tomb on Temple Street, west side, north of Railroad bridge; maintained dormitory at 70 Trumbull Street. 3. 370 Temple Street, built in 1906. Satterlee & Boyd, architects. 4. Prospect and Trumbull Streets, (formerly Wolf's Head) in 1944. 5. 217 Park Street in 1950. Building bought and ~vento the Universitv which leases it to-the fraternity. Zeta Psi (Eta Chapter) 1888 (Zeta Psi Association) Quarters: 1. 307 York Street, built in 1890-91. 2. Rebuilt on same site, 1898-99. 3. 212 York Street in 1930. Everett V. Meeks, architect. ACTIVE FRATERNITIES (Cont.) Name Founded Delta Phi (St. Elmo) 1889 (Fthinelander Trust Association) Quarters: 1. Club House on site east of present building, built in 1895. 2, New Building at 111 Grove Street, 1912. Rented upper stories to University, 1945. Kenneth M. Murchison, architect. Beta Theta Pi (Phi Chi Chapter) 1892 (Covington Trust Association) Quarters: 1. Tomb at 264 Crown Street. 2. Tomb at 124 High Street, 1906. 3. 204 York Street, 1930. H. Herbert Wheeler, architect. Acquired by University in 1935. Chi Psi (Kappa Delta chapter) 1924 (Philip Spencer Memorial Trust) Quarters: 1. Tomb on northeast corner of Prospect and Trurnbull Streets. (formerly Wolf's Head) 2. 211 Park Street in 1930, H, Herbert Wheeler, architect. Sold to University in 1960. 3. 1195 Chapel Street. SHE FFlELD SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL SOCIETIES NOW DEFUNCT BUT EXTANT AS SENIOR SOCIETIES

-Name Founded Colony 1848 See: Berzelius Senior Society. Cloister (First called Sigma Delta Chi Fraternity) 1863 See: Book and Snake Senior Society. FRATERNITIES AND SOCIETIES NOW DEFUNCT

-Name Founded Linonia (debating) 1735-1868.. Quarters: 1. Alumni Hall. 1878-1880 2. University Library. 1904-1906 Brothers in Unity (debating) Quarters: 1. Alumni Hall. 2. University Library. Name Founded

Phoenix 1806-1807 Calliopean (Phi Epsilon Mu) (debating) 1819-1853 (The name was reactivated in 1950 as a conservative political society. See under "Other Undergraduate Societies") Quarters: Townsend's Block on Chapel Street oooosite Old Campus, 1819. When ~iumniHall was being built, a room was planned for Calliopean, but the latter dissolved before the hall was completed. A1 ha Delta Phi fiyler Trust Association) Quarters: 1. 15 Hillhouse Avenue, 1895. 2. 215 Park Street, 1930. Sold to University in 1934. James Gamble Rogers, architect. Kappa Sigma Theta (sophomore) 1838-1857 Quarters: Rooms in Townsend's Block, Chapel and College Streets. Kappa Sigma Epsilon (freshman) 1840-1880 Quarters: 1. Brewster Building, southeast corner of State and Chapel Streets. 2. Rooms in Collins Building, Chapel Street below State, 1870. A1 ha Sigma Phi (sophomore, later junior) gelven Club, Delta Beta Xi) Quarters: 1. Whitney Avenue and Trumbull Street, 1907-1924. 2. 96 Prospect Street, 1900-1907. 3. 217 Park Street, James Gamble Rogers, architect. Star and Dart (senior) 1843-1851 Sword and Crown (senior) 1844-1846 Delta Kappa (freshman) 1845-1880 Quarters: 1. Austin Building on Chapel Street near Church Street, 1846. 2. Rooms at 334 Chapel Street near Church Street, 1864. Sigma Delta (freshman) 1849-1860 Quarters: Utilized various Yale College rooms. FRATERNITIES AND SOCIETIES NOW DEFUNCT (Cont.) Name Founded Gamma Nu (freshman) Quarters: 1. Lyon Building, 1863. 2. Insurance Building, c. 1870. L and S (Literature and Science) (Scientific School) 1862-1864 Delta Beta Xi 1864-1875 Quarters: Townsend's Block, Corner Chapel and College Streets.

