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The Sphinx Head Society is the oldest senior honor society at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Founding

Sphinx Head was founded in 1890 by a group of men from the senior class.[1] The Society was founded in order to "create and maintain a stronger feeling" for Cornell University and to promote "a closer and stronger friendship among members of the Senior class."[2]

Membership

Sphinx Head, Class of 1899[3]

Each year, the Society usually taps fewer than forty members of the senior class for membership.[4] Since the Society's founding, membership has been reserved for the most respected members of the senior class at Cornell.[5] The names of newly tapped Sphinx Heads were published in The New York Times through the 1930s, but are now published exclusively in The Cornell Daily Sun. [6] [7] [8] Although membership is public, the proceedings of the Society remain concealed.[9] Sphinx Head also awards honorary membership Cornell administration, faculty, staff, and alumni for their "significant personal and/or professional accomplishment, outstanding leadership, distinguished service to the university and interest in and commitment to undergraduate student life and development." [10]

Media Coverage

Election into the Society has been recognized by The New York Times as "the highest non-scholastic honor within reach of undergraduates."[11] The Society recognizes outstanding Cornell senior men and women who, throughout their undergraduate years, have demonstrated impeccable strength of character on top of a strong dedication to leadership and service at Cornell University.[12] The New York Times has referred to the Sphinx Head Society as being "a secret senior society of the nature of Skull and Bones," a senior honor society at Yale University of which Andrew Dickson White, Cornell University's Co-founder and first President, was a member. [13]

After Cornell

Many Sphinx Heads have attained great success and distinction in their post-collegiate careers. Members have gone on to become U.S. Presidential Cabinet members, Elected officials for local, state, and federal governments, U.S. diplomats, CEOs and Chairmen of Fortune 500 Companies, Chairmen and members of the Cornell University Board of Trustees[14] and Council[15], major Cornell University donors, Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award winners, Olympic athletes and medalists, and members of both Cornell University and National Athletic Halls of Fame. Several members are also profiled in The 100 Most Notable Cornellians.[16]

Notable alumni

Some notable Sphinx Heads include:

Notes

  1. ^ "History of Some of the Later Cornell Organizations", Cornell Alumni News, December 18, 1901, p. 89. http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3166/12/004_12.pdf
  2. ^ "History of Some of the Later Cornell Organizations", Cornell Alumni News, December 18, 1901, p. 89. http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3166/12/004_12.pdf
  3. ^ Cornell University Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
  4. ^ "History of Some of the Later Cornell Organizations", Cornell Alumni News, December 18, 1901, p. 89. http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3166/12/004_12.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.dos.cornell.edu/wsh/history_2.html
  6. ^ "Cornell Societies Elect", The New York Times, October 19, 1930.
  7. ^ "Cornell Societies Elect New Members", The New York Times, May 13, 1926.
  8. ^ "Cornell Societies Elect", The New York Times, October 14, 1938.
  9. ^ Dear Uncle Ezra, October 30, 2003
  10. ^ "10 faculty and staff members honored by Sphinx Head society," Cornell Chronicle, December 7, 2007, pg. 14. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov07/sphinx.head.html
  11. ^ 63 Juniors Elected to Cornell Societies, The New York Times, May 19, 1929, p. N3.
  12. ^ 10 faculty and staff members honored by Sphinx Head society, page 14, Cornell Chronicle, December 7, 2007
  13. ^ "Cornell University", The New York Times, May 10, 1891.
  14. ^ List of current Cornell University Board of Trustees Members
  15. ^ List of current Cornell University Council Members
  16. ^ Altschuler, Glenn C. (2003). The 100 Most Notable Cornellians. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-3958-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Time: 2:16:03, [http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/PastChampions.asp Boston Marathon Past Champions
  18. ^ Time: 2:16:54 [http://www.honolulumarathon.org/l/Facts___Figures/history/Historybyyear/1981.htm Honolulu Marathon - Facts and Figures
  19. ^ http://www.americanaustralian.org/Aboutus/history.php
  20. ^ http://cornellbigred.com/Sports/general/2007/FAQ.asp?tab=bigred
  21. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B02E5D6143AE03ABC4153DFB1668382609EDE
  22. ^ Romeyn, Berry (1950). Stoneposts in the Sunset. Century House. ASIN B0007EETVA.
  23. ^ http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=101929&p=irol-govboard&ID=122769
  24. ^ http://imdb.com/name/nm0002053/
  25. ^ The Cornellian, 1897
  26. ^ http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/virtual/collections/fuertes/index.html
  27. ^ "Robert J. Kane, 81, Ex-Olympic Official And Aide at Cornell," New York Times, June 1, 1992.
  28. ^ Kane, Robert J. (1992). Good Sports: A History of Cornell Athletics. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell Magazine. ISBN 0963327402.
  29. ^ http://www.heisman.com/winners/p-sullivan71.html
  30. ^ http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/04/3.25.04/Obituaries.html
  31. ^ http://www.cornellbigred.com/Sports/general/2007/History.asp?tab=history
  32. ^ http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1197314709726

See also

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