// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Skull & Keys say? It had a bone to pick.
| Skull & Keys | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1892 University of California, Berkeley |
| Type | Senior society |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Defunct |
| Defunct date | 1980 |
| Scope | Local |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, California United States |
.jpg)
.jpg)
Skull & Keys was a men's honor society at the University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California.[1][2][3][4] The organization was started by Theta Nu Epsilon.[5] Skull & Keys was the first of several collegiate secret societies that formed from the fraternity system at Berkeley.
History
[edit]The Zeta chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon was founded at the University of California, Berkeley as a sophomore society in 1881.[2] In 1882, Skull & Keys was founded as a senior society for members of Theta Nu Epsilon.[5] Many of the fraternity's members had an affiliation with Yale and intended to hold "tap day", following the traditions of Yale.[2][5] One of its founders was Frank Norris who wrote the ritual and ceremonies for Skull & Keys.[3]
In 1912, Skull & Keys built its lodge or “Tomb” off campus at Le Conte and Euclid.[6] In 1960, the adjacent Church Divinity School of the Pacific purchased the Skull & Keys’ Tomb property, agreeing to build the society a new Tomb at 2436 Prospect Street.[6] Despite complaints from residents its new neighborhood, the group proceeded with construction of its 35 by 35 feet (11 by 11 m) new Tomb.[6] There, the group was known for drunken debauchery.[6]
Because the Tomb was off-campus and Skull & Bones was not sanctioned by the university, there was little the university could do.[6] Instead, the people who lived near the Tomb worked with the city which finally closed the building for being a public nuisance and environmental health violations.[6] In addition, the city fined the group $750 ($2931 in today's money) for cleaning up “beer bottles, cans, vomit, urine, and other filth.”[6] However, the city's padlock and closure notice did not keep the Skull & Bones members out of the Tomb and they resumed their parties as usual.[6] After the city boarded up the building, the group eventually gave up by 1980.[6]
However, as of 2021, the Tomb property is still owned by Skull & Keys Inc., the holding company incorporated in 1912 when the first Tomb was constructed.[6]
Activities
[edit]Much of the society's practices, members, and traditions were kept secret. It met semi-monthly in a facility known as the Tomb.[7] It was led by the Uncle, who was elected by a voice vote of the active members.
Membership
[edit]Skull & Keys members were recruited from the senior and junior classes of the University of California, Berkeley.[8] Initiates participated in an initiation ritual known as the Running.[9][10][8] Originally, the Running involved dress suits with duck trousers.[11] Later, this public event involved the new members in various costumes, many of which were offensive drawing reproach from the university.[6]
Notable members
[edit]- Tom Bates, mayor of Berkeley[4]
- Frank Norris, journalist and novelist[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Berkeley Briefs". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 1915.
Skull and Keys, one of the oldest honor societies on the campus ...
- 1 2 3 Brown, James T., ed. (1920). "Class Societies". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (9th ed.). New York: James T. Brown Publisher. p. 726. OCLC 17350924 – via HathiTrust.
- 1 2 3 "Frank Norris In His Chapter". Phi Gamma Delta. April 1, 1930. Archived from the original on 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- 1 2 Barber, Rachel (2019-12-02). "'A source of clout': Secret society allegedly drinks to excess". The Daily Californian. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- 1 2 3 "The Zeta & Delta Pi Chapters at The University of California at Berkeley". Theta Nu Epsilon. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Dowd, Katie (June 10, 2021). "Obscure Bay Area: The secret society 'tomb' hiding in plain sight in Berkeley". SF Gate. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Neophytes In Front Of The Skull And Keys Tomb". The Oakland Tribune. October 6, 1925.
- 1 2 "Skull and Keys Initiation; Annual Running To-Day". The Daily Californian. November 8, 1899. Archived from the original on July 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- ↑ "Running Of Skull and Keys Society Under Feminine Ban". The Oakland Tribune. April 2, 1920.
Berkeley; April 2, 1920 ... annual Running of the Skull and Keys ...
- ↑ "No Public Pranks This Semester by "Skull and Keys."". The Oakland Tribune. October 13, 1923.
- ↑ "Skull and Keys Running; Annual Initiation of the Inter-Frat Society To-Day". The Daily Californian. November 9, 1899. Retrieved 2007-08-21.