Phi Theta Psi (sophomore) 1864-1875 (Scientific School) Quarters: 1. Cutler Building, corner Church and Chapel Streets, 1864. 2. Lyon Building, 1870. Spade and Grave (senior) Quarters: Lyon Building, 1864. Theta Xi (Sheff) (Franklin Hall) Quarters: 1. Cutler Block, 1865. 2. Lyon Building, 1870. 3. Fountain Street. 1905. 4. 5f ~1~ street, '1908. 5. 119 Collegestreet, built in1911 and sold to University in 1935. Alpha Chi (Sheff freshman) Quarters: Unknown Kappa Psi (sophomore) Quarters: Unknown H$ ~oule'(sophomore) Quarters: Rooms on Chapel Street, Nu Sigma Delta (sophomore) 1875-1876 Quarters: Used student rooms. Alpha Kappa (sophomore) 1878-1884 Quarters: Unknown Chi Phi (York Hall) 1878-1960 Quarters: 1. York Street between Library and Elm Street. 2. Temple Street, between Grove and Trumbull Streets, 1886. 3. Corner High and Wall Streets. 4. 96 Wall Street, completed in 1897. (now Stoeckel Hall) 5. 15 Hillhouse Avenue FRATERNITES AND SOCIETIES NOW DEFUNCT (CONT.)

Name Founded Eta Phi (sophomore) Quarters: Building on Church Street. Beta Chi (Medical) Quarters: Used student rooms. Theta Delta Chi (Sheff) Quarters: 36 Elm Street. Sigma Nu (college) Quarters: Used student rooms. Beta Chi (Scroll and Compass) Quarters: 96 Prospect Street.

Phi Sigma Kappa (Sheff) 1890-1938 (Sachem Hall--Epsilon Association) Quarters: 1. 124 Prospect Street. 2. Built new building on same site, 1906. Acquired by University in 1934 and sold to Berkeley Divinity School in --1940. -.. 3. 304 Elm Street, in 1934. Pi Lambda Phi Quarters: 1. 41 Trumbull Street. 2. 73 Grove Street. Book and Bond (Amminor Club) (Phi Kappa Epsilon) Quarters: 1. 8 Prospect Place. 2. 77 Prospect Place. Alpha Chi Rho (Phi Delta Chapter) Quarters: 1. 310 York Street, 1906. 2. 205 Park Street, 1930.

MISCELLANEOUS DEFUNCT CLUBS Narn e Founded University Club 1881-1933 Quarters: 1. 15 Hillhouse Avenue. 2. 320 York Street. 3. Chapel and York Streets Graduate Men's Club Quarters: 124-126 Wall Street. Acacia (Masonic) 1909-1928 MISCELLANEOUS DEFUNCT CLUBS (Cont.)

Pounded Sigma Alpha Mu 1917-1934 Quarters: 34 Lynwood Place. Tau Epsilon Pi Quarters: 310 Orange Street. Graduate Women's Club Quarters: 114 High Street. Y Club Quarters: High and Elm Streets (2nd floor) Zeta Beta Tau Quarters: 222 Bishop Street. Athenian Club (art) Iktinos (architecture) Arnold Air Society Pi Alpha (art) The Georgians (art society)

FRESHMAN FRATERNITIES Name Founded Kappa Sigma Epsilon 1840-1880 Delta Kappa 1845-1880 Sigma Delta 1849-1860 Gamma Nu 1855-1889 Sigma Nu 1888-1890

SOPHOMORE FRATERNITIES Name Founded Kappa Sigma Theta Alpha Sigma Phi (later Junior) Phi Theta Psi Delta Beta Psi He' ~oule' Kappa Psi Nu Sigma Delta Alpha Kappa Eta Phi Beta Chi Kappa Psi DEPARTMENTAL CLUBS

Name Founded French Les ~hdlehites Le Atelier Circle FranFois German Deutsches Ferem

Centro Espanol de Yale Italian Club

Phvsics Club Industrial Administration Society for the Advancement of Management Withdrew from national affiliation 1959. Yale Management Club Mechanical Engineering Student Branch of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering Student Branch of the Society of Automotive Engineering Civil Engineering Chi Epsilon Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers

