O.W.L. Society

==Early history==

==Early history==

Established in 1887, the original O.W.L. Club appears to have been a social group of influential University of VIrginia students.[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x030808014?urlappend=%3Bseq=212%3Bownerid=27021597769836496-258 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 21]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1906. p. 184 – via Hathi Trust. Among the society's founders was Thomas Longstreet Wood, a student active in literary pursuits, who later went on to publish ''Arcade Echoes'', a compilation of the best student writing during his time at the university.{{cite book|last1=Wood|first1=Thomas|title=Arcade Echoes|url=https://archive.org/details/arcadeechoessel00compgoog|date=1894|publisher=A.C. Brechin}}

Established in 1887, the original O.W.L. Club appears to have been a social group of influential University of Virginia students.[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x030808014?urlappend=%3Bseq=212%3Bownerid=27021597769836496-258 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 21]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1906. p. 184 – via HathiTrust. Among the society's founders was Thomas Longstreet Wood, a student active in literary pursuits, who later went on to publish ''Arcade Echoes'', a compilation of the best student writing during his time at the university.{{cite book|last1=Wood|first1=Thomas|title=Arcade Echoes|url=https://archive.org/details/arcadeechoessel00compgoog|date=1894|publisher=A.C. Brechin}}

It was classified as a ribbon society, similar to [[Eli Banana]] and T.I.L.K.A., with which it shared a substantial number of common members. The O.W.L. also included many members of prominent fraternities, such as [[Delta Kappa Epsilon]]. The O.W.L. was accordingly regarded in fairly high respect, and definitely as a “good thing,” as the students of the day called something they approved of. Of the ribbon societies, the 1895 edition of the university's annual, ''[[Corks and Curls]]'', ranked the O.W.L. just below Eli Banana and T.I.L.K.A. in terms of social prominence, and highly in terms of academic performance.

It was classified as a ribbon society, similar to [[Eli Banana]] and T.I.L.K.A., with which it shared a substantial number of common members. The O.W.L. also included many members of prominent fraternities, such as [[Delta Kappa Epsilon]]. The O.W.L. was accordingly regarded in fairly high respect, and definitely as a “good thing,” as the students of the day called something they approved of. Of the ribbon societies, the 1895 edition of the university's annual, ''[[Corks and Curls]]'', ranked the O.W.L. just below Eli Banana and T.I.L.K.A. in terms of social prominence, and highly in terms of academic performance.

The O.W.L. members were identified in the ''Corks and Curls'' yearbook'','' but its proceedings, membership selection, and other activities were kept secret.{{cite book |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x030808009?urlappend=%3Bseq=193%3Bownerid=27021597769833939-209 |title=Corks and Curls |publisher=The Fraternities of the University of Virginia |year=1906 |volume=19 |location=Charlottesville, Virginia |page=165 |via=Hathi Trust}} The society operated on a single ball system in membership proceedings, that is, one vote in the negative from any member was sufficient to exclude a candidate from the Society.{{cite book|title=Papers of John Newcomb|location=University of Virginia Special Collections Library}} The Society remained small, never including more than eight members at one time.

The O.W.L. members were identified in the ''Corks and Curls'' yearbook'','' but its proceedings, membership selection, and other activities were kept secret.{{cite book |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x030808009?urlappend=%3Bseq=193%3Bownerid=27021597769833939-209 |title=Corks and Curls |publisher=The Fraternities of the University of Virginia |year=1906 |volume=19 |location=Charlottesville, Virginia |page=165 |via=HathiTrust}} The society operated on a single ball system in membership proceedings, that is, one vote in the negative from any member was sufficient to exclude a candidate from the Society.{{cite book|title=Papers of John Newcomb|location=University of Virginia Special Collections Library}} The Society remained small, never including more than eight members at one time.

On January 19, 1894, O.W.L reformed “in order to promote the literary spirit not merely in a narrow circle but in the whole College, the constitution was amended and the qualification for membership made honorary.”{{cite news|title=The Owls|work=College Topics|date=19 Jan 1894}} The society transformed from a social organization to one with both social and practical functions. Its membership was drawn from the ranks of editors of important University publications including the ''Virginia University Magazine'', ''College Topics'', and ''Corks and Curls''.

