While the origins of the Trident Society are largely mysterious, it is believed to have been founded in the early 1930s as an all-male organization,[2] and grew during the dissolutions of the Red Friars and the White Duchy.

[5] Members of the Red Friars included nationally recognized individuals such as Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and Raymond Nasher, American businessman and noted art collector, as well as high-level university administrators, mainly Presidents and Deans, such as Arthur Hollis Edens, Rex Adams, William Wannamaker, Herbert Herring, Robert Flowers, and Tallman Trask.

According to a "cryptic letter sealed with wax," the society is "rooted in ideals that stretch back to the university's founding.

"[7] The society uses the lowercase letters "ts" over a pitchfork, capped with a red rose, as its symbol.

[3] A 2008 story in The Chronicle claims that members of the secret society often develop strong relationships with notable administrators and use this influence to enact change across the campus, unknown to the general population.