Godzilla (franchise) and Skull & Keys: Difference between pages
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{{Short description|Honor society at the University of California, Berkeley}}
{{Infobox fraternity
| image_size = 160
| founded = {{start date and age|1892}}
| birthplace = [[University of California, Berkeley]]
| name = Skull & Keys
| crest = Skull_&_Keys_logo.png
| city = [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]
| state = [[California]]
| country = United States
| type = Senior society
| affiliation = Independent
|
| chapters = 1
| status = Defunct
|
}}
[[Image:Skull and Keys initiation (University of California, Berkeley, ca. 1899).jpg|thumb|Skull & Keys initiation Running, circa 1899]]
[[File:Skull and Keys initiation, Night (University of California, Berkeley, ca. 1899).jpg|thumb|Skull & Keys initiation, Night, circa 1899]]
[[File:1938Berkeleyrunning.jpg|thumb|Advertisement for the Running, 1938]]
'''Skull & Keys''' was a men's [[honor society]] at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] in Berkeley, California.<ref>{{cite news |title=Berkeley Briefs |quote=Skull and Keys, one of the oldest honor societies on the campus ... |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 22, 1915 }}</ref><ref name="baird">{{cite book |last=Baird |first=William Raimond |title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities |year=1920 |quote=California, University of — Skull and Keys, 1892 | url=https://archive.org/details/bairdsmanualame00bairgoog}}</ref><ref name="fn" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Barber |first=Rachel |date=2019-12-02 |title='A source of clout': Secret society allegedly drinks to excess |url=https://dailycal.org/2019/12/02/a-source-of-clout-secret-society-allegedly-drinks-to-excess/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=The Daily Californian |language=en}}</ref> The organization was started by [[Theta Nu Epsilon]].<ref name="tne">{{cite web |title=The Zeta & Delta Pi Chapters at The University of California at Berkeley. |url=http://thetanuepsilon.org/13ChapLis/Indivpages/UCBerkeley.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728104857/http://thetanuepsilon.org/13Chaplis/Indivpages/UCBerkeley.html |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |access-date=2009-05-11 |publisher=[[Theta Nu Epsilon]] |quote=In 1892, the Zeta Chapter created the society of Skull & Keys for senior members. There were probably many reasons for this, one of which is that Berkeley was known for having many of its initial personnel come from [[Yale]], and if Berkeley had a senior society, it would have been possible to recreate the Tap Day ceremonies at Berkeley. ... However, if Theta Nu Epsilon had come from the senior society Skull & Bones, then it only made sense, (to some minds), to create a senior society from it.}}</ref> Skull & Keys was the first of several [[Collegiate secret societies in North America|collegiate secret societies]] that formed from the [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternity]] system at Berkeley.
== History ==
The ''Zeta chapter'' of Theta Nu Epsilon was founded at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] as a sophomore society in 1881.<ref name="baird" /> In 1882, Skull & Keys was founded as a senior society for members of [[Theta Nu Epsilon]].<ref name="tne" /> Many of the fraternity's members had an affiliation with Yale and intended to hold "tap day", following the traditions of Yale.<ref name="baird" /><ref name="tne" /> One of its founders was [[Frank Norris]] who wrote the ritual and ceremonies for Skull & Keys.<ref name="fn" />
In 1912, Skull & Keys built its lodge or “Tomb” off campus at Le Conte and Euclid.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Dowd |first=Katie |date=June 10, 2021 |title=Obscure Bay Area: The secret society 'tomb' hiding in plain sight in Berkeley |url=https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/berkeley-skull-and-keys-secret-societies-buildings-16238911.php |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=SF Gate}}</ref> In 1960, the adjacent [[Church Divinity School of the Pacific]] purchased the Skull & Keys’ Tomb property, agreeing to build the society a new Tomb at 2436 Prospect Street.<ref name=":1" /> Despite complaints from residents its new neighborhood, the group proceeded with construction of its {{Convert|35 by 35|ft|m}} new Tomb.<ref name=":1" /> There, the group was known for drunken debauchery.<ref name=":1" />
Because the Tomb was off-campus and Skull & Bones was not sanctioned by the university, there was little the university could do.<ref name=":1" /> Instead, the people who lived near the Tomb worked with the city which finally closed the building for being a public nuisance and environmental health violations.<ref name=":1" /> In addition, the city fined the group $750 (${{Inflation|index=US|value=750|start_year=1980}} in today's money) for cleaning up “beer bottles, cans, vomit, urine, and other filth.”<ref name=":1" /> However, the city's padlock and closure notice did not keep the Skull & Bones members out of the Tomb and they resumed their parties as usual.<ref name=":1" /> After the city boarded up the building, the group eventually gave up by 1980.<ref name=":1" />
However, as of 2021, the Tomb property is still owned by Skull & Keys Inc., the holding company incorporated in 1912 when the first Tomb was constructed.<ref name=":1" />
==
Much of the society's practices, members, and traditions were kept [[secret society|secret]]. It met semi-monthly in a facility known as the Tomb.<ref>{{cite news |title=Neophytes In Front Of The Skull And Keys Tomb. |quote=[[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]; October 5, 1925. [[University of California]]. The Elmhurst district In East Oakland volunteered to clean up the streets ... |publisher=[[The Oakland Tribune]] |date=October 6, 1925 }}</ref> It was led by the Uncle, who was elected by a voice vote of the active members.
