1856

Scroll & Key

1842–1856 — Early Years in Rented Quarters

• The society initially met in rented facilities in downtown New Haven, without a permanent home.
  • Source: SAH Archipedia, "Scroll and Key Society Building" — http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CT-01-009-0040
  • Quote: "Initially, the society's meetings took place in rented facilities in downtown New Haven."

1856 — Skull and Bones Builds First "Tomb"

• Skull and Bones erected a permanent building designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in the heart of Yale's campus, prompting Scroll and Key members to seek their own headquarters.
  • Source: SAH Archipedia, "Scroll and Key Society Building."
  • Quote: "In 1856, Skull and Bones built a permanent home designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in the heart of Yale's campus. Scroll and Key society members felt the need to do the same."

Skull & Bones; Daniel Coit Gilman: William Huntington Russell

1856 —

• Son Daniel Coit Gilman co-incorporates Skull & Bones as the Russell Trust Associationwith William H. Russell at Yale.
  • Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yale-University; Sutton, Antony C. America's Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones. TrineDay, 2002
  • Quote: “In 1856 Russell and Daniel Coit Gilman incorporated Skull & Bones as the Russell Trust Association."

1856 — Skull and Bones Builds First "Tomb"

• Skull and Bones erected a permanent building designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in the heart of Yale's campus, prompting Scroll and Key members to seek their own headquarters.
  • Source: SAH Archipedia, "Scroll and Key Society Building."
  • Quote: "In 1856, Skull and Bones built a permanent home designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in the heart of Yale's campus. Scroll and Key society members felt the need to do the same."

1856 — Incorporation as the Russell Trust Association

• Skull and Bones was incorporated as the Russell Trust Association. William H. Russell was named president and Daniel Coit Gilman (later founding president of Johns Hopkins University) became treasurer.
  • Source: "Yale, Skull and Bones, and the Beginnings of Johns Hopkins," PMC — http://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3012287/
  • Quote: "In 1856, Gilman was instrumental in incorporating Skull and Bones as the Russell Trust Association, which is the society's legal operating entity. The founder of Skull and Bones, William H. Russell, was named president and Gilman became the treasurer."