The emblem of Skull and Bones is a skull with crossed bones, over the number “322”. That chapter, the Beta of Skull & Bones, became independent in 1872 in a dispute over control over creating additional chapters the Beta Chapter reconstituted itself as Theta Nu Epsilon. The only “chapter” of Skull and Bones created outside Yale was a chapter at Wesleyan University in 1870. It was once referred to as The Brotherhood of Death, but a more common alternative name was Eulogia. Skull and Bones was formed in 1832 as a result of a dispute among Yale’s debating societies, Linonia, Brothers in Unity, and Calliope over the Phi Beta Kappa awards. Bush writes in his autobiography, “ senior year I joined Skull and Bones, a secret society so secret, I can’t say anything more.”When asked what it meant that he and Bush were both Bonesmen, former Presidential candidate John Kerry said, “Not much because it’s a secret.”

Presidential election, both the Democratic and Republican nominees were alumni. In conversation, the group is known as “Bones”,Īnd members have been known as “Bonesmen”. The society’s alumni organization, which owns the society’s real property and oversees the organization’s activity, is known as the Russell Trust Association, and is named after General William Huntington Russell founding member of the Bones’ organization along with fellow classmate Alphonso Taft. Skull and Bones is a senior or secret society based at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut.

Yale skull and bones members