Complex sentence: Little is known about the society's early history and activities; the second half of the 19th century brought the American Civil War, two devastating college fires, and the subsequent closing of William and Mary from 1881 to 1888.
Split into simpler sentences: Little is known about the society's early history and activities. The second half of the 19th century brought the American Civil War, two devastating college fires, and the subsequent closing of William and Mary from 1881 to 1888.