Electrical engineer in^ Student Branch of A. I. E. E. Joint Student Branch of American Institute of Electrical Engineers and Institute of Radio Engineers Chemical EngineerinK Student Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Student Chapter of the American Institute of Metallurgists DEPARTMENTAL CLUBS (Cont.) Name Founded History Graduate History Club 1954 Mathematics Club Political Science Phi Sigma Alpha Economics Undergraduate Club Graduate Club

Sociologv Club 1930 early Started as Anthropology Club 1901. Summer Club Philosophy Graduate Philosophy Club Anthropolom Club Astronomv Club Forestry Robin Hood Club Forestry Club

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

Name Founded Dwight Hall 1881 Christian Science Organization Wesley Foundation Hillel Foundation Lutheran Student Association St. Thomas More Club Religious Society of Friends Roger Williams Student Fellowship Westminister Foundation Berkeley Association Council of the Christian Community Hellanic University Club Liberal Religious Fellowship Yale Christian Fellowship SOCIAL CLUBS Name Founded Cup Men 1886-1932 Ac and Sheff at first, all Ac from Revived 1939-1941 around 1925 The Hogans Made out bills at Mory's Kopper Kettle Club (Sheff) The Mohicans Sheff and Ac first, all Ac from around 1925. Browning The Friars Sinecausa Sword and Gun Chosen by Mohicans, Ac and Sheff both Old Crows What is Yale Four The ~ountain(a1soknown as Je M'en Fiche) Amalfi Ale, Quail, Chowder and Marching Society 1947- early 1950's Miniature Tree Growers 1947-1951 Haunt Club Knights of Monus Stick and Stein

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES GRADUATE SCHOOL SOCIETY Name Founded Alpha Chi Sigma (chemical) 1914

GRADUATE SCHOOL SOCIETIES NOW DEFUNCT Name -Founded Gamma Alpha Fraternity 1915-1953 (The Fraternity was dissolved in 1953, giving way to the Gamma Alpha Loan Fund) Iota Sigma Pi (Ytterbrurn Chapter) (National Chemistry Society for Women) MEDICAL SCHOOL SOCIETIES Founded Alpha Kappa Kappa 1906 Quarters: 1. 349 Cedar Street. 2. Assembly rooms in Medical School. Nu Sigma Nu (formerly a local group, Delta Epsilon 1882 Iota; affiliated with Nu Sigma Nu in 1907) Quarters: 1. 430 George Street 2. Assembly rooms in Medical School. A1 ha Omega Alpha (honorary) &pha of Connecticut) Nathan Smith Club 1024

MEDICAL SCHOOL SOCIETIES NOW DEFUNCT Name Founded L. L. 0.E. 6. B. Phi Chi Mu Sigma Mu Quarters: 90 Park Street. Skull and Sceptre (became Phi Rho Sigma, 1907) Quarters: 371 Crown Street. Phi Chi (Gamma Sigma Chapter) Quarters: 49 Dwight Street. Phi Theta Epsilon Phi Lambda Kappa Delta Omega (Public Health honorary) Yaromets Butt in Club

LAW SCHOOL SOCIETIES Founded Phi Delta Phi (The Waite Inn) 1887 Quarters: Corbey Court, 80 Wall Street Phi Alpha Delta 1909 Order of the Coif 1915 LAW SCHOOL SOCIETIES NOW DEFUNCT Name Founded Thea Upsilon 1859-1860 Kent Club 1873-1912 L. E. D. D. 1866-1867 Book and Crown 1874-1880 Lambda Sigma 1874-1876 Teth Keth Men 1874- 1880 Book and Gavel 1890-1924 (merged with Phi Alpha Delta in 1921) Quarters: 1. 271 Crown Street, 1890. 2. 245 York Street, 1911. 3. 349 Elm Street, 1916. 4. 30 Sachem Street, 1921. Pi Delta Alpha Wayland Club Chi Tau Kappa Delta Theta Phi (Yale Chapter: Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld Senate)

SINGING GROUPS Name Founded

Yale Musical Society The Beethoven Society The Yale Glee Club The Freshman Glee Club The University Choir The Apollo Glee Club The Wiffenpoofs The Spizzwinks The St. Thomas More Choir The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus The Baker's Dozen Alley Cats The Augmented Seven The Fraternal Order of Bachelors (formerly the Ambystomians) The Duke's Men Jesters Yale Russian Chorus SINGING GROUPS NOW DEFUNCT Name Founded Beethoven Society 1826 Became Glee Club in 1860. Midnight Caterwaulers In 1860's Beethoven Bummers Four Sharps and Theologians Owls 1870's The Elm Street Eight 1947-1950 The Mad Hatters 1948-1954 Svrinx late 1940's - early 1950's The Strict Nine 1948- ? The Eight Flats 1950-1951 The D-Porters 1955-1958