== Membership ==
Skull & Keys members were recruited from the senior and junior classes of the University of California, Berkeley.<ref name="running" /> Inidiates participated in an initiation ritual known as the Running.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 2, 1920 |title=Running Of Skull and Keys Society Under Feminine Ban. |publisher=[[The Oakland Tribune]] |quote=[[University of California, Berkeley|Berkeley]]; April 2, 1920 ... annual Running of the Skull and Keys ...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 13, 1923 |title=No Public Pranks This Semester by "Skull and Keys." |publisher=[[The Oakland Tribune]] |quote=[[University of California, Berkeley|Berkeley]]; October 13, 1923. No "Running" of the Skull and Keys Society at the [[University of California]] this year. ...}}</ref><ref name="running" /> Originally, the Running involved dress suits with duck trousers.<ref name="weather">{{cite news |date=November 9, 1899 |title=Skull and Keys Running; Annual Initiation of the Inter-Frat Society To-Day. |publisher=[[The Daily Californian]] |url=http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/uchistory/archives_exhibits/online_exhibits/1899/document_texts/dailycal11091899.html |access-date=2007-08-21 |quote=Notwithstanding the threatening state of the weather yesterday, the Skull and Keys initiates appeared on the campus at 8:30 in dress suits with duck trousers. After being put through the toils around North Hall they were marched in a body to South Hall. They were marched in to see the President, who gave them a short talk.}}</ref> Later, this public event involved the new members in various costumes, many of which were offensive drawing reproach from the university.<ref name=":1" />
== Notable members ==
* [[Tom Bates]], Mayor of Berkeley<ref name=":0" />
* [[Frank Norris]]<ref name="fn">{{cite news |title=Frank Norris In His Chapter |url=http://www.phigam.org/history/Magazine/NorrisAtUC.htm |quote=Frank Norris took part in the college dramatics and would have made a name for himself upon the professional stage had he chosen that branch of art for his future career. He wrote the ritual and other ceremonials for Skull and Keys -- the junior-senior society at the University of California -- which still ranks as an honor society. |publisher=[[Phi Gamma Delta]] |date=April 1, 1930 |access-date=2007-08-21 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070503024539/http://www.phigam.org/history/Magazine/NorrisAtUC.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-05-03}}</ref>
* William Horsley Orrick, Sr.of [[Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe]]<ref name="running">{{cite news|title=Skull and Keys Initiation; Annual Running To-Day.|url=http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/UCHistory/archives_exhibits/online_exhibits/1899/document_texts/dailycal11081899.html|quote=The eighth annual running of the Skull and Keys society takes place to-day on the campus. The public initiation of this dramatic society chosen from the Senior and Junior classes has come to be one of the great events of the College year.|publisher=[[The Daily Californian]]|date=November 8, 1899|access-date=2007-08-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070728112046/http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/UCHistory//archives_exhibits/online_exhibits/1899/document_texts/dailycal11081899.html|archive-date=July 28, 2007}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
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