Portland Public Library

Skulls and keys, the hidden history of Yale's secret societies, David Alan Richards

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 697-797) and index

index present

non fiction

Skulls and keys

bibliography

975127189

David Alan Richards

the hidden history of Yale's secret societies

"Secret societies have fundamentally shaped America's cultural and political landscapes. In ways that are expected but never explicit, the bonds made and lessons learned through the most elite of secret societies have helped make their members senators, governors, ambassadors, CIA directors, Supreme Court justices, and even presidents. At the apex of these institutions stands Yale University and its ancient six secret societies, with their modern--and even more private--"underground" rivals. Tracing a history that has intrigued and enthralled for centuries, winning the attention of such writers as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Skulls and Keys recounts the founding and growth of Yale's storied societies as they set the courses for self-education, ambition, and assimilation that have served to define our modern age."--Jacket flap

Bonding in secret -- The secrets of Phi Beta Kappa (1781-1831) -- The founding of Scull and Bone (1832-1842) -- The "opposition" of Scroll and Key (1843-1855) -- The making of tombs, teams, and gifts (1856-1871) -- Provocations of poppycock, and Tap Day's invention (1872-1882) -- The solution of Wolf's Head (1883-1888) -- The threat to Yale democracy (1889-1911) -- The confusions of Stover and disruptions of war (1912-1919) -- Divisions of caste and expansion of the system (1920-1939) -- World war again, and other castes broken (1940-1949) -- Reforms, revelations, and rivals underground (1950-1962) -- Blacks, women, and May Day (1963-1970) -- The integration of women and decline of elites (1971-1991)