Through the years there were many informal singing groups that lasted for a short time.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSICAL GROUPS Name Founded Yale University Orchestra early 1900's Yale University Band 1917 The ~ermanBand 1946-1953 Yale Collegians Yale Guild of Harkness BBll Ringers

INSTRUMENTAL GROUPS NOW DEFUNCT Name Founded Banjo Club Mandolin Club Bullpups Dixieland Band BOAT CLUBS Founded Varuna Club 1860-1868 ~lyuna&b 1860-1868 Undine------Club- - -- 1862-1868 Yale University Boat Club 1868 Became Yale Corinthian Yacht Club in 1881)

DEBATING AND POLITICS -Name Founded Criterian Society Sheffield Debating Club Wigwams and Wranglers Yale Debating Association Delta Sigma Rho Yale Union Yale University Union Political Union Young Democratic Club Young Republican Club Calliopean (Political Society) John Dewey Society George Orwell Forum Challe'nge EATING CLUBS

Anacondas Beavers gc~k$kkers Cher Club Knights of the Knife & Fork Cherubs KuMuxes Choke-A-e(ters) les Bon Vivants Chou Chou les Miserables Cloister Cafe Lickapillies Coena-tors Merchant's Union Crocodiles Merry Eaters die Junggesellen Munch (ch)aw-gers Dyspeptics Musk-Eaters Epicureans Ostriches Eta Pi ours Euphagonians Peacemakers Farewell Pick Quick Fowl Friends Pinesthians Frolicksome Oysters Sans Souci Gastronomers Scientific Eaters Gobble -ins I1Skel-e (a)t-onsu

Hard------Cases~ .- Tasters Harpies The Reckt-ory Help M9eat) Tigers House of Lords Vultures Water Club - 16 - MISCELLANEOUS Name Founded Yale Dramatic Association 1900 W. Y. B. C. 1941

YALE STUDENT PUBLICATIONS PAST AND PRESENT (with dates of founding) Literary Cabinet 1806 Association Record 1891 Atheneum 1814 Yale Shingle 1893 The Microscope 1820 Yale Scientific Monthly 1894 Yale Crayon 1823 Yale Medical Journal 1894 Sitting Room 1830 Eli Book 1909 Student's Companion 1831 Yale Sheffield Monthly 1913 Little Gentleman 1831 Yale Freshman Year Book 1920 The Gridiron 1831 Vale Scientific Magazine 1927 The Medley 1833 Harkness Hoot 1931 t *The Yale Literary Magazine 1836 De Eli Rundschau 1937 Yale Literary Quidnunc 1838 Yale Freshman Weekly 1938 *ale Banner 1841 *The Old Campus 1940 Collegian 1841 Going Places 1947 Yale Banger 1845 *Timothy Dwight Town Crier 1946 Gallinipper 1846 *Branford Tower Bulletin 1947 College Cricket 1846 'Calhoun Supporter 1947 , City of Elms 1846 'Davenport H brid Herald 1947 Hornet 1847 Et Veritas l948 Tomahawk 1847 *Divinity Dial 1948 Battery 1850 *Jonathan Edwards Almanack 1948 Arbiter 1853 *Pierson Slave 1948 Meerschaum 1857 *Saybrook Seal 1948 Excuse Paper 1860 Flight Lines 1949 University Quarterly 1860 In Context 1950 The Yale Pot Pourri 1865 Going Places 1950 Yale Courant 1865 Political Science Newsletter 1951 Yale Index 1869 Words and Music 1951 Yale Naughtical Almanac 1872 'Criterion 1952 Vale Record 1872 Rostrum (Political Union) 1955 *Yale Daily News 1878 Yale Year Book 1878 Yale Critic 1882 Freshman Year Book Yale Quip 1884 *Senior Class Book *Yale Law Journal 1891 *Law School Year Book

*In existence at the date of publication.

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