Raven's Claw Society Explained
The Raven's Claw Society is an all-male senior honor society at Dickinson College. It was founded in 1896, making it the first society unique to Dickinson College and one of the oldest in the country.
History
The Raven's Claw Society was founded in 1896, making it the first society unique to Dickinson College and one of the oldest in the country.
The society prides itself in serving the Dickinson College and Carlisle, Pennsylvania communities through discreet service activities.[1] While the members of the group are known, the majority of their actions and traditions are concealed.
Its alumni organization is responsible for founding one of the college's largest scholarship funds and the McAndrews Fund for athletics. Additionally, there are many buildings on campus named after Raven's Claw members in recognition of their generous service and dedication to the College and/or large financial contributions to the school.
Symbols
Members are called "claws" or "white hats", denoting the white caps they wear around campus to signify unity and loyalty on certain days throughout the year.[2]
Membership
Membership is limited to seven senior men who are selected by the seven previous members. The new members are chosen based on a variety of factors, which are speculated to include: campus leadership, a solid academic record, and athletic participation. While those are often the factors associated with membership in the Raven's Claw Society, no one knows for certain how or why members are selected.[3] New members are inducted in a "Tapping Ceremony" which is held on the "Old Stone Steps of Old West." The ceremony is traditionally conducted during commencement weekend.
Notable members
Academia
- Gilbert Malcolm, 23rd President of Dickinson College[4]
Business
Entertainment
Law
Politics
- Edward J. Bonin, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
- Jim Gerlach, U.S. Representative and 2010 Gubernatorial Candidate from Pennsylvania[16]
- John D. Hopper Jr., Pennsylvania State Senator[17] [18]
- Harry Nice, 50th Governor of Maryland[19]
- Henri S. Rauschenbach, Massachusetts State Congressman and Senator[20]
- S. Walter Stauffer, United States Representative from Pennsylvania and President of the National Lime Association[21]
- Dallas Winslow, Delaware Public Service Commissioner and Delaware State Senator[22]
- Samuel W. Witwer, politician credited as the "Father of the Illinois Constitution"[23] [24]
- Robert E. Woodside, Jr., Pennsylvania State Congressman, Pennsylvania Attorney General and Superior Court Judge[25]
- Hugh B. Woodward, Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico[26]
Sports
- John Carroll, former Boston Celtics head coach
- Bernie Driscoll, Kutztown University head men's basketball coach[27]
- Jim Engles, New Jersey Institute of Technology head men's basketball coach[28]
- W. J. Gobrecht, football and basketball player and coach[29] [30]
- Steve Hoffman, former NFL player and current NFL coach[31] [32]
- Benjamin James (Honorary) athletics coach, educator, and college administrator[33] [34]
- Leon Rose, president of the New York Knicks[35]
- Pete Sivess, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher[36]
- Dave Webster, Dickinson College head men's lacrosse coach[37]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- http://www.dickinson.edu/dickinsonian/detail.cfm?2666 Dickinson College - The Dickinsonian
- http://ravensclawsociety.com/history.htm History of Raven's Claw
- Web site: Raven's Claw . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20071220145218/http://alpha.dickinson.edu/storg/raven/ . 2007-12-20 . 2007-12-20.
- http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/m/ed_malcolmG.htm President Gilbert Malcolm
- http://www.ctotf.org/2007/Fall/Dave%20Freysinger%20BIO.pdf Dave Freysinger, Reliant Energy
- http://www.genesishcc.com/index.cfm?page_id=104 George Hager, Genesis Healthcare
- http://www.hbs.edu/leadership/database/leaders/john_r_stafford.html Stafford recognized as a Great American Business Leader of the 20th Century
- http://www.collegenews.org/x3878.xml Dickinson Receives Multi-Million Dollar Gift From Raven's Claw Member
- Web site: Remembering a Former Trustee and Television Pioneer . 2010-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100202175750/http://www.dickinson.edu/news-and-events/news/2009-10/Former-Trustee,-Pioneering-Television-Producer-Passes-Away/ . 2010-02-02 . dead .
- http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm?author_number=1000 John Griesemer Author Profile
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340993/ Griesemer from IMDB
- http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/1133369-1.html Byron Quann-Whitaker CEO
- http://www.dickinson.edu/commencement/2006/honjones.html Dickinson College - Commencement
- http://www.dickinson.edu/news/article/1099/noteworthy_opinions Noteworthy Opinions
- http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/30sp/former/html/msa02636.html JAMES A. KENNEY III, Judge, Court of Special Appeals
- http://www.gerlachforpa.com/ Gerlach For PA
- http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/h/ed_hopperJD.htm John D. Hopper - Dickinson Chronicles
- http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SJ/1996/0/Sj19960626.pdf The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Journal, June 26, 1996 (Page 8)
- http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/stagser/s1259/121/7044/html/msa01481.html Exhibit of Governors' Portraits in the Governor's Reception Room, Maryland State House
- http://smithandrauschenbach.com/partners.aspx Henri Rauschenbach of Massachusetts
- http://www.lime.org/ National Lime Association
- http://depsc.delaware.gov/commissioners.shtml Dallas Winslow
- http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/w/ed_witwerhall.html Witwer Hall, Dickinson College
- https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0819142093/thepoliticalg-20 Quest for a Constitution: A Man Who Wouldn't Quit : A Political Biography of Samuel Witwer of Illinois
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/woodside-woodville.html#S7M1E0P84 Robert Elmer Woodside, 1904-1998
- http://www.woodwardfamilyonline.com/hugh_beistle_woodward_biography.htm Hugh B. Woodward Biography
- http://www.kutztown.edu/divisions/studentservices/departments/athletics/men/mbasket/coaches.asp Bernie Driscoll
- http://njithighlanders.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/engles_jim00.html Jim Engles, NJIT
- Web site: Gobrecht Receives Distinguished Dickinson Alumnus Award . 2009-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060908183525/http://www.dickinson.edu/news/nrshow.cfm?970 . 2006-09-08 . dead .
- http://www.dickinson.edu/alumni/council/distingaward2006b.html "Goby" Recognized for Service
- http://www.kcchiefs.com/coach/steve_hoffman/ Steve Hoffman, Kansas City Chiefs
- http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/coachingstaff/coachingstaff_hoffman_s.asp Steve Hoffman, Miami Dolphins
- http://www.dickinson.edu/alumni/vr02/bj1.html Benjamin D. James
- http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1144723?hpt=hp_bn1 Benjamin James - Honorary President
- http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/exclusive_lbj_060712.html Cavs.com’s Exclusive Interview with LeBron James, Agent Leon Rose, and Cavs’ GM Danny Ferry
- http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Sivess.Pete.Obit.html Obituary for Peter J. Sivess
- http://www.dickinson.edu/sports/coach.cfm?coachIndex=48 Dave Webster, Claw of 1988
