Seal and Serpent
Encyclopedia
The Seal & Serpent Society is an independent social fraternity
located at Cornell University
. Founded in 1905, the Society is one of the oldest local fraternities in the United States
. The Tudor mansion at 305 Thurston Avenue has housed the active chapter since 1929.
Seal and Serpent is a social fraternity rather than a secret society
or final club
. At the time of its founding, many house clubs and societies in the Ivy League
had similar names, such as the extant Skull and Bones
, Casque and Gauntlet
, and Quill and Dagger
. The Great Depression
took a considerable toll on the membership and financial solvency of extracurricular collegiate organizations, and many were forced to disband. As the Greek system expanded and incorporated many other societies, Seal and Serpent maintained its independence. It is a member of Cornell's Interfraternity Council (IFC), which oversees the university's entire fraternity system.
In 1917, World War I dramatically impacted student life in Ithaca, and the landscape of the entire Cornell community changed. The Lodge did not yet exist, and Society’s Board of Directors offered the University the use of the West Avenue house as a ROTC barracks.
Cornell commissioned 4,598 officers in the Great War; more than half of the 9,000 total Cornellians enlisted. Seal and Serpent lost three men during the War: Joseph Mason ’13, Frank McCullough ’20, and Edward Ilsley Tinkham ’16. In March 1917, Tinkham, a campus leader and varsity athlete, organized the first unit of Cornell men. A varsity athlete and known figure at Cornell, en route to France one of his fellow classmates wrote of him : "'Ed' Tinkham. is the recognized leader of the unit and whatever he says goes. No one could be more devoted to our welfare and there is something about the quiet way he handles things and looks after us that makes everyone love and respect him."
Under Captain Edward I Tinkham ’16, members of the American Expeditionary Force were the first Americans to carry the Stars and Stripes into Europe at the start of the Great War. 264 Cornellians died in World War I; Captain Tinkham died of tuberculosis while in Italy. For his service, Tinkham earned the Italian War Cross
and Port Corsini in 1918, and the US Navy Cross
thereafter.
The Seal and Serpent home is located at 305 Thurston Avenue. The earliest members of the Society purchased the land in 1913, but the building of the Lodge was delayed by the demands of the First World War. Construction finally began in 1926, and the Lodge was formally dedicated and presented to the Active Chapter on October 22, 1927. Over 1,000 members have lived there.
TV show "Strange Days with Bob Saget
" in an episode exploring Ivy League
fraternity
life.
Not Pictured:
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
located at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. Founded in 1905, the Society is one of the oldest local fraternities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Tudor mansion at 305 Thurston Avenue has housed the active chapter since 1929.
Seal and Serpent is a social fraternity rather than a secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
or final club
Final club
A final club is an undergraduate social club at Harvard College.- Origins :The historical basis for the name final clubs is that Harvard used to have a variety of clubs for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with students of different years being in different clubs, and the "final clubs"...
. At the time of its founding, many house clubs and societies in the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
had similar names, such as the extant Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
, Casque and Gauntlet
Casque and Gauntlet
Casque and Gauntlet is the second-oldest of the eight senior societies at Dartmouth College. C&G was founded in 1886, just after the Sphinx, and moved to its current location at 1 South Main Street in 1893...
, and Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
. The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
took a considerable toll on the membership and financial solvency of extracurricular collegiate organizations, and many were forced to disband. As the Greek system expanded and incorporated many other societies, Seal and Serpent maintained its independence. It is a member of Cornell's Interfraternity Council (IFC), which oversees the university's entire fraternity system.
History
Seal and Serpent Society had its origins in the coalescence of two Cornell undergraduate groups; the "Crooks' Club" and the "Senators." The ten original members began to meet in the fall of 1905 with the intent of preserving the traditions of Cornell student life. They called themselves the Society of the Seal and Serpent, and made plans to take a house together in the fall and elect their first officers. Alvin Ward King '07 was elected president as a sort of coalition man not involved too much with either of the two original groups.World War I Era
The house has had a long tradition of military history.In 1917, World War I dramatically impacted student life in Ithaca, and the landscape of the entire Cornell community changed. The Lodge did not yet exist, and Society’s Board of Directors offered the University the use of the West Avenue house as a ROTC barracks.
Cornell commissioned 4,598 officers in the Great War; more than half of the 9,000 total Cornellians enlisted. Seal and Serpent lost three men during the War: Joseph Mason ’13, Frank McCullough ’20, and Edward Ilsley Tinkham ’16. In March 1917, Tinkham, a campus leader and varsity athlete, organized the first unit of Cornell men. A varsity athlete and known figure at Cornell, en route to France one of his fellow classmates wrote of him : "'Ed' Tinkham. is the recognized leader of the unit and whatever he says goes. No one could be more devoted to our welfare and there is something about the quiet way he handles things and looks after us that makes everyone love and respect him."
Under Captain Edward I Tinkham ’16, members of the American Expeditionary Force were the first Americans to carry the Stars and Stripes into Europe at the start of the Great War. 264 Cornellians died in World War I; Captain Tinkham died of tuberculosis while in Italy. For his service, Tinkham earned the Italian War Cross
War Merit Cross (Italy)
The Italian War Merit Cross was instituted by King Victor Emanuel III on 19 January 1918.From its institution till 30 May 1927, 1,034,924 Crosses were issued.-Eligibility:...
and Port Corsini in 1918, and the US Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
thereafter.
The Great Depression Era
After World War I, the impact of the Great Depression on college campuses was severe. The vast majority of independent social clubs were purchased by national chapters, and universities purchased the property where many fraternities now reside. Seal and Serpent was one of two fraternities at Cornell that had the resources to remain independent, the other house converting to a national fraternity shortly after the Depression ended. Today, Seal and Serpent is the only independent social society at Cornell University.The Lodge
]The Seal and Serpent home is located at 305 Thurston Avenue. The earliest members of the Society purchased the land in 1913, but the building of the Lodge was delayed by the demands of the First World War. Construction finally began in 1926, and the Lodge was formally dedicated and presented to the Active Chapter on October 22, 1927. Over 1,000 members have lived there.
In Film
In 2010, Seal & Serpent was featured in the A&E NetworkA&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
TV show "Strange Days with Bob Saget
Bob Saget
Robert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
" in an episode exploring Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
life.
Original Snakes
- Stanhope Eccleston Blunt, '09
- George "Gus" Ruhlen Jr., '07
- Benjamin "Stuzzie" Stuart McConnell, '08
- Alfred "Shep" William Shepherd, '07
- Carrollton "Twig" Crawford Sprigg, '07
- Albert "Bert" Church Blunt Jr., '07
- Romeo "Romey" Benvenuto Kuehns, '07
- Earl "Zim" William Zimmerman, '07
- Alvin "Gub" Ward King, '07
- Harold "Monie" Mead McConnell, '07
Not Pictured:
- William Henry McCaully '08
- Charles “Dickie” Chester Byron Dickson ’08
- Frederic "Fritz" Sanford Sly, '07
Notable alumni
- Jeff Applegate – Actor
- Robert Cunjak – Managing Director, Bain Capital, LLC
- Mark KirkMark KirkMark Steven Kirk is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, Kirk was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 10th congressional district....
– Junior United States Senator from Illinois - William Ryerson – First US Ambassador to the Republic of Albania
- Bob SagetBob SagetRobert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
– (Honorary Member) Actor/Comedian - Martin Tang – Chairman, Asia at Spencer Stuart & Associates; President of the MIT Alumni Association; Cornell University Trustee
- Gligor Tashkovich – Minister of Foreign Investment, Republic of Macedonia (2006–2008); Council on Foreign Relations (1999–2004)
- Edward Isley Tinkham – Captain, United States Army (World War I)