Order of the Gorgon's Head (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

The Order of the Gorgon's Head, a secret society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was founded in 1896. Membership has always been limited to male members of the junior, senior, professional, and post-graduate classes along with male faculty members. Inductees may not be members of other societies. Officers include Princeps (chief officer), Quaestor, and Scriptor. The purpose of the Order is to promote friendship, good will, and social fellowship among its members.

From the description of Order of the Gorgon's Head records, 1896-2010. WorldCat record id: 213472187

The Order of the Gorgon's Head, a secret society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was founded in 1896. Membership has always been limited to male members of the junior, senior, professional, and post-graduate classes along with male faculty members. Inductees may not be members of other societies. Officers include Princeps (chief officer), Quaestor, and Scriptor. The purpose of the order is to promote friendship, good will, and social fellowship among its members.

The founding members were Darius Eatman, Edward Kidder Graham, Ralph Henry Graves, Samuel Selden Lamb, Richard Henry Lewis, Jr., and Percy DePonceau Whitaker. The Order of the Gorgon's Head was one of two junior orders established at the university in the 1890s; the other was the Order of Gimghoul. The two orders had written agreements that they would not attempt to recruit freshmen or sophomores. Each order had a lodge (the Gimghouls later built a castle), where members gathered for meetings and events. Each had secret rituals based on myths. Those of the Order of the Gorgon's Head centered on the myth of the Gorgons, three monstrous sisters prominent in ancient Greek and Roman lore. The most famous of the Gorgons was Medusa, who had her head cut off by the warrior Perseus.

From the guide to the Order of the Gorgon's Head of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1896-2010, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.)