-
Cadaver Tunnel
The tunnels underneath the campus of Washington and Lee which are supposedly used by the Cadaver Society to get across campus at night. The tunnels have many different entrances and exits.
-
Cadaver Society Conference Room
A plaque on the 3rd floor of Leyburn Library sits outside a small room with Cadaver Society Conference Room written on it.
-
Cadaver Society Insignia
This image represents the Cadaver Society's infamous logo. Found right by the Wilson Field entrance to the formerly known Cadaver Bridge (now called Wilson Field bridge), the insignia plaque sits right under a tree overlooking the tennis courts.
-
1912 White Friar Initiation
A group of photographs collected in a scrapbook captioned "White Friar Initiation 1912." Each photograph depicts a person, presumably a White Friar initiate, dressed up in a costume as if performing a show. Each photograph has an individual caption with the initiate's name and the name of their role.
-
Letter from Cadaver Society to President Wilson
This is a letter from the Cadaver Society to the current W&L president at the time, President Wilson. The letter provides introductory information on the society and includes a discussion of the move to co-education at Washington and Lee.
-
Cadavers Up Activity on Campus
A Ring-Tum Phi article that describes the increase of Cadaver activity on W&L's campus during the early 2000s.
-
On Campus Secret Society Knowledge Graph
This graph compares how often a secret society was identified over the course of the survey sent out to accompany this exhibit to measure current knowledge and opinions about secret societies on Washington and Lee's campus. The Cadaver Society is the most recognized and reported, followed closely by the Sigma Society and the Elixirs.
-
One Hundredth and Ninety-Ninth Annual White Friar Show
A playbill of a White Friar show. The title proclaims this show in 1915 to be the 199th, which would place the first White Friar show in 1716. This makes the title a humorous claim, as Washington and Lee University did not exist in any form until 1749. The playbill lists the "goats," the new members of the society, as well as the songs to be sung during the performance.
-
Sigma Society Membership Photo
A photograph of members of the Sigma Society. Some members, presumably the returning members, are seated in suits, while others--presumably the new members--are in uniforms with the sigma symbol on them. There are other items bearing the sigma symbol staged with them, such as drums.
-
Sigma Society Initiation Letter
A letter informing G. H. Barber that he is invited to join the Sigma Society. Instructions for further steps are provided, should he want to join.
-
White Friars Information Card
An informational box about the White Friars society. Listed information include officers, the society's colors, and a history section indicating their willingness to make trouble.
-
Sigma Society Member Photo: 1927
A photo of the 1927 Sigma Society class.
-
Leyburn Library Exterior
An external shot of the main entrance of Washington and Lee's Leyburn Library. To the right of the doors, a chalk drawing of the Cadaver Society's insignia can be seen.
-
Oral History with Robert N. "Bob" Fishburn
An oral history conducted by Mame Warren with Bob Fishburn, Washington and Lee class of 1955. During the interview, Fishburn discusses his time in secret societies at W&L, including the Mongolian Minks and the White Friars.
-
Letter from Cadaver Society to Ring-tum Phi
A typewritten letter from the Cadaver Society to the Ring-tum Phi, Washington and Lee University's student newspaper, regarding W&L's consideration of coeducation. The Cadaver Society expresses concern that information about the issue is not available to those members of the W&L community not on campus. The Cadaver Society then expresses a belief that coeducation should only happen should traditional all male education prove unsustainable.
-
Alumni Magazine Article
This article, written by a W&L alumn (class of '68), speaks on the Cadaver Society's financial contributions to Washington and Lee. Information is provided on the Cadaver's involvement in the W&L Annual Fund Report, the society's background, and past reasons for financial "gifts".
-
Caught!
A brief article that tells the story of a few members of the Cadaver Society being unmasked by first-year football students. Two members' alleged names are revealed in the article and further information is provided on the society's purpose.
-
Inequality of Societies at Washington and Lee
In this edition of "In General" at Washington and Lee, Hendley Badcock describes in her eyes the gender inequality that is presented at Washington and Lee through the Cadaver society, Sigma Society, as well as Greek Life. She states that the Cadaver Society is typically thought of as all men and doesn't include any women.
-
Student Challenges Cadavers
This is an article from the Ring-Tum Phi talking about how a student at Washington and Lee "demands payment for catching a member of the society." The students describes her encounter and her future goals against the cadaver society.