Raven Society

In 1904, University of Virginia student William McCully James proposed a new merit-based student society to promote literary and forensic work and to recognize outstanding scholarship.{{Cite web |last=Wolcott |first=Dave |date=2004-03-11 |title=Raven Society Celebrates Centennial Anniversary |url=http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/releases2004/raven-march-11-2004.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808001327/http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/releases2004/raven-march-11-2004.html |archive-date=2007-08-08 |accessdate=2008-01-03}}{{Cite news |date=1904-05-23 |title=The Raven Society Founded |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress-the-raven-society-fou/154271365/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Daily Progress |location=Charlottesville, Virginia |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Once the new society was approved, a faculty committee selected twelve students who demonstrated academic excellence; the twelve were invited to join the society and were sworn in on April 20, 1904.{{Cite web |last=Viccellio |first=Robert |date=Spring 2012 |title=Wrapped in Mystery: A guide to secret—and not-so-secret—student organizations at UVA |url=https://uvamagazine.org/articles/wrapped_in_mystery |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Virginia Magazine |language=en}}

The twelve members met to adopt a constitution on April 27, 1904. It stated that one of the Raven Society's main goals is "to bring together the best men in the various departments of the university for mutual acquaintance and for cooperation in their efforts to protect the honor and dignity of the university."{{Cite web |title=Constitution of the Raven Society of the University of Virginia |url=http://hoosonline.virginia.edu/atf/cf/%7B83927FB7-52BF-4DC5-A9D5-009D9CEC41CF%7D/Constitution.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720110355/http://hoosonline.virginia.edu/atf/cf/%7B83927FB7-52BF-4DC5-A9D5-009D9CEC41CF%7D/Constitution.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-20 |accessdate=2008-01-03}} The initial twelve also chose additional members, bringing the number of charter members to 31 students and four faculty. The founding members and their campus affiliations were:

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• George E. Adams (medical school)
• Rufus H. Barringer (engineering school)
• Louis Baum (academic school)
• R. P. Bell (college-at-large)
• Donald McKay Blair (engineering school)
• T. B. Bryan (academic school)
• John D. Butzner (medical school)
• F. N. Caliach (magazine medal)
• Eugene Calloway (medical school)
• W. W. Coxe (editor-in-chief)
• Cary N. Davis (law school)
• A. M. Dobie (law school)
• W. A. Fleet (academic school)
• John Flory (editor-in-chief)
• J. K. Graves (law school)
• W. S. Gray (medical school)
• Richard Heath Dabney (faculty)
• Ira Herst (medical school)
• W. McC James (editor-in-chief)
• E. S. J. McAllister (law school)
• J. P. McConnell (graduate school)
• Raleigh C. Minor (faculty)
• James Morris Page (faculty)
• J. H. Pollard (medical school)
• G. B. Smedley (law school)
• L. C. M. Smythe (academic school)
• G. C. Tabb (law school)
• Adrian S. Taylor (college-at-large)
• Albert S. Tuttle (faculty)
• J. I. Viney (academic school)
• Frank Watkins (college-at-large)
• J. W. Wayland (graduate school)
• Roger B. Wood (debating team)

}}

The members decided on the name Raven Society, in honor of the poem by Edgar Allan Poe, who attended the University of Virginia in 1826. The society was originally considered a ribbon society because its members wore identifying ribbons. Its second class of members was announced on June 1, 1905.{{Cite news |date=1905-06-02 |title=Raven Society. Students Elected to Membership on their Scholastic Merits |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-raven-society-s/154272564/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-raven-society-s/154272564/ 5], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-raven-society-s/154272811/ 5] |via=Newspapers.com}} In November 1906, the society donated $10 (${{Inflation|index=US|value=10|start_year=1904|r=0}} in 2022 money) to a fund to create a statue of Poe in Richmond, Virginia; this was the first gift to the Poe Memorial Fund.{{Cite news |date=1906-11-24 |title=Wide Interest in Poe Monument |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-wide-interest-in/154272973/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}

File:University of Virginia room of Edgar Allan Poe.jpg

The Raven Society has been active in commemorating Poe's life, including helping to plan the celebration of his centenary in January 1909.{{Cite news |date=1909-01-11 |title=Fine Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-fine-tribute-to/154274921/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1909-01-19 |title=Raven Society Celebrates: Poe Anniversary is Appropriately Observed at University of Virginia |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/01/19/101861854.pdf |accessdate=2008-01-03 |newspaper=New York Times}}

