Book and Snake

Book and Snake or The Society of Book and Snake is a secret society for seniors at Yale University. It was established in 1863 and is the fourth-oldest secret society at Yale. It is considered one of the "Big Three'' of the societies at Yale, along with Skull and Bones and Wolf's Head. Sigma Delta Chi Society was established by students at the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College on November 17, 1863, as a three-year society. The society secured rooms on the top floor of a building on College Street and Chapel Street where they held weekly meetings. When it outgrew that space, the society moved to the top floor of 953 Chapel Street. In 1876, the society incorporated in Connecticut as the Stone Trust Corporation so that it could own property and hold money. This name honored Lewis Bridge Stone, an early member of the society. On campus, Sigma Delta Chi changed its name to Book and Snake because its members did not want to be confused with a national fraternity; the group already had the nickname Book and Snake because of its pin. In addition, the society moved to 36 Elm Street and created the first social dormitory at Yale. Member John Hays Hammond named the dormitory Cloister. Because its house was called Cloister, the society received the nickname Cloister Club. The Cloister Club grew to include those who lived at the Cloister, alumni of the society, and honorary members. In 1888, Book and Snake built Cloister Hall, a combined chapter house and dormitory at 1 Hillhouse Avenue, at Grove Street. Like other landed Yale societies, Book and Snake built a meeting hall or "tomb" in 1901 that is only accessible to members and alumni. The tomb cost $81,000, including$10,000 for its lot. The society enlarged its dormitory in 1917. However, when Yale started its residential college system in 1933, Book and Snake sold Cloister Hall to the university. Book and Snake also converted to a senior society in 1933. In 1987, Book and Snake alumni created the Arthur Greer Memorial Prize for Outstanding Scholarly Publication or Research at Yale to honor Arthur Greer, Yale class of 1926.