Special Interest Groups

    Entries drawn from the college history encyclopedia


A. H. L.
A. H. L. - From 1894 Microcosm

A. H. L. was a local sorority established at Dickinson College in 1893. The only information about the group appears in the 1894 Microcosm, shown at left, though no explanation or description of its functions is given. The group is not mentioned in any subsequent yearbooks.

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

Buchanan Club
Buchanan Club

The Buchanan Club, a local fraternity, was founded at Dickinson College in February 1927. Bearing the name of President James Buchanan, Class of 1809, it adopted the Beta Psi designation in 1929, but disbanded two years later.

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

Commons Club
East College, c.1950

The Commons Club was founded March 12, 1924 and was intended to provide non-fraternity men at the College social contacts and privileges such as their Greek classmates enjoyed. Forty-three members were enrolled during the first term and quarters were found in the section of Old East that the S.A...

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

Contemporary Club
Contemporary Club

Founded "with the object of keeping its members up to the 'times' in college life for mutual help and advancement," the Contemporary Club was a local fraternity established at Dickinson College in 1907. The club was founded around a debating program, and its members eventually formed the nucleus...

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

D. A. L.

Organized as a society for independent women, D A L was a local sorority established at Dickinson College in 1924. The group was only active for one year, but was followed by two other groups, Wilohea and Delta Sigma, which had approximately the same membership. Like D A L, the two succeeding...

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

Independent Women
Independent Women

Independent Women, a local organization established at Dickinson College in 1946, consisted of female students who wished to remain unaffiliated with Greek-letter sororities.

The group, which some also referred to as the "Indevians," became less active during the 1950s. It finally...

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

K. K. K. fraternity

K. K. K. fraternity

K. K. K. was a local fraternity established at Dickinson College in 1893. Very little is actually known about this small brotherhood, which dissolved in 1897. However, there appears to be no connection between the Dickinson fraternity and the national group bearing these same initials.

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

Library Guild
Library Guild

The Library Guild of Dickinson College was formed on February 20, 1903 after a suggestion from Professor Bradford O. McIntire and was authorized by the Board of Trustees on March 5, 1903 to build an endowment for the purchase of books for the Library. The first constitution directed a board to...

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

Skull and Key (1908-1983)
Skull and Key (1908-1983)

Skull and Key, a local honorary society for junior men, was established at Dickinson College in 1908. Starting in 1935, these “Black Hats” annually presented a silver loving cup to the freshman man judged to be the outstanding member of his class. The society has been inactive since 1983 when...

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

The Sophomore Band

Sophomore Band, 1901

During the early twentieth century, hazing became a prominent issue on American college campuses. At Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, hazing seemed to develop in response to class rivalries, especially between the freshman and sophomore classes. Tensions increased with contests such...

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups

Sui Generis
Sui Generis

A local organization for women who had no affiliation with Greek-letter sororities, Sui Generis was founded at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1956. The organization consisted of former members of a group known as Independent Women, and was active until 1961.

Organization Type: Special Interest Groups
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