Early Stature
W.H.S. sat at the apex of a social pyramid bricked by junior societies (sophomore societies were abolished in 1875, freshmen societies in 1880), campus organizations, athletic teams, clubs, and fraternities. "By 1884, half the faculty and the Yale Corporation were members of a Yale secret society. In control, they were careful to quash efforts at restricting the societies." Other societies have been incorporated to keep pace with Yale's growing enrollment.
In 1888 the society changed its name to Wolf's Head Society, consonant with the approval among undergraduates of the society's pin, a stylized wolf's head on an inverted ankh, an Egyptian hieroglyphic known as the Egyptian Cross or "the key of life". Eternal life is symbolized, rather than death or erudition. A Roman fasces had been considered as a design element for the pin, but wasn't adopted. The name change continued the tradition of the society pin mirroring the society's name.
Read more about this topic: Wolf's Head (secret Society)
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