St. Elmo Society

St. Elmo Society was founded in 1889 as the Omicron chapter of the national fraternity Delta Phi. The creation of Yale's residential system in 1933 led some Sheffield organizations to sell their buildings to the university, but St. Elmo retained its residence. In 1965, a decade after the Sheffield school was incorporated into Yale College, St. Elmo Society became a secret senior society in the style of Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, and Wolf's Head. According to the Yale Daily News, the society is known for the Halloween party it holds at its house or tomb and other parties throughout the year. == Chapter houses ==

Delta Phi's original chapter house or dormitory was built in 1895 at 111 Grove Street. The group selected this name from deference to it iconography from the Knights of Malta who were seafarers; Saint Elmo is the patron saint of sailors. Construction on St. Elmo Hall started on April 1, 1895, and was completed in September. The roof was slate. The three-story Elizabethan style building cost $130,000 ($ in today's money). Yale started leasing dormitory space in St. Elmo Hall starting in 1945 and bought the building in 1962. The society leased part of Rosenfeld Hall from the university. In 1985, the university refused to renew St. Elmo's lease at 109 Grove Street, giving the society short notice to move out and find a new residence. The following year, St. Elmo Society purchased a building at 35 Lynwood Place. == Symbols ==

When it was part of Delta Phi, the fraternity's badge was the Maltese cross of the Knights of Malta. The Yale chapter selected Saint Elmo, also known as Erasmus of Formia, as the namesake of its house in 1895. Saint Elmo was chosen because he is the patron saint of sailors, and the Knights of Malta were seafarers. Copying the Omicron chapter, other chapters of Delta Phi began using the St. Elmo name; today, the fraternity is known as both Delta Phi and St. Elmo Hall. When it separated from Delta Phi in 1925, the Yale chapter changed its name from St. Elmo Hall to St. Elmo Society. By that time, the chapter demonstrated "disrespect" for the fraternity's badge. == Membership ==

Delta Phi fraternity selected its male members in December of their freshmen year. == Popular culture ==

In her young adult novel, Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo features an occult version of the St. Elmo Society whose members can conjure storms. == Notable members ==

• John Ashcroft (1964), 79th United States Attorney General • Albie Booth, inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame • Robert Morse Crunden (1962), professor at the University of Texas and director of American Studies Department • Ron DeSantis (2001), 46th Governor of Florida • Charles James Freeborn (1899), Croix de Guerre recipient for his service in World War I and captain in the United States Army • James E. Fuchs (1950), Olympic medalist • Calvin Hill (1969), All-Pro NFL running back; father of NBA All-Star, Grant Hill • Guy Hutchinson (1906), president of Proctor & Schwartz Electric Company and All-American Football quarterback • Barrington Daniels Parker Jr. (1965), a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit • Allison Williams (2010), actress, Jordan Peele's Get Out, HBO's Girls == See also ==