On January 19, 1894, O.W.L reformed “in order to promote the literary spirit not merely in a narrow circle but in the whole College, the constitution was amended and the qualification for membership made honorary.”{{cite news|title=The Owls|work=College Topics|date=19 Jan 1894}} The society transformed from a social organization to one with both social and practical functions. Its membership was drawn from the ranks of editors of important University publications, including the ''Virginia University Magazine'', ''College Topics'', and ''Corks and Curls''.

=== Dissolution ===

=== Dissolution ===

The O.W.L. began to fade from University life in the early 1920s and several brief attempts were made to revive the O.W.L. as a purely functional organization. In 1923, ''College Topics'' reported that the O.W.L. had “reorganized” and merged with [[Society of Professional Journalists|Sigma Delta Chi]], formerly the university's chapter of the national journalistic fraternity. ''College Topics'' noted that the new organization would “[act] as an unofficial group of students interested in student publications, gathered for the purpose of encouraging all journalistic activities at the University of Virginia.”{{cite news|title=O.W.L. Club Merges with Former Sigma Delta C|work=College Topics|date=16 Jan 1932}}

The O.W.L. began to fade from University life in the early 1920s, and several brief attempts were made to revive the O.W.L. as a purely functional organization. In 1923, ''College Topics'' reported that the O.W.L. had “reorganized” and merged with [[Society of Professional Journalists|Sigma Delta Chi]], formerly the university's chapter of the national journalistic fraternity. ''College Topics'' noted that the new organization would “[act] as an unofficial group of students interested in student publications, gathered for the purpose of encouraging all journalistic activities at the University of Virginia.”{{cite news|title=O.W.L. Club Merges with Former Sigma Delta C|work=College Topics|date=16 Jan 1932}}

In 1928, the O.W.L. was again resurrected, this time with the purpose of sponsoring the satirical student publication known as ''[[The Yellow Journal]]'', which was then facing considerable criticism from faculty and students for its practice of anonymous publication. During the years 1929 and 1930, the masthead of the ''Yellow Journal'' read, in part, “Sponsored by the OWLS (the damned fools).”{{cite book|last1=Dabney|first1=Virginius|title=Mr. Jefferson's University|year=1981|publisher=University Press of Virginia|page=99}} After 1930, the O.W.L. was no longer mentioned in the masthead, and the journal ceased publication entirely in 1934.

In 1928, the O.W.L. was again resurrected, this time with the purpose of sponsoring the satirical student publication known as ''[[The Yellow Journal]]'', which was then facing considerable criticism from faculty and students for its practice of anonymous publication. During the years 1929 and 1930, the masthead of the ''Yellow Journal'' read, in part, “Sponsored by the OWLS (the damned fools).”{{cite book|last1=Dabney|first1=Virginius|title=Mr. Jefferson's University|year=1981|publisher=University Press of Virginia|page=99}} After 1930, the O.W.L. was no longer mentioned in the masthead, and the journal ceased publication entirely in 1934.

The reason for the O.W.L.’s disappearance remains unclear, although numerous theories abound. One theory, published in the ''Cavalier Daily'' in 1968, asserts that the O.W.L. may have become what is now known as the [[Seven Society]].{{cite news|last1=Ladt|first1=Carol|title=More Than $50,000 Awarded Seven's History Of Gifts, Pranks Recalled|work=Cavalier Daily|date=7 Feb 1968}} The article suggests that the members of the O.W.L., taking to heart University President [[Edwin Alderman]]’s admonition that a more “beneficial” secret society be formed on grounds, began operating in greater secrecy under a new title. As the new organization gained prominence, the O.W.L. gradually became less relevant and was discontinued. The Seven Society's first public announcement, in 1915, coincided with the O.W.L.’s changing its heading in ''Corks and Curls'' from a secret society to a club. However, no hard evidence is known to exist to support this theory.

The reason for the O.W.L.’s disappearance remains unclear, although numerous theories abound. One theory, published in the ''Cavalier Daily'' in 1968, asserts that the O.W.L. may have become what is now known as the [[Seven Society]].{{cite news|last1=Ladt|first1=Carol|title=More Than $50,000 Awarded Seven's History Of Gifts, Pranks Recalled|work=Cavalier Daily|date=7 Feb 1968}} The article suggests that the members of the O.W.L., taking to heart University President [[Edwin Alderman]]’s admonition that a more “beneficial” secret society be formed on grounds, began operating in greater secrecy under a new title. As the new organization gained prominence, the O.W.L. gradually became less relevant and was discontinued. The Seven Society's first public announcement, in 1915, coincided with the O.W.L.’s changing its heading in ''Corks and Curls'' from a secret society to a club. However, no hard evidence is known to exist to support this theory.

