University of Virginia Library

Founded 1904

The Raven Society was founded
in April 1904, four years before Phi
Beta Kappa's coming to the
University. At that time the
University had perhaps a
superabundance of organizations
stressing such things as fellowship
and conviviality in Eli Banana,
Tilka, the late lamented Hot Feet,
dance societies, and a score or more
of social fraternities.

There was obviously need for a
University-wide society stressing
scholarship and intellectual
qualities, the essential interests of a
university. This the Raven Society
undertook to do, adding also
dedication to the University as an
objective.