Clariosophic Society facts for kids
The Clariosophic Society, also known as ΜΣΦ (Mu Sigma Phi), is a special student group. It was started in 1806 at the University of South Carolina. Back then, the university was called South Carolina College.
The society began when an older student group, the Philomathic Society, split in two. This happened in February 1806. Students voted to form two new groups. One became the Clariosophic Society. The other was called the Euphradian Society. Two brothers chose members for each new group, like picking teams for a game. John Goodwin was the first president of the Clariosophic Society. The group was started again in 2013.
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Special Symbols of the Society
When students joined the Clariosophic Society, they received a special Latin Diploma. This was like a certificate showing they were members. They also received a unique key. Over time, the society stopped giving out the actual keys. However, a picture of the key still appeared on the diplomas.
The key had a special shape, like a rhombus or diamond. But its top and bottom were flat, not pointy. The front of the key showed two hearts that overlapped. In the middle were the Greek letters Mu Sigma Phi (ΜΣΦ). At the bottom were the letters C.S., which stood for Clariosophic Society. The back of the key also had two hearts at the top. It showed two Greek words starting with Delta and Phi (ΔΦ). At the bottom were the letters S.C.C, for South Carolina College.
Famous Members Through History
Many important people were members of the Clariosophic Society. They went on to become leaders in government, law, and other fields.
Leaders of the 1800s
- Preston Brooks: He later became a US Representative from South Carolina. A US Representative is a person elected to speak for their state in the US Congress.
- Andrew Pickens Butler: He later served as a US Senator from South Carolina. A US Senator is also elected to represent their state in the US Congress.
- John C. Calhoun: He was an honorary member and later became the US Vice President. The Vice President is the second-highest leader in the US government.
- Stephen Elliott: He became the first Episcopal Bishop of Georgia.
- Wade Hampton III: He later served as the governor of South Carolina and a US Senator. A governor is the leader of a state.
- Hugh S. Legaré: He later became the US Attorney General. This person is the main lawyer for the US government.
- Richard I. Manning: He later served as the governor of South Carolina and a US Representative.
- George McDuffie: He also became a governor of South Carolina and a US Senator.
- John Murphy: He later served as the governor of Alabama.
- Henry William Ravenel: He was a famous botanist, a scientist who studies plants.
- Edwin G. Seibels: While a student, he served in the state government. He later became famous for inventing the vertical filing cabinet, which helps organize papers.
Important People of the 1900s
- William Jennings Bryan Dorn: He was a US Representative from South Carolina.
- Walton James McLeod, III: He became a member of the South Carolina Legislature, which makes laws for the state.
