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 and is the oldest senior or "hat society" on campus.

History

The Raven's Claw Society was founded in 1896 at Dickinson College as a senior honor society for male students.^{[1] [2]} Formed by seven members of the class of 1896, it was the college's first honor society.^{[3] [4]} Its founders wanted to encourage class and collage loyalty, create good fellowship, and continue college traditions.

Historically, the Raven's Claw membership has consisted of seven students and two faculty advisors, with many members also belonging to social fraternities on campus.^[5] The society prides itself in serving the Dickinson College and Carlisle, Pennsylvania communities through discreet service activities.^[6]

The society's members participate in community service activities and raise funds for charities.^[7] In honor of its centennial in 1996, it established the Raven's Claw Scholarship which is awards to students based on financial need.

Symbols

While the members of the group are known, the majority of their actions and traditions are concealed. Originally, the society's badge was a gold number seven on a black raven's claw. In the 1920s, student members started wearing a white hat for special days on campus, resulting in Raven's Claw being known as one of Dickinson's "hat societies". The hats represent unity and loyalty. Members are called Claws or White Hats.

Membership

Membership is limited to seven senior men who are selected by the seven previous members.^[8] The new members are chosen based on character, leadership, and involvement in the campus and community during their first three years at Dickinson College. Infrequently, the society breaks with its traditions and inducts a faculty or staff members, such as coach Richard MacAndrews in 1943.^[9]

During commencement weekend, members are inducted in a tapping ceremony at the old stone steps Old West.^[10]

Notable members

Academia

• John E. Jones III, 30th President at Dickinson College and a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
• Gilbert Malcolm, 23rd President of Dickinson College^[11]

Business

• David Freysinger, Executive Vice President of Reliant Energy and CEO at GenOn Energy^[12]
• George V. Hager, chairman and CEO of Genesis HealthCare Corporation^[13]
• John R. Stafford, CEO of American Home Products^{[14] [15]}

Entertainment

• Philip Capice, television producer (Raven's Claw Productions)^[16]
• John Griesemer, author, journalist, and actor^{[17] [18]}
• Byron Quann, president and chief executive officer of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts^[19]

Law

• James A. Kenney, III, Judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals^[20]
• Richard Barclay Surrick, United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

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^[21]
• John D. Hopper Jr., Pennsylvania State Senator^{[22] [23]}
• Harry Nice, 50th Governor of Maryland^[24]
• Henri S. Rauschenbach, Massachusetts State Congressman and Senator^[25]
• S. Walter Stauffer, United States Representative from Pennsylvania and President of the National Lime Association^[26]
• Dallas Winslow, Delaware Public Service Commissioner and Delaware State Senator^[27]
• Samuel W. Witwer, politician credited as the "Father of the Illinois Constitution"^{[28] [29]}
• Robert E. Woodside, Jr., Pennsylvania State Congressman, Pennsylvania Attorney General and Superior Court Judge^[30]
• Hugh B. Woodward, Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico^[31]

Sports

• John Carroll, former Boston Celtics head coach
• Bernie Driscoll, Kutztown University head men's basketball coach^[32]
• Jim Engles, New Jersey Institute of Technology head men's basketball coach^[33]
• W. J. Gobrecht, football and basketball player and coach^[34]
• Steve Hoffman, former NFL player and current NFL coach^{[35] [36]}
• Benjamin James (Honorary) athletics coach, educator, and college administrator^{[37] [38]}
• Leon Rose, president of the New York Knicks^[39]
• Pete Sivess, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher^[40]
• Dave Webster, Dickinson College head men's lacrosse coach^[41]

