8. Flat Hat Club

What Is It:
Founded in 1750 at William & Mary College, the Flat Hat Club was the nation’s first secret society. Thomas Jefferson was a member during his time at the college, and the name is either a secret Latin code or a reference to those mortarboard hats people wear to graduation.

Famous Members:

Thomas Jefferson

Why You Should Join:
The Flat Hat Club met at Raleigh Tavern, and its main business seems to have been drinking. Thomas Jefferson himself said that the society “served no useful object” – reason enough to Join.