In February 1908, the university's Board of Visitors assigned the care at 13 West Range, Poe's room as a student, to the Raven Society.{{Cite news |date=1908-02-20 |title=To Honor Poe. Raven Society at University Cares for His Old Dormitory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-portsmouth-star-to-honor-poe-raven/154274513/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Portsmouth Star |location=Portsmouth, Virginia |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} The society used the room as its meeting place and also began work on restoring the room as a museum.{{Cite news |date=1933-01-25 |title=Ravens to Honor Pupils, Teachers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-ravens-to-honor-pupils-teac/154275439/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=Daily Press |location=Newport News, Virginia |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} They also acquired a collection of Poe's works, to be kept in the room. The Ravens served as room guides during the centenary.{{Cite news |date=1909-01-16 |title=Interest Intense in Poe Centenary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-interest-intense/154275039/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}

The society opened Poe's preserved room, which they had furnished with "a settee from the Allan home in Richmond" as well as "a real raven, stuffed, [which] looked down from a coign of the room."{{cite book |last=Bruce |first=Philip Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vs0zAAAAIAAJ |title=History of the University of Virginia, 1819-1919: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man |year=1922 |volume=V |pages=357–8 |publisher=Macmillan |via=Google Books |authorlink=Philip Alexander Bruce}} In 1924, architecture professor Edmund S. Campbell helped the society restore the room.{{Cite web |last=Bellows |first=Sierra |date=Winter 2008 |title=The Caretaker of No. 13: Student fulfills charge of Raven Society |url=https://uvamagazine.org/articles/the_caretaker_of_no._13 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Virginia Magazine |language=en}} File:1936 Raven Award.jpgIn 1933, the society started its Raven Award program to recognize outstanding contributions of students and faculty.{{Cite web |title=The Raven Award - The Raven Society |url=https://aig.alumni.virginia.edu/raven/raven-resources/the-raven-award/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=University of Virginia}} The original award was in the form of a bust of Edgar Allan Poe, based on a larger bronze sculpture commissioned with artist Harold Cash and first shown at commencement in April 1933.{{Cite news |date=1933-04-01 |title=Raven Society Bust of Poe Ready for Memorial Exercises April 13 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress-raven-society-bust-of/154297256/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Daily Progress |location=Charlottesville, Virginia |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} John Lloyd Newcomb, president University of Virginia, was the first recipient of the Raven Award.{{cite web |title=History of the Raven Society |url=http://aig.alumni.virginia.edu/raven/history/ |accessdate=2013-08-27}} Other notable recipients include Edward L. Ayers, Colgate Darden, Nicole Hurd, and John Strangfeld.Dabney, Virginius (1981). Mr. Jefferson's University: A History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 418. {{ISBN|0-8139-0904-X}}

The Raven Society also celebrated Poe's bicentenary in 2009 by laying three roses and drinking cognac in 13 West Range. In 2011, it received a grant from the UVa Alumni Association for the restoration of 13 West Range.{{Cite news |date=2011-04-29 |title=Raven Society Plans Renovation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress-raven-society-plans-r/154275192/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Daily Progress |location=Charlottesville, Virginia |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}

The Raven Society's name came from "The Raven", a narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe, who attended the University of Virginia in 1826. The society's emblem is a black enamel raven mounted upon a gold-colored base. Members are referred to as the Ravens.

The society's Initiation takes place in 13 West Range, Poe's former room. Members declaim of Poe's works and stanzas from "The Raven" as part of the initiation ceremony. Initiates sign their name in a book using a quill. When inducted, new members must write a parody of "The Raven".

Annually, the society presents Raven Fellowships to support undergraduate and graduate research projects.{{Cite web|url=http://magazine.clas.virginia.edu/x1097.xml|last=Jacob|first=Katie|title=Looking back at years of Bananas, Ravens|date=January 2004|accessdate=2008-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913183636/http://magazine.clas.virginia.edu/x1097.xml|archive-date=2007-09-13|url-status=dead}} The society recognizes service and contributions to the University of Virginia by honor students, faculty, administrators and alumni with its Raven Award. The society is also responsible for the upkeep of Poe's student quarters on at 13 West Range at the University of Virginia.{{cite book |last=Alderman |first=Edwin A. |url=https://archive.org/details/librarysouthern06kentgoog |title=Library of Southern Literature |author2=Joel Chandler Harris |publisher=Martin and Hoyt |year=1907 |page=[https://archive.org/details/librarysouthern06kentgoog/page/n368 4080] |quote=raven society 13 west range. |authorlink=Edwin Alderman |accessdate=2008-01-03}}

