at the university as the contending armies of the American Revolution approached Williamsburg during the Yorktown campaign. "The memory of this fraternity had entirely died out at William and Mary, but [after 1909, there was a] discovery of certain manuscript material in the correspondence of St. George Tucker, who was a student of the College in 1772. . . . These manuscripts consist of (1) a letter of Mr. Jefferson, written to John D. Taylor, of Maryland, giving some account of the club at the College, stating that he was a member . . . [;] (2) a list of the books described as compiled for the club's library, in 1772, by Rev. Thomas Gwatkin, Professor of Mathematics; (3) the credentials of Robert Baylor as a member in abbreviated Latin." Therefore, we know the society existed for some years, and possessed a small library. History of the subsequent society The name of the group was revived in the twentieth century by application to a select group of twelve undergraduate men and four professors which had been founded in 1916 as the Spotswood Club (it thus differed markedly from the original society, a fraternity of six undergraduate men with alumnus members in urbe -- that is, "in town", having graduated from the university). This society operated largely as a collegiate honorary society. It suspended its activities in 1943 as the number of men enrolled at the College steeply declined because of American involvement in World War II. The modern F.H.C. Society was revived in May, 1972. It remains an all-male society, consisting of twelve undergraduate men and alumni in urbe. In recent years, an additional six members were added. Most of its activities remain comparatively secret within the university. Upon graduation from William and Mary, members receive medals of distinction, showing their membership. Contrary to the practice of some similar societies, alumni may disclose their membership after graduation. See also Collegiate secret societies in North America Notes References Jane Carson, James Innes and His Brothers of the F.H.C.; Charlottesville, Virginia: The University Press of Virginia, 1965. External links Thomas Jefferson's letter to Thomas McAuley regarding the F.H.C. Society, June 14, 1819. Flat Hat History from The Flat Hat, William and Mary's student newspaper F.H.C. Society Collection at the Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary. Organizations established in 1750 1750 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies