Since its founding in 1819, the University has had its fair share of well-known traditions, but it also has had an even larger share of secrets and forgotten history.
This past Thursday, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and the Miller Center of Public Affairs honored the University's past with the event, "Secrets and Traditions of U.Va."
The presentation was hosted by George Gilliam, the Center's assistant director for public programs and chair of the Forum Program. Gilliam, who is also a University professor of Virginia history, introduced each of the speakers throughout the night.
Wayne Cozart, vice president for alumni engagement, started his presentation - titled "The Origins and Workings of Secret Societies" - with a disclaimer: "Anything I say may or may not be correct. It is a secret, after all."
Cozart - who said he believes secret societies exist to "preserve the nature of the institution" - said secret societies started at the College of William & Mary with the founding of Phi Beta Kappa during the early 19th century. Shortly afterward, the next secret society was founded in 1825 - the University's Jefferson Literary and Debating Society.
Meanwhile, the oldest University organization still functioning underground is the Z Society, which was founded in 1892, Cozart said. To preserve their group's secrecy, members of the Z Society must immediately leave the room if they are ever asked about their membership, Cozart said.
Cozart also contested the myth that secret societies consist only of "old white men from Richmond." For example, he said, the Seven Society's symbol was once displayed at the funeral of a woman named Mary Proffitt. The symbol was also displayed for Ricky Keller, a black American.
Cozart also revealed the most popular date for secret society activity - April 13 - Jefferson's birthday.
But the presentation also showed how secret societies are not all that makes the University's history distinct. Prof. Gary Gallagher shared his knowledge about the University's role in the Civil War. He described the war's magnitude, saying it was "an absolutely seismic event, and it had an absolutely seismic impact on University of Virginia undergraduates."
Out of the 630 students at the University during the war, 500 were Confederate soldiers and 80 were killed, Gallagher said. During the summers of 1861 and 1862, the University converted its facilities into a hospital.
The University's war involvement continued during World War II, as University historian Sandy Gilliam explained in his presentation, "World at War: FDR and the University."
At the June 10, 1940 graduation ceremony, the congregation moved from the Lawn to Memorial Gymnasium to hear President Franklin D. Roosevelt speak. Here, Roosevelt announced that the United States would provide wartime aid to both Britain and France.
Third-year College student Erika Troia, who attended the event, said it taught her a great deal of new information about the University.
"This University is so rich in history and I left the event knowing more than when I came in," she said.
9/7/10 - Update 1: This article has been updated to corrent a misspelling in Mary Proffitts' name.
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