Fortson's Signs, Symbols, and Secret Societies: Anak Society

The history of the Anak Society at the Georgia Institute of Technology is a narrative woven into the very red clay of Atlanta. To understand this organization, one must first understand the environment of the early twentieth century American South, a time when collegiate identity was being forged through a mixture of Victorian fraternal ideals and a burgeoning sense of industrial progress. Founded in 1908, the Anak Society was not merely a social club; it was designed as a vanguard of student leadership, intended to guide the campus through its formative decades. Its name, steeped in ancient lore and Biblical weight, suggested a stature that went beyond the typical undergraduate experience. The society was founded by four seniors who sought to recognize those who contributed most to the institute, yet from its inception, the group was shrouded in a deliberate air of mystery that both intrigued and unsettled the general student body.

The word "Anak" itself carries a heavy etymological burden. In the Hebrew Bible, the Anakim were a race of giants, descendants of Anak, who inhabited the land of Canaan. When the Israelite scouts returned from their survey of the land, they spoke of being like grasshoppers in the sight of these formidable beings. By choosing this name, the founders of the society were making a calculated statement about the perceived "stature" of their members. They were to be the giants of the campus, individuals whose influence and achievements loomed large over the university. This Biblical connection provided a framework of exclusivity and power, suggesting that the members were of a different caliber than the average student. Over the decades, this sense of being "chosen" or "superior" would become the hallmark of the society, fueling both its prestige and the occasional backlash against its perceived elitism.