Sphinx Head

      The original emblem of the Sphinx Head Society.[1][2]

      The Sphinx Head Society is the oldest senior honor society at Cornell University. Sphinx Head recognizes Cornell senior men and women who have demonstrated respectable strength of character on top of a dedication to leadership and service at Cornell University.[3] In 1929 The New York Times held that election into Sphinx Head and similar societies constituted "the highest non-scholastic honor within reach of undergraduates."[4]

      Founding

      Sphinx Head was founded on October 11, 1890 by a group of ten men from the senior class.[5][6] 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."[5]The New York Times referred to Sphinx Head as "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.[7] White encouraged the formation of a secret society system on the Cornell campus.[8]

      ↑Jump back a section

      Membership

      Sphinx Head, Class of 1899[1]

      Each year, Sphinx Head usually taps fewer than forty men and women of the senior class for membership.[5] Since the Society's founding, membership has been "reserved for the most respected" members of the senior class.[9] 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.[10][11][12]

      Sphinx Head also awards honorary membership to Cornell administrators, 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."[3] Notable honorary members of Sphinx Head include Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata, Atlantic Philanthropies founder Chuck Feeney, and Cornell University President David Skorton, among others.

      ↑Jump back a section

      At Cornell

      Historic Sphinx Head Tomb

      Sphinx Head has "retained an aura of mystery throughout its history on campus", holding some "closely guarded secrets and traditions."[13]

      Although membership in Sphinx Head is public, the proceedings of the Society remain concealed. Since the founding the Society, Sphinx Head members have been responsible for starting many long-standing Cornell University traditions such as the annual Dragon Day celebration, the use of "The Big Red" to describe Cornell athletics, as well as Spring Fest, the precursor to the current Slope Day celebration.[9][14][15]

      Members of Sphinx Head have held many prominent positions within Cornell University serving as presidents, provosts, deans, directors of athletics, Cornell Council members, trustees and chairpersons of the board of trustees. More than one-third of the presidents of the Cornell University Alumni Association have been members and twenty percent of the chairpersons of the Cornell University Board of Trustees have been affiliated with the Society.[16][17] Names of alumni can be found on the Cornell campus on Bartels Hall, Samuel C. Johnson School of Business Management, Robert Kane Track, Jansen Noyes Community Center, Jerome H. Holland International Living Center, Robert Purcell Community Center, Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives, Willard Straight Hall and Upson Hall.

      ↑Jump back a section

      After Cornell

      Many Sphinx Heads have attained great success and distinction in their post-collegiate careers:

      ↑Jump back a section

      Notable alumni

      1890–1899

      1900–1909

      1910–1919

      1920–1929

      1930–1939

      1940–1949

      1950–1959

      1960–1969

      Samuel Bodman, the 11th United States Secretary of Energy

      1970–1979

      1980–1989

      • Kevin M. Cook (1984): Inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2000.[citation needed]
      • Darren J. Eliot (1983): Professional hockey goaltender; Member of the 1984 Canadian Olympic Ice Hockey team.[citation needed]
      • Daniel P. Meyer (1986): Former Naval officer and whistleblower during the investigation into the explosion onboard battleship IOWA (BB-61).
      • James Knowles (1987): Head Coach of the Cornell University Men's Football team (2004–2009).
      • Joe Nieuwendyk (1988): 21 year NHL veteran and, 3 time Stanley Cup Winner, 2002 Olympic Gold Medal winner. Now the General Manager of the Dallas Stars of the NHL.
      • Peter Pakeman (1984): Played with the North York Rockets in the Canadian Soccer League (1987); Inducted into Cornell University's Athletic Hall of Fame (2007)[5]; First player in Ivy League soccer history to earn first-team honors at three different positions (midfield, back and forward); Selected to play for the East squad in the Annual East-West Senior Soccer Bowl Classic (1983); Selected to the All-New York State team all four years (1980–83); Member of Cornell University's Red Key Society (1981) [6]; Twice the recipient of the Clive Beckford Memorial Award as Cornell's most outstanding soccer player.
      • Leo J. Reherman (1988): American professional football player (Miami Dolphins); Competed on American Gladiators as "Hawk" (1993–1996); Sports broadcaster for ESPN.
      • Michael C. Schafer (1986): Head Coach of the Cornell University Men's Ice Hockey team (1995–Present).