More likely, is that a combination of student apathy, increasing pressure from other social organizations, and financial hardship brought on by the Great Depression combined to cause the Society’s collapse. However, its demise also coincided with university funding of student organizations, reducing the need for one of O.W.L.'s primary function.

More likely, is that a combination of student apathy, increasing pressure from other social organizations, and financial hardship brought on by the Great Depression combined to cause the Society’s collapse. However, its demise also coincided with university funding of student organizations, reducing the need for one of O.W.L.'s primary functions.

=== Reorganization ===

=== Reorganization ===

* [[Richard Thomas Walker Duke]], [[United States House of Representatives]]

* [[Richard Thomas Walker Duke]], [[United States House of Representatives]]

* [[John W. Fishburne]], [[United States House of Representatives]]

* [[John W. Fishburne]], [[United States House of Representatives]]

* [[Samuel M. Kootz]], [[New York City]] [[art dealer]] and author[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x000104631?urlappend=%3Bseq=98%3Bownerid=27021597769126383-102 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 32]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1919. p. 86 – via Hathi Trust.

* [[Samuel M. Kootz]], [[New York City]] [[art dealer]] and author[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x000104631?urlappend=%3Bseq=98%3Bownerid=27021597769126383-102 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 32]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1919. p. 86 – via HathiTrust.

* [[James Rogers McConnell]], member of the [[Lafayette Escadrille]]{{Cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Brendan |title=A Flight Forgotten: A brief history of a familiar statue |url=https://uvamagazine.org/articles/a_flight_forgotten |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Virginia Magazine |language=en}}

* [[James Rogers McConnell]], member of the [[Lafayette Escadrille]]{{Cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Brendan |title=A Flight Forgotten: A brief history of a familiar statue |url=https://uvamagazine.org/articles/a_flight_forgotten |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Virginia Magazine |language=en}}

* [[George A. Paddock]], [[United States House of Representatives]]

* [[George A. Paddock]], [[United States House of Representatives]]

* [[James P. C. Southall]], physicist and professor at [[Columbia University]]

* [[James P. C. Southall]], physicist and professor at [[Columbia University]]

* [[Oscar Underwood]], Senate Minority Leader and House Majority Leader[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x030374683?urlappend=%3Bseq=290%3Bownerid=27021597769833472-332 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 26]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1913. p. 280 – via Hathi Trust.

* [[Oscar Underwood]], Senate Minority Leader and House Majority Leader[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x030374683?urlappend=%3Bseq=290%3Bownerid=27021597769833472-332 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 26]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1913. p. 280 – via HathiTrust.

* [[Charles Wertenbaker]], journalist with ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x000672087?urlappend=%3Bseq=90%3Bownerid=27021597769127356-94 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 28]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1925. p. 89 – via Hathi Trust.

* [[Charles Wertenbaker]], journalist with ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x000672087?urlappend=%3Bseq=90%3Bownerid=27021597769127356-94 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 28]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1925. p. 89 – via HathiTrust.

* [[Thomas J. Wertenbaker]], [[historian]] and Edwards Professor of American History at [[Princeton University]]

* [[Thomas J. Wertenbaker]], [[historian]] and Edwards Professor of American History at [[Princeton University]]

* [[Langbourne Meade Williams Jr.]], president of [[Freeport-McMoRan|Freeport-Texas]][https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x001892622?urlappend=%3Bseq=89%3Bownerid=27021597769127305-93 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 37]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1924. p. 85 – via Hathi Trust.

* [[Langbourne Meade Williams Jr.]], president of [[Freeport-McMoRan|Freeport-Texas]][https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x001892622?urlappend=%3Bseq=89%3Bownerid=27021597769127305-93 ''Corks and Curls''. Vol. 37]. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Fraternities of the University of Virginia. 1924. p. 85 – via HathiTrust.

==See also==

==See also==