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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 0.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 230 items) |
Abstract | The Order of the Gorgon's Head, a secret society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was founded in 1896. Membership has always been limited to male members of the junior, senior, professional, and post-graduate classes along with male faculty members. Inductees may not be members of other societies. Officers include Princeps (chief officer), Quaestor, and Scriptor. The purpose of the Order is to promote friendship, good will, and social fellowship among its members. Records include constitutions and bylaws, correspondence, financial records, membership information, descriptions of rituals, and other records of the Order of the Gorgon's Head. |
Creator | Order of the Gorgon's Head (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives. |
Language | English |
Processed by: University Archives Staff, March 2007, April 2010, February 2015, May 2017
Encoded by: Megan Mikus, March 2007
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
The Order of the Gorgon's Head, a secret society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was founded in 1896. Membership has always been limited to male members of the junior, senior, professional, and post-graduate classes along with male faculty members. Inductees may not be members of other societies. Officers include Princeps (chief officer), Quaestor, and Scriptor. The purpose of the order is to promote friendship, good will, and social fellowship among its members.
The founding members were Darius Eatman, Edward Kidder Graham, Ralph Henry Graves, Samuel Selden Lamb, Richard Henry Lewis, Jr., and Percy DePonceau Whitaker. The Order of the Gorgon's Head was one of two "junior orders" established at the university in the 1890s; the other was the Order of Gimghoul. The two orders had written agreements that they would not attempt to recruit freshmen or sophomores. Each order had a lodge (the Gimghouls later built a castle), where members gathered for meetings and events. Each had secret rituals based on myths. Those of the Order of the Gorgon's Head centered on the myth of the Gorgons, three monstrous sisters prominent in ancient Greek and Roman lore. The most famous of the Gorgons was Medusa, who had her head cut off by the warrior Perseus.
Back to TopRecords of the Order of the Gorgon's Head (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) include constitutions and bylaws, correspondence, financial and legal records, membership information, descriptions of rituals, and other items related to the order.
Back to TopArrangement: Alphabetical, then chronological.
Box 1 |
Board of Trustees, 2009Meeting agenda and attachments. |
Constitutions and Bylaws, 1897; 1938; 1947 |
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Correspondence, General, 1964-2008 |
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Events: Harvest Fest, 1989-2007 |
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Events: Invitations, 1988 |
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Financial and Legal Records: Gorgon's Head Trust Fund, 1964 |
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Financial and Legal Records: Insurance, 1975 |
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Financial and Legal Records: Property Transactions, 1906; 1976 |
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Fundraising: Correspondence, General, 1938-2009 |
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Fundraising: Gorgon's Head Trust Fund, 1964 |
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Fundraising: Renovations and Reports to Lodge, 2007Capital campaign. |
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Gorgon's Head-Gimghoul Agreement, 1956 |
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Membership: Invitations, 1990-2015 |
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Membership: Invitations, 2016-2017RT 20170502.2 |
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Membership: Lists, 1931-2013 |
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Image P-40300/1-14
P-40300/1P-40300/2P-40300/3P-40300/4P-40300/5P-40300/6P-40300/7P-40300/8P-40300/9P-40300/10P-40300/11P-40300/12P-40300/13P-40300/14 |
Photographs, 1998-2014 |
Box 1 |
Rituals and Invitations, 1896?-1984 |