      1990–Present

      ↑Jump back a section

      References

      1. ^ a b Cornell University Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
      2. ^ The Cornellian, 1891.
      3. ^ a b 10 faculty and staff members honored by Sphinx Head society, page 14, Cornell Chronicle, December 7, 2007
      4. ^ 63 Juniors Elected to Cornell Societies, The New York Times, May 19, 1929, p. N3.
      5. ^ a b c "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
      6. ^ "The Sphinx Head: A Senior Society Recently Formed" Cornell Daily Sun, January 13th, 1891, p.3. http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/newscornell?a=d&srpos=1&cl=search&d=CDS18910113.2.3.4&e=--------20--1----The+Sphinx+Head;+A+Senior+Society+Recently+Formed-all
      7. ^ "Cornell University", The New York Times, May 10, 1891.
      8. ^ The Secret Life of A.D. White | The Cornell Daily Sun
      9. ^ a b Willard Straight Hall
      10. ^ "Cornell Societies Elect", The New York Times, October 19, 1930.
      11. ^ "Cornell Societies Elect New Members", The New York Times, May 13, 1926.
      12. ^ "Cornell Societies Elect", The New York Times, October 14, 1938.
      13. ^ Secret's Out, Cornell Alumni Magazine, May/June 2003, p. 36.
      14. ^ http://www.slopeday.cornell.edu/2008/history.php
      15. ^ a b Cornell Alumni News, October, 1950
      16. ^ Alumni Association: Larry Gubb, William Kleitz, Elbert Tuttle, Robert White, Walter Nield, Charles Werly, Richard Vanderwarker, Bruce Hackstaff, Joseph Driscoll
      17. ^ Chairman: Becker, Purcell, Noyes; Mieing holds honorary membership.
      18. ^ List of current Cornell University Council Members
      19. ^ List of current Cornell University Board of Trustees Members
      20. ^ Altschuler, Glenn C.; Isaac Kramnick, R. Laurence Moore (2003). The 100 Most Notable Cornellians. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-3958-2. 
      21. ^ Cornell Alumni News, October 1, 1953
      22. ^ a b Cornell Alumni News February, 1964
      23. ^ The Cornellian, 1897, pg. 176.
      24. ^ NYS Museum
      25. ^ The Cornellian, 1894
      26. ^ Cornell Alumni News, March 1, 1956
      27. ^ Cornell Alumni News, October, 1936
      28. ^ Cornell Alumni News, February 1, 1956
      29. ^ Cornell Alumni News, July, 1941
      30. ^ The Cornellian, 1899, pg. 183.
      31. ^ Cornell Alumni News, March, 1961
      32. ^ The Cornellian, 1905, pg. 261.
      33. ^ American Australian Association | History of the Association
      34. ^ The Cornellian, 1904, pg. 263.
      35. ^ Cornell Athletics - Frequently Asked Questions
      36. ^ "BERRY NEW CORNELL HEAD.; As Graduate Athletic Manager He Will Reorganize Sports". The New York Times. July 9, 1919. 
      37. ^ Berry, Romeyn (1950). Stoneposts in the Sunset. Century House. ASIN B0007EETVA. 
      38. ^ Cornell Alumni News, May, 1921
      39. ^ Cornell Alumni News, February, 1959
      40. ^ Cornell Alumni News June, 1964
      41. ^ http://www.google.com/patents?id=Nv5EAAAAEBAJ
      42. ^ http://www.google.com/patents?id=oEpnAAAAEBAJ
      43. ^ Honorees
      44. ^ The Cornellian, 1910, pg. 359.
      45. ^ Cornell Alumni News September, 1955
      46. ^ Cornell Alumni News, March, 151
      47. ^ In the Founders' Footsteps: Builders of the Cornell University Library
      48. ^ Cornell Alumni News, July 1949
      49. ^ Cornell Alumni News, May, 1961
      50. ^ a b The Cornellian, 1901, pg. 211.
      51. ^ Cornell Athletics - History of Athletics At Cornell University
      52. ^ The Cornellian, 1902, pg. 227.
      53. ^ Cornell Alumni News, April, 1959
      54. ^ Cornell Big Red.com Schoellkopf facts/history accessed 10-09-2007
      55. ^ Cornell Alumni News, October, 1957
      56. ^ Cornell Alumni News, April, 1951
      57. ^ The Cornellian, 1913, pg. 307.
      58. ^ Cornell Alumni News December, 1965
      59. ^ Cornell Alumni News January, 1965
      60. ^ Cornell Alumni News, April, 1962
      61. ^ Cornell Alumni News, March 15, 1956
      62. ^ The Cornellian, 1919, pg. 433.
      63. ^ Cornell Alumni News September, 1952
