Smith Secret Societies

While looking for something completely different in the Smith archives I can across an entry about two secret societies that were once active on campus. I could only find any detailed information on one of the two groups mentioned, but thought it would be interesting to pass on.

From the Archives:
"Founded at Smith College in 1890, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.) was a secret society devoted to "the maintenance of devilish wit and the promotion of hellish spirit in the college." The group was intended to be a spoof upon "The Hibernians," a fraternal order of Irish Roman Catholics.

"A.O.H.'s patron saint was St. Patrick, its color was green, and its emblem was the shamrock. A.O.H enjoyed an intense rivalry with fellow secret society, the Orangemen, with whom they would compete for members." Membership was limited to twelve women from each class and members were inducted in the first semester of their first year. During the swearing in ceremony new members were given secret names and made to take the oath "I swear eternal hatred to the Orange and everlastin' loyalty to the Green, so help me St. Pat."

A.O.H was on of Smith's most popular secret societies until 1948 when President Davis abolished all secret societies on campus, calling them "undemocratic." At that time the group was forced to end all official activities, but records indicate that the group continued unofficially until the mid-1960s. All documentation ends with the 1965-1966 academic year.