Pre 1950s
While it is not precisely known when the first secret societies began to be founded on campus, there are records of their existence starting in the mid to late 1800s. It is important to note in evaluations of secret societies on campus that in their early iterations, secret societies were often referred to as social societies or senior societies.
These alternate names for secret societies were often due to the fact that they were not entirely a secret. Members of these societies would be photographed in their society regalia with other members, but their names would not be disclosed.
Historian Mame Warren noted in Come Cheer, her history of Washington and Lee, "in addition to its numerous fraternities, Washington and Lee has a long tradition of secret societies, among them are the Mongolian Minks, the Thirteen Club, and the Gauley Bridge Hunt Club. Inductees apparently have always known the purpose of each organization, but some have said the primary mission was to party together once a year and have a group picture taken for the Calyx" (Warren 60).
While there is not extensive documentation of these secret societies referenced by Warren-- indeed, this is the inherent frustration with researching secret societies-- they certainly did exist, as did other societies. However, within this time period, the activities of White Friars and Sigma Society are perhaps the most well documented.
These societies were by invitation only, evidenced by the records of letters extended to individuals. While perhaps similar to modern Greek organizations (namely fraternities) at first glance-- being social groups operating on an invitational basis, with some element of exclusivity-- these societies differentiate themselves by their relatively more secretive nature. In some ways this makes it seem that a secret society is more like a club, and indeed, that perception even bears out into the modern era. In our survey that we have conducted, responses indicate a general opinion that societies are a sort of exclusive club that sell themselves simply on their self-evident premise of exclusive sociability.
Members of secret societies were expected to know about their society, both members involved and the activities put on. See here on the information card about the White Friar Society, listing basic information about the society as well as their willingness to "make trouble for the faculty and shock the town people (sic)."
Reflecting on the public displays of secret societies, historian Ollinger Crenshaw notes "several organizations were noted for annual celebrations that ranged from amusing to vulgar. For many years on Washington’s Birthday the neophytes of the Sigma senior society paraded about town and ended by kneeling in front of the Kahle statue of George Washington, patron saint of the group. There a spokesman delivered a ‘litany’ that was sometimes clever but was sometimes in questionable taste” (Crenshaw 307).
However, this notion of total exclusivity is complicated by the pre-1950s tradition of these social societies throwing events for the campus. Records show that societies would hold or sponsor plays, public speaking events, and dances for the student body. We have records of these public events, such as notes in the information card about the show being a success, or the playbill seen here. Students too, provide quotes regarding some of the public spectacles the societies held.
"The goats are wearing all sorts of clothes, pajamas, dresses, underwear and suits turned inside out, etc. I think that tomorrow several boys will have to take cats, dogs, and calves to classes… I may have to auction off a cow on the Post Office steps" -Stuart Sanders '31 (Warren 40)
Overall, it seems that before the 1950s secret societies were a sort of guarded club for students to enter in, with special significance or meanings that were known to the insiders but not to the general public. This much seems consistent with the secret societies of today, but the early societies’ public activities differentiate them from more modern approaches.