      64. ^ Cornell Alumni News, May 1, 1950
      65. ^ Cornell Alumni News, November, 1938
      66. ^ Cornell Alumni News, February, 1939
      67. ^ Cornell Alumni News, February, 1947
      68. ^ Cornell Alumni News, May, 1938
      69. ^ Austin Parker (I)
      70. ^ Cornell Alumni News, December, 1938
      71. ^ The Cornellian, 1918, pg. 395.
      72. ^ a b Cornell Alumni News, July, 1946
      73. ^ Wesleyan University: Celebrating 175 Years
      74. ^ Cornell Alumni News, July 1947.
      75. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (October 21, 1994). "Walker L. Cisler, 97, Advocate of Nuclear Energy". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2010. 
      76. ^ Cornell Alumni News, April 15, 1950
      77. ^ The Cornellian, 1928, pg. 179.
      78. ^ Dan Duryea
      79. ^ http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=38811
      80. ^ a b c The Cornellian, 1924, pg. 375.
      81. ^ Cornell Alumni News, December, 1960
      82. ^ Cornell Alumni News, May 1, 1950
      83. ^ The Cornellian, 1926, pg. 341.
      84. ^ The Cornellian, 1927, pg. 327.
      85. ^ Session Timeout - Academy Awards Database - AMPAS
      86. ^ http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=62458
      87. ^ "Cornell Societies Elect.". The New York Times. October 14, 1926. Retrieved June 9, 2013. 
      88. ^ Cornell Alumni News, November, 1960
      89. ^ a b The Cornellian, 1939, pg. 193.
      90. ^ Cornell Alumni News, September 1960.
      91. ^ a b The Cornellian, 1934, pg. 129.
      92. ^ "Robert J. Kane, 81, Ex-Olympic Official And Aide at Cornell", The New York Times, June 1, 1992.
      93. ^ Kane, Robert J. (1992). Good Sports: A History of Cornell Athletics. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell Magazine. ISBN 0-9633274-0-2. 
      94. ^ Staff. "Heads New Labor Office", Cornell Alumni News, February 18, 1943, Volume XLV, Number 18. Accessed August 3, 2011. "He was a member of the Willard Straight Hall Board of managers and associate editor of The Cornellian; is a member of Sphinx Head and Beta Sigma Rho."
      95. ^ [1]
      96. ^ Obituaries
      97. ^ a b The Cornellian, 1933, pg. 183.
      98. ^ Tishman Speyer
      99. ^ The Cornellian, 1932, pg. 165.
      100. ^ The Cornellian, 1944, pg. 93.
      101. ^ FPL | James L. Broadhead Award
      102. ^ [2]
      103. ^ a b The Cornellian, 1957, pg. 295.
      104. ^ A Message from the President of Colonial Williamsburg
      105. ^ Wesleyan University: Celebrating 175 Years
      106. ^ The Cornellian, 1958, pg. 151.
      107. ^ [3]
      108. ^ a b The Cornellian, 1950, pg. 161.
      109. ^ The Cornellian, 1954, pg. 139.
      110. ^ Nypro: Company: Company Officers
      111. ^ The Cornellian, 1951, pg. 203.
      112. ^ a b The Cornellian, 1955, pg. 195.
      113. ^ Belkin is Entrepreneur of the Year
      114. ^ [4]
      115. ^ "Dave Bliss". The Washington Post. June 22, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2010.  Text " 'I Ruined My Career' " ignored (help)
      116. ^ The Cornellian, 1960, pg. 105.
      117. ^ The Cornellian, 1969, pg. 94.
      118. ^ Molson Coors - Investor Relations Executive Bios
      119. ^ The Cornellian, 1965, pg. 379.
      120. ^ Ferraro, Jr., Louis C. (2007). The Right Side of Leadership. BookFactory. ISBN 1-59672-010-7. 
      121. ^ The Cornellian, 1964, pg. 79.
      122. ^ a b c d The Cornellian, 1966, pg. 197.
      123. ^ http://www.tomgraboys.com/index.html
      124. ^ David Hanlon Profile - Forbes.com
      125. ^ The Cornellian, 1971, pg. 405.
      126. ^ Time: 2:16:03, Boston Marathon Past Champions
      127. ^ Time: 2:16:54 Honolulu Marathon - Facts and Figures
      128. ^ floridaeverblades.com: Hockey Staff
      129. ^ Heisman.com - Heisman Trophy
      130. ^ ArvinMeritor - Media Room - Officers and Directors
      131. ^ http://www.camplejeuneglobe.com/news/top_stories/article_f715bcb2-2400-11e0-8b31-001cc4c002e0.html
      132. ^ http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/June10/DeLucaTambroni.html
      ↑Jump back a section
      Last modified on 10 June 2013, at 06:15