The society recruits members when they are juniors, seniors, or first or second-year graduate students. Potential members must demonstrate academic distinction.{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Kevin |date=April 5, 2024 |title=School of Data Science Ph.D. Students and Faculty Member Named To Raven Society |url=https://datascience.virginia.edu/news/school-data-science-phd-students-and-faculty-member-named-raven-society |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=School of Data Science |language=en-US}} Initiation takes place at midnight. Fewer than thirty students are initiated each year.

Notable members of the Raven Society include:

• Charles Greenleaf Bell, scholar, poet and writer{{Cite web |title=Charles G. Bell |url=https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-writers/charles-g-bell |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Mississippi Writers and Musicians}}
• Staige D. Blackford, journalist who edited the Virginia Quarterly Review{{Cite web |title=Raven Society Initiation at the University of Virginia |url=https://encyclopediavirginia.org/253hpr-22469946ae6dfff/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Encyclopedia Virginia |language=en-US}}
• L. D. Britt, professor of surgery at the Eastern Virginia Medical School{{Cite web |last=DiAntonio |first=Andy |date=2018-12-19 |title=L.D. Britt |url=https://healthlaw.org/team/l-d-britt-md-mph/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=National Health Law Program |language=en-US}}
• James O. Browning, district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T69GezSs4nAC&q=raven |title=108-1 Hearings: Confirmation Hearings on Federal Appointments, S. Hrg. 108-135, Part 3, April 30, May 7, May 22, June 25, and July 9, 2003, * |date=2004 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=1025 |language=en |via=Google Books}}
• M. Caldwell Butler, Virginia General Assembly and the United States House of Representatives{{Cite web |title=M. Caldwell Butler Papers {{!}} Washington and Lee University School of Law Research |url=https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/butler/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Washington and Lee University School of Law Scholarly Commons}}
• Robert Young Button, Attorney General of Virginia and Virginia Senate{{Cite web |last=Bugg |first=J. L. |title=Robert Y. Button (1899–1977) |url=https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/button-robert-y-1899-1977/#start_entry |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Encyclopedia Virginia |language=en-US}}
• Mortimer Caplin, Commissioner of Internal Revenue and professor emeritus at the University of Virginia{{Cite web |date=Fall 2019 |title=In Memoriam: Mortimer Caplin '40, Public Servant and Professor Emeritus, Dies At 103 {{!}} Class Notes |url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/uvalawyer/fall-2019/class-notes |access-date=August 30, 2024 |website=UVA Lawyer}}
• George M. Cochran, justice of the Virginia Supreme Court and member of the Virginia Senate, and Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite web |last= |date=2011-01-23 |title=George Cochran Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/george-cochran-obituary?pid=148057410 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Legacy.com |language=en}}
• Gary Cuozzo, professional football player with the Baltimore ColtsDabney, Virginius (1981). Mr. Jefferson's University: A History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 557. {{ISBN|0-8139-0904-X}}
• Douglas Day, biographer, novelist, critic, University of Virginia professor{{cite news |date=24 December 1961 |title=W&L Instructor's Article Published |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/963529098/?match=1&terms=%22douglas%20t%20day%22%20raven |work=Danville Register and Bee |location=Danville VA}}
• Bascom S. Deaver, physicist and academic{{cite web |title=Summary of Accomplishments: Bascom S. Deaver, Jr |url=http://www.phys.virginia.edu/Announcements/DeaverFund/DeaverAccomplishments.pdf |accessdate=2008-06-06}}
• Armistead Mason Dobie, dean of the University of Virginia School of Law, circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and judge the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
• John S. Edwards, Senate of Virginia{{Cite book |url=https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Portal/Resources/SenateManual.pdf |title=Manual of the Senate, General Assembly of Virginia 2020 - 2021 |publisher=General Assembly of Virginia |year=2020 |page=83 |access-date=August 30, 2024}}
• S. Bernard Goodwyn, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia{{Cite web |date=2023-09-27 |title=The Honorable S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Justice Of The Supreme Court Of Virginia, To Deliver Keynote Address At Hampton University's Opening Convocation On Sunday, October 1 |url=https://home.hamptonu.edu/blog/2023/09/27/the-honorable-s-bernard-goodwyn-chief-justice-of-the-supreme-court-of-virginia-to-deliver-keynote-address-at-hampton-universitys-opening-convocation-on-sunday-october-1/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Hampton University Home |language=en-US}}
