{{Short description|Student society at the University of Utah, US}} {{Infobox fraternity | name = Owl and Key | crest = Owl and Key logo.png | image_size = 190px | caption = Owl and Key logo, 1916 | founded = {{start date and age|1909}} | birthplace = University of Utah | type = Senior society | affiliation = Independent | scope = Local | chapters = 1 | emphasis = Honor | city = Salt Lake City | country = United States | state = Utah | status = Active }} '''Owl and Key''' is a student organization at the University of Utah that is a cross between a senior society and an honor society.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=McConkie |first=Rochelle |date=3 February 2009 |title=Bonesmen celebrate 100 years |newspaper=Daily Utah Chronicle |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/2009/02/03/bonesmen-celebrate-100-years/ |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref>

== History == Owl and Key, a senior honor society, and Skull and Bones, a junior secret society, were both organized at the University of Utah in 1909.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=1965-05-06 |title=2 Men's Honoraries Taking Applications |pages=1 |work=The Daily Utah Chronicle |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-utah-chronicle-2-mens-honorar/129298920/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=1939-11-09 |title=Three Students Voted Admission to Owl and Key |pages=15 |work=Salt Lake Telegram |location=Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/salt-lake-telegram-three-students-voted/129299196/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1964-12-07 |title=Owl and Key Selects Outstanding Senior Men |pages=1 |work=The Daily Utah Chronicle |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-utah-chronicle-owl-and-key-sel/129299280/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The Utah societies were not affiliated with Yale University but borrowed from its campus traditions.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />

The purpose of Owl and Key was to foster spirit among the senior class and to uphold the standards and traditions of the University."<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=746190&q=owl+and+key |title=Utonian |publisher=University of Utah |year=1963 |page=35 |via=J. Willard Marriott Digital Library, University of Utah.}}</ref> New members are initiated into the society by alumni of Owl and Key near the start of the spring semester of the senior year.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=1940-02-01 |title=Owl and Key Initiates 15 Seniors |pages=1 |work=The Daily Utah Chronicle |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-utah-chronicle-owl-and-key-ini/129299216/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The initiates then plan events such as an annual spring formal.<ref name=":7" />

Owl and Key also acts as the parent organization for Skull and Bones, overseeing the spring recruitment and application process of the juniors who wish to join the secret society.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=1940-03-21 |title=Deadline Set for Skai-B Applications |pages=1 |work=The Daily Utah Chronicle |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-utah-chronicle-deadline-set-fo/129299070/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Once applications are received, the active members of Owl and Key select the future members of Skull and Bones.<ref name=":8" />

== Membership == Historically, all Owl and Key members were previously members of Skull and Bones, with the latter automatically becoming a member of Owl and Key before graduation.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |date=1933-03-02 |title=Skull and Bones Will Elect Men, New Plan Opens Owl and Key Membership |pages=1 |work=The Daily Utah Chronicle |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-utah-chronicle-skull-and-bones/129298850/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1951 |title=Utonian |url=https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=732446&q=owl+and+key |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=University of Utah |page=226 |language=en |via=J. Willard Marriott Digital Library, University of Utah.}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> In March 1933, Owl and Key decided to increase its membership by five men so it could also invite worthy students who had not been selected for Skull and Bones.<ref name=":9" /> However, its membership is still primarily from Skull and Bones.<ref name=":3" /> For example, in its 1940 class, twelve of the fifteen members were from Skull and Bones, with just three new additions.<ref name=":7" /> In the 1955 class, eight of the twelve-men members were from Skull and Bones, with four being new additions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1955-04-06 |title=Owl and Key Names 12 Senior Men |pages=1 |work=The Daily Utah Chronicle |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-utah-chronicle-owl-and-key-nam/129299165/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Members are selected the spring semester of their senior year by Owl and Key alumni.<ref name=":1" /><ref>''[https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=743726&q=owl+and+key Utonian]''. University of Utah. 1960. p.&nbsp;261. via J. Willard Marriott Digital Library, University of Utah.</ref> Membership was traditionally restricted to senior men; however, women are now members.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{cite book |last=Chamberlin |first=Ralph |author-link=Ralph Vary Chamberlin|title=The University of Utah: A History of Its First Hundred Years |date=1960 |publisher=University of Utah Press |location=Salt Lake City, UT |page=317}}</ref> Invitations are extended students for the academic achievement, leadership, and service in the campus community.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> Students may also nominate themselves by applying to either Skull and Bones or Owl and Key.<ref name=":8" /> Membership to Owl and Key is limited to fifteen initiates per year.<ref name=":0" />

== Notable Members ==

* Bob Bennett – United States Senator<ref>{{cite web |date=Spring 2011 |title=Robert F. Bennett BS'57 |url=https://www.alumni.utah.edu/email-temp/beeline/11_spring.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090632/https://www.alumni.utah.edu/email-temp/beeline/11_spring.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=22 December 2014 |website=Beeline |publisher=University of Utah Alumni Association}}</ref> * Arnie Ferrin – professional basketball player<ref name=":3" /> * John Thomas Greene Jr. – United States district judge<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-02-16 |title=Obituary for J. Thomas Greene, 1929-2011 |pages=16 |work=The Daily Spectrum |location=Saint George, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-spectrum-obituary-for-j-thoma/107121851/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> * David S. King – United States House of Representatives<ref name=":4" /> * Russell M. Nelson –. President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<ref>{{Cite news |date=1945-08-11 |title=Dantzel White Engaged to Russel M. Nelson |pages=12 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-dantzel-white-enga/129299510/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> * Vadal Peterson – basketball coach<ref name=":4" /> * Hugh W. Pinnock – authority of the LDS Church and Presidency of the Seventy<ref>{{cite news |date=8 December 2000 |title=Elder Hugh Pinnock dies at 66 |newspaper=Deseret News |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/798981/Elder-Hugh-Pinnock-dies-at-66.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223085327/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/798981/Elder-Hugh-Pinnock-dies-at-66.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 23, 2014 |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> * George Albert Smith Jr. – professor at Harvard Business School<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> * Thornley King Swan – Chief Judge in the Utah Judicial Council<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-08-10 |title=Judge Thornley King Swan |pages=17 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-judge-thornley-kin/129299453/ |access-date=2023-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2002-08-11 |title=Obituary: Judge Thornley King Swan |url=https://www.deseret.com/2002/8/11/19671081/obituary-judge-thornley-king-swan |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==

* Honor society

==References== {{reflist}}{{authority control}}

Category:1910 establishments in Utah Category:Honor societies Category:Student societies in the United States Category:University of Utah Category:Student organizations established in 1910 Category:Local fraternities and sororities