See also

• Honor socieity

External links

• Raven's Claw Website

Notes and References

1. Book: Banta's Greek Exchange . January 1928 . The Collegiate Press/George Banta Company, Incorporated . 36, no. 1 . 63 . en . Google Books.
2. Web site: 2024-06-04 . Thomas 'Tom' Joseph Wernoch . 2024-11-16 . Newspapers.com . LNP Always Lancaster . A12 . en-US.
3. Web site: Raven's Claw Chronicles . 2024-11-16 . Dickinson College.
4. Web site: Bitts-Jackson . MaryAlice . April 10, 2023 . Raven's Claw Celebrates 125+ Years of Leadership, Scholarship, Service . 2024-11-16 . Dickinson College . en.
5. Web site: History of Raven's Claw . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080208183509/http://ravensclawsociety.com/history.htm . 2008-02-08 . 2024-11-16 . Raven Claw Society . web.archive.org.
6. http://www.dickinson.edu/dickinsonian/detail.cfm?2666 Dickinson College - The Dickinsonian
7. Web site: Atluri . Sai . October 2, 2020 . College Taps Newest Secret Society Classes . 2024-11-16 . The Dickinsonian.
8. Web site: 1963-10-04 . Camp Hill Man Joins College Honor Society . 2024-11-16 . Newspapers.com . The Patriot-News . 4 . en-US . Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
9. Web site: 1943-02-02 . Students Honor Coach Mac Andrews. Ravens Claw Elects Popular Athletic Mentor . 2024-11-16 . Newspapers.com . The Sentinel . 3 . en-US . Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
10. Web site: 1952-06-05 . Dickinson Opens 179th Commencement Tomorrow . 2024-11-16 . Newspapers.com . The Sentinel . Carlisle, Pennsylvania . 1 . en-US.
11. http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/m/ed_malcolmG.htm President Gilbert Malcolm
12. http://www.ctotf.org/2007/Fall/Dave%20Freysinger%20BIO.pdf Dave Freysinger, Reliant Energy
13. http://www.genesishcc.com/index.cfm?page_id=104 George Hager, Genesis Healthcare
14. http://www.hbs.edu/leadership/database/leaders/john_r_stafford.html Stafford recognized as a Great American Business Leader of the 20th Century
15. http://www.collegenews.org/x3878.xml Dickinson Receives Multi-Million Dollar Gift From Raven's Claw Member
16. 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 .
17. http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm?author_number=1000 John Griesemer Author Profile
18. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340993/ Griesemer from IMDB
19. http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/1133369-1.html Byron Quann-Whitaker CEO
20. http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/30sp/former/html/msa02636.html JAMES A. KENNEY III, Judge, Court of Special Appeals
21. http://www.gerlachforpa.com/ Gerlach For PA
22. http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/h/ed_hopperJD.htm John D. Hopper - Dickinson Chronicles
23. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SJ/1996/0/Sj19960626.pdf The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Journal, June 26, 1996 (Page 8)
24. 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
25. http://smithandrauschenbach.com/partners.aspx Henri Rauschenbach of Massachusetts
26. http://www.lime.org/ National Lime Association
27. http://depsc.delaware.gov/commissioners.shtml Dallas Winslow
28. http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/w/ed_witwerhall.html Witwer Hall, Dickinson College
29. 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
30. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/woodside-woodville.html#S7M1E0P84 Robert Elmer Woodside, 1904-1998
31. http://www.woodwardfamilyonline.com/hugh_beistle_woodward_biography.htm Hugh B. Woodward Biography
32. http://www.kutztown.edu/divisions/studentservices/departments/athletics/men/mbasket/coaches.asp Bernie Driscoll
33. http://njithighlanders.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/engles_jim00.html Jim Engles, NJIT
34. 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 .
35. http://www.kcchiefs.com/coach/steve_hoffman/ Steve Hoffman, Kansas City Chiefs
36. http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/coachingstaff/coachingstaff_hoffman_s.asp Steve Hoffman, Miami Dolphins
37. http://www.dickinson.edu/alumni/vr02/bj1.html Benjamin D. James
38. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1144723?hpt=hp_bn1 Benjamin James - Honorary President
39. 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
40. http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Sivess.Pete.Obit.html Obituary for Peter J. Sivess
41. http://www.dickinson.edu/sports/coach.cfm?coachIndex=48 Dave Webster, Claw of 1988