BULB AND BONES SOCIETY

Skull and Bones is an elite, secretive undergraduate senior society at Yale University founded in 1832, known for initiating high-achieving students and influential alumni. Members, called "Bonesmen," meet in a windowless campus building called "The Tomb" and are associated with bizarre initiation rituals, the number 322, and rumors of possessing stolen historical artifacts. Wikipedia Wikipedia +4 Origins and Key Facts Founders: Established by William Huntington Russell and Alphonso Taft in 1832. The Tomb: The society's headquarters is a windowless, imposing building on Yale's campus where meetings are held. 322: The number 322 is prominently used, often linked to the death of Greek orator Demosthenes in 322 BC. Selection ("Tapping"): Each year, 15 new students are chosen (tapped) from the junior class. Membership and Influence The society is noted for its members entering high-level positions in American politics, finance, and intelligence, including: YouTube YouTube +1 Presidents: George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and William Howard Taft. Other Figures: Former Secretary of State John Kerry, CIA officials, and media executives. Reputation and Rumors "Crooking": Members are notorious for "crooking" (stealing) items from other campus societies. Rituals: Rumored initiation rituals include lying in a coffin and sharing intimate life stories. Conspiracy Theories: The group is frequently the subject of conspiracies, with claims that they are involved in global, clandestine power structures. Wikipedia Wikipedia +2 The society is not officially part of Yale University but has remained a staple of its elite culture for nearly two centuries. Skull and Bones (also known as The Order, Order 322 or The Brotherhood of Death) is an American undergraduate senior secret student society at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Skull and Bones is considered one of the "Big Three" and "Ancient Eight" at Yale University. The oldest senior-class society at the university, Skull and Bones has become a cultural institution known for its powerful alumni and conspiracy theories. Symbols and traditions The society's badge is gold and consists of a skull that is supported by crossed bones, with the number 322 on the lower jaw.[7] Its members worshipped Eulogia, a fictional goddess of eloquence.[17] Nicknames for Skull and Bones are The Order, Order 322, and The Brotherhood of Death.[18] The society is known informally as "Bones" and members are known as "Bonesmen", "Members of The Order" or "Initiated to The Order".[19] The number "322" appears in Skull and Bones' insignia and is widely reported to be significant as the year of Greek orator Demosthenes' death.[13][20][3] A letter between early society members in Yale's archives suggests that 322 is a reference to the year 322 BC and that members measure dates from this year instead of using anno Domini.[21] In 322 BC, the Lamian War ended with the death of Demosthenes, and Athenians were made to dissolve their government and establish a plutocratic system in its stead, whereby only those possessing 2,000 drachmas or more could remain citizens. Documents in the Tomb have purportedly been found dated to Anno-Demostheni.[22] One legend is that the number represents "founded in '32, 2nd corps", referring to a first Corps in an unknown German university.[23][24] Another possible reference of 322 is the Freemasonic Lodge of Virtue and Silence no. 322, in Suffolk, England, signaling a fraternal but unspoken sponsorship between the two "secret society" organizations, regarding which silence is considered virtuous. Lodge 322 was founded in 1811,[25] 21 years before the creation of the Skull and Bones association in 1832. Crooking See also: Geronimo § Alleged theft of Geronimo's skull Skull and Bones has a reputation for stealing keepsakes from other Yale societies or campus buildings; society members reportedly call the practice "crooking" and strive to outdo each other's "crooks".[26][27] The society has been accused of possessing the stolen skulls of Martin Van Buren, Geronimo, and Pancho Villa.[28][29][14][27] In January 2010, Christie's canceled a planned auction for a human skull with links to Skull and Bones.[30][31] The tomb before the addition of a second wing A 2009 view of the tomb from across High Street Facilities Tomb The Skull and Bones Hall, located at 64 High St. in New Haven, Connecticut, is otherwise known as the "Tomb". The building was built in three phases: the first wing was built in 1856, the second wing in 1903, and Davis-designed Neo-Gothic towers were added to the rear garden in 1912. The front and side facades are of Portland brownstone in an Egypto-Doric style. The architect was possibly Alexander Jackson Davis or Henry Austin. Architectural historian Patrick Pinnell includes an in-depth discussion of the dispute over the identity of the original architect in his 1999 Yale campus history. Pinnell speculates that the re-use of the Davis towers in 1911 suggests Davis's role in the original building and, conversely, Austin was responsible for the architecturally similar brownstone Egyptian Revival Grove Street Cemetery gates, built in 1845. Pinnell also discusses the Tomb's esthetic place about its neighbors, including the Yale University Art Gallery.[32]

THE ASTRAL TRAVELERS