Manuscript Society

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An Inverted/Negative portrait of the Manuscript Tomb with its hidden insignia exposed.
An Inverted/Negative portrait of the Manuscript Tomb with its hidden insignia exposed.

Manuscript Society is one of several senior societies at Yale University, commonly referred to as "secret societies."

Founded in 1952, Manuscript is the second-youngest of Yale's landed secret societies — that is, its alumni trust owns its building, or "tomb." Manuscript was the first of the landed, "above-ground" societies to tap women. Each delegation is elected by a consensus of Manuscript alumni, trustee members, and others, unlike other secret societies, where undergraduate members shoulder more of the burden of selecting, recruting and initiating their replacements.[1] Toward the end of each junior year, fifteen undergraduates are "tapped" to be inducted into the society, which meets twice weekly for dinner and discussion (once per week with undergraduates only, once with alumni, honorary members and invited guests).

The Wrexham Foundation is the society's alumni board of trustees. Since 1956, the foundation has underwritten a scholarship in the humanities for a "senior who shall be judged to have written the best senior essay in the field of the humanities." Administered by Yale, it is given in memory of Wallace Notestein, M.A. 1903, Ph.D. 1908, Litt.D. 1951.[2]

The society holds an annual Halloween party in its tomb. Manuscript also briefly played host to the 1991-92 classes of Skull and Bones, who were temporarily locked out of their own tomb by alumni who objected to its undergraduates' decision to tap women for the first time in the Spring of 1991.

A Manuscript party is described in the novel "Joe College" by Tom Perrotta.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Architecture

Designed by King-Lui Wu, Manuscript's tomb is mid-century modern, unusual amid other societies' elaborate mid- to late-19th century buildings. It appears from the outside to have only one level, yet conceals three subterranean floors. The tomb holds a collection of modern and contemporary art. The Yale University Art Gallery is said to have temporarily stored pieces there, although it may be that the gallery and society merely loaned pieces to each other. Wu was often heard to say that he designed the building "for privacy, not for secrecy."

  • King-Lui Wu (1918-2002), influential architect and former Yale School of Architecture professor. Bio at: [1]
  • Josef Albers (1888-1976), acclaimed Bauhaus artist, designed the brickwork intaglio mural on the street facing façade. Wu was Albers' close friend and they collaborated on several projects.
  • Dan Kiley (1912-2004) modernist, designed the landscaping. The tomb’s walled backyard is done in the style of a Chinese garden and has a fountain.

[edit] Members

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Tombs & Taps" section of online Magazine http://www.yale.edu/lt/archives/survivalguide/
  2. ^ Yale University | Office of the Secretary

[edit] Sources