Raven Society

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Range room of Edgar Allan Poe at the University of Virginia, restored and maintained by the Raven Society.
Range room of Edgar Allan Poe at the University of Virginia, restored and maintained by the Raven Society.

The Raven Society is the University of Virginia's oldest honorary society. Founded in 1904 by University student William McCully James[1], and named in honor of the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe (who attended The University in 1826), the Raven Society seeks to promote academic excellence at the University of Virginia. According to its constitution, one of the 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."[2] In addition to presenting annual Raven Fellowships,[3] the society recognizes students, professors, administrators, and alumni for their "scholarly pursuits and their dedication to University ideals" with the Raven Award,[4] and is also responsible for the upkeep of Poe's living quarters, 13 West Range.[5]

The Raven Society has been active in commemorating Poe's life, beginning with a celebration of his centenary in 1909.[6] At this time, the Society first opened Poe's preserved room at 13 West Range, 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."[7]

Notable members of the Raven Society have included founder and UVA Law professor Raleigh C. Minor,[8] University president Frank Hereford,[9] former Alumni Association director J. Malcolm "Mack" Luck,[10], and UVA and Baltimore Colts football player Gary Cuozzo,[11]

[edit] Raven Award Recipients

[edit] External links

The Raven Society

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wolcott, Dave (2004-03-11), Raven Society Celebrates Centennial Anniversary, <http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/releases2004/raven-march-11-2004.html>. Retrieved on 3 January 2008 
  2. ^ Constitution of the Raven Society of the University of Virginia, <http://hoosonline.virginia.edu/atf/cf/%7B83927FB7-52BF-4DC5-A9D5-009D9CEC41CF%7D/Constitution.pdf>. Retrieved on 3 January 2008 
  3. ^ Jacob, Katie (2004-01), Looking back at years of Bananas, Ravens, <http://magazine.clas.virginia.edu/x1097.xml>. Retrieved on 3 January 2008 
  4. ^ a b History of the Raven Society. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  5. ^ Alderman, Edwin A.; Joel Chandler Harris (1907). Library of Southern Literature. Martin and Hoyt. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. 
  6. ^ “Raven Society Celebrates: Poe Anniversary is Appropriately Observed at University of Virginia”, New York Times, 1909-01-19, <http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9800EFDE1031E733A2575AC1A9679C946897D6CF&oref=slogin>. Retrieved on 3 January 2008 
  7. ^ Bruce, Philip Alexander (1922). History of the University of Virginia, 1819-1919: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man V, 357-8. 
  8. ^ Dabney, Virginius (1981). Mr. Jefferson's University: A History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 123. ISBN 081390904X. 
  9. ^ Dabney, 598.
  10. ^ Dabney, 122
  11. ^ Dabney, 557
  12. ^ William G. Crutchfield, Jr. (corporate biography), <http://www.crutchfield.com/S-vhEaWpQ4g5S/mediarelations/bcrutchfield.html>. Retrieved on 3 January 2008 
  13. ^ Dabney, 418.