At the inception of the Skull and Bones Society, one of their founders, William Russell, had already set rules for selecting new members.
First, they had to come from wealthy, prominent families in the eastern United States, preferably descended from English immigrants with aristocratic lineage. Secondly, they needed a good education, with a preference for those who attended elite boarding schools during their high school years. Third, they had to have an interest in sports, a competitive spirit, and ideally, military experience.
Furthermore, at the beginning, the Skull and Bones Society did not allow women, Jewish People, or African Americans to join; they only accepted white males!
So even though Helen was the daughter of the Taft Family, she did not join the Skull and Bones Society during her time at Yale University!
