Sphinx (senior society)

The Sphinx is a collegiate senior society at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.^[1] Founded in 1885, it is the oldest of the fourteen official senior societies at the college.^[1]

The Sphinx was founded as a senior-class society in 1885 by fourteen male students of the class of 1886.^[2]

The senior members of the Sphinx continue to select a small number of male students of the junior class during Winter Carnival Weekend in a process known as "tapping."^[3] Traditionally selecting 24 members per year, the delegation often is referred to as "twenty-fours."

The Sphinx originally published the names of its members in the annual Aegis, but the society has become more secretive in recent years. The identities of the members are now kept secret until Commencement when graduating members carry identifying canes.

The Sphinx Tomb, constructed in 1903 on East Wheelock Street, was designed by Manchester architect William M. Butterfield and reflects the Egyptian Revival architectural style popular during the mid-nineteenth century.^[4] In 1923, a significant addition was planned for the tomb; however, the proposed addition was never constructed. Instead, a smaller rear addition was constructed in 1926. The interior of the Sphinx was replaced after a fire started in the building's furnace destroyed it in 1929. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.^[5]

The Sphinx attracted negative publicity in 1989 when thefts that took place during a scavenger hunt were traced back to the secret society. On April 27, 1989, 16 students took part in a scavenger hunt that resulted in the theft of numerous items across the Dartmouth campus, including paintings, photographs, mailboxes, life preservers, and signs. The school estimated the total value of missing items at nearly $12,000.^[4] The school demanded that all items be returned undamaged within 24 hours, in which case it would not investigate further. Most items were returned but as several were still missing, an investigation was launched, which revealed that the Sphinx was responsible for the scavenger hunt. Dartmouth revoked recognition of the Sphinx for one year, fined the organization $3,000 plus the cost of damages to the stolen items, and punished the members involved with probation or suspension.^[6]

In 2003, an unsuccessful illegal break-in was attempted by two unidentified males.^[7]

• Dartmouth College student groups
• List of collegiate secret societies
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Grafton County, New Hampshire

• Secret Societies: 360 will be invited to join--will you be one?
• Halls, Tombs and Houses: Student Society Architecture at Dartmouth