• Kossen Gregory, member of the Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-gregory-kossen-1-jul/156749115/ |title=Gregory Kossen |date=2019-07-01 |newspaper=The Roanoke Times |page=C4 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-10-08}}{{Open access}}
• Lapsley W. Hamblen Jr., judge of the United States Tax Court{{Cite web |title=Lapsley Walker Hamblen Jr. |url=https://tharpfuneralhome.com/lapsley-walker-hamblen-jr/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc.}}
• Frank Hereford, president of the University of VirginiaDabney, Virginius (1981). Mr. Jefferson's University: A History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 598. {{ISBN|0-8139-0904-X}}
• C. Harrison Mann, Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite web |title=Charles Harrison Mann Jr. |url=https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/8909 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Virginia House History}}
• Ernest Mead, professor of music at the University of Virginia{{cite news |date=2014-02-16 |title=Ernest Mead |url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/obituaries/mead-ernest/article_ef46c727-b929-59fc-892d-f6fca9899a17.html?TNNoMobile |accessdate=2014-02-16 |work=The Daily Progress}}
• W. Tayloe Murphy Jr., Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources{{Cite web |title=William Tayloe Murphy Jr. |url=https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9895 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Virginia House History}}
• Charles S. Russell, senior justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}
• D. French Slaughter Jr., United States House of Representatives and Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite web |title=Daniel French Slaughter Jr. |url=https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/8957 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Virginia House History}}
• John Strangfeld, former chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Prudential Financial{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2013 |title=NJPAC Elects John Strangfeld as New Board Co-Chair |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130614005500/en/NJPAC-Elects-John-Strangfeld-as-New-Board-Co-Chair |access-date=August 30, 2024 |website=BusinessWire}}
• Gilbert J. Sullivan, director of the University of Virginia Alumni Association for 35 years{{Cite web |last=Bromley |first=Anne E. |date=2009-01-06 |title=Gilly Sullivan, Former U.Va. Alumni Association Director, Has Died |url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/gilly-sullivan-former-uva-alumni-association-director-has-died |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=UVA Today |language=en}}
• Alexander Theroux, novelist and poet{{Cite book |last=Theroux |first=Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBMjDAAAQBAJ&dq=Alexander+Theroux,+raven&pg=PA511 |title=Collected Poems |date=2015-05-02 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |isbn=978-1-60699-802-1 |pages=511 |language=en |quote=The Raven (A parody written as a requirement for election to the distinguished Raven Society at the University of Virginia, 1967).}}
• F. Palmer Weber, activist and member of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal group known as the Brain Trust{{Cite news |date=1934-05-18 |title=Thirty-Two Are to Join Raven Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-leader-thirty-two-are-to/154322848/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Daily News Leader |location=Staunton, Virginia |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• Robert Whitehead, Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite web |title=Robert Whitehead |url=https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9617 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Virginia House History}}
• Henry H. Whiting, justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-09-24 |title=Retired Virginia Supreme Court Justice Henry H. Whiting |url=https://valawyersweekly.com/2012/09/24/retired-virginia-supreme-court-justice-henry-h-whiting/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Virginia Lawyers Weekly |language=en-US}}
• Murat W. Williams, Ambassador to El Salvador{{Cite news |date=1935-05-12 |title=Raven Society Votes to Honor 2 Students |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-raven-society-vo/154296847/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=37 |via=Newspapers.com}}

• Allusions to Poe's "The Raven"
• History of the University of Virginia
• Honor society
• University of Virginia fraternities and sororities
• University of Virginia secret societies

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.uvaravensociety.com/ The Raven Society]
• [https://aig.alumni.virginia.edu/raven/raven-resources/the-raven-award/raven_award_winners/ Raven Award Winners]

{{Edgar Allan Poe}}

{{University of Virginia}}

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Category:1904 establishments in Virginia

Category:Honor societies

Category:University of Virginia

Category:Virginia culture

Category:History of the University of Virginia

Category:Student organizations established in 1904

Category:Secret societies in the United States

Category:Student organizations in the United States

Category:Local fraternities and sororities