The Zeta chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon was founded at the University of California, Berkeley as a sophomore society in 1881.

[2] In 1882, Skull & Keys was founded as a senior society for members of Theta Nu Epsilon.

[6] Instead, the people who lived near the Tomb worked with the city which finally closed the building for being a public nuisance and environmental health violations.

[6] In addition, the city fined the group $750 ($2773 in today's money) for cleaning up “beer bottles, cans, vomit, urine, and other filth.”[6] However, the city's padlock and closure notice did not keep the Skull & Bones members out of the Tomb and they resumed their parties as usual.

Skull & Keys members were recruited from the senior and junior classes of the University of California, Berkeley.