Kappa Kappa Gamma

On February 12, 1910, eight members of Chi Epsilon Chi, a local sorority of long and strong standing became charter members of Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Kappa was the second national women’s fraternity on the Kentucky campus, Alpha Gamma Delta having preceded it by a few months. The installation took place at the chapter house located on Limestone Street just opposite Patterson Hall. Edith Stoner, the Grand President, was installing officer assisted by members of Delta Chapter, Indiana University.
Beta Chi’s charter members were Mary McEachin Rodes, Sara McEachin Carter, Mattie Virginia Cary, Aubyn Chinn, Sarah Rossetter Marshall, Mary Barrett Smith, and Alice Cary Williams.

On October 13, 1870, six young women marched into the chapel at Monmouth College wearing golden keys with the Greek letters KKG in their hair. At the time, Greek letter fraternities existed only for men, and women were only able to join literary societies. Kappa Kappa Gamma is officially a women's fraternity, rather than a sorority - a term that only came into use around 1890. This first public appearance is remembered as the Founder's Day of the Fraternity. Founder's Day is a time to honor those pioneering women of Kappa, and it is also a time for Kappa members of all ages to come together in sisterhood and friendship.

Stewart House in Monmouth, IL which is the birthplace of KKG.

Founders:

These six young founders of the Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity made history by being among the first to found a Greek-letter fraternity for women.


Mary Louise Bennett	Hannah Jeanette Boyd	Martha Louisa Stevenson	Mary Moore Stewart	Susan Burley Walker	Anna Elizabeth Willits

Symbols:

	The Badge The badge of the fraternity is a golden key one inch in length with the letters KKG on the stem and Alpha Omega Omicron on the wand. The badge may be either plain gold or jeweled. On the reverse side of the key are engraved the owner's initials, the identifying symbol of her chapter and her date of initiation. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members.
	New Member Pin The new member pin is a Delta of dark blue enameled on silver, enclosing a Sigma of light blue enamel. Each side is one-half inch long. The pin is to be worn only by a woman pledged to membership in the Fraternity, and its is surrendered to the President of the chapter at the time of initiation.
	The Coat of Arms The Fraternity Coat of Arms combines the symbols of Kappa - the key, the Greek-letters, the new member pin, the fleur-de-lis, the owl, and the two blues. It also contains the head of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, because the founders took pride that Kappa was born mature like Minerva, who sprang out of the head of her father full grown.
	The Flower The fleur-de-lis (iris) was chosen as the flower of Kappa because of its general dignity, stateliness and grace, and because it combines the two blues of the Fraternity in one flower.
	The Jewel The sapphire was chosen as the jewel of Kappa in 1890 because it is a symbol of truth, sincerity, and constancy. It is also the gem of autumn, the time of the founding of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The sapphire's blue color is believed to embody the heavenly spirts of light and wisdom.
	The Colors The colors of the Fraternity are light blue and dark blue, as in the blue of the sky and the sea.
	The Symbolic Bird The owl became a symbol of Kappa in 1881 because it is the bird of wisdom, as well as the bird of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom.
	Fraternity Seal The Seal of the Fraternity which is used on all official papers, membership certificates, and charters, is an arch of seven stones supported by two fluted columns with Corinthian caps. The keystone displays the badge, and at the base of each column there are the letters of KKG and Alpha Omega Omicron. In the arch are a dove in flight and an open scroll upon a laurel wreath.

Kappa Firsts:

FIRST woman's fraternity to use a Grand Council form of government rather than a Grand Chapter form -1881.
FIRST woman's fraternity to publish a magazine, The Key -1882.
FIRST fraternity to extend invitations to attend a Panhellenic convention -1891.
FIRST woman's fraternity to establish a Central Office - 1922.
FIRST to adopt the graduate counselor system - established as the Co-Organizer Program - 1928.
FIRST woman's fraternity to set up a Service Women's Center - 1942.
FIRST woman's fraternity to establish a permanent Fraternity Headquarters - 1952.
FIRST fraternity to set up a career networking program - 1976.
FIRST woman's fraternity to incorporate a Heritage Museum - 1980

	Beta Chi's very own, Ashley Judd! actress, "Double Jeopardy", "Kiss the Girls"
Ashley at Beta Chi		Ashley now

Jane Pauley - host of Today Show
Nancy Olson - actress, Disney's "Pollyanna"
Jann Carl - anchor of Entertainment Tonight
Jean Bartel - former Miss America
Kate Spade- designer
Helen Wagner Willey - actress, "As the World Turns"
Molly Stanton - actress, "Passions"
Nancy O'DELL - anchor of Access Hollywood
Mrs. Campbell (of Campbell's Soup) - ever wonder why there are fleur-de-lis on the can?
Jennie Ann Lindstrom - actress, daughter of Ingrid Bergman
Lou Henry Hoover - wife of President Hoover
Lucy Webb Hayes - wife of President Rutherford B.
HayesPhyllis McGinley - recipient of Pulitzer Prize
Carey Boone Nelson - created sculpture of Gen. LaFayette for US Bicentennial Celebration
Ruth Pollac - 1st woman VP of IBM
Doris Hart - won every major tennis tournament
Julia Ward Howe - author of Battle Hymn of Republic
Donna Devarona - swimmer, 2 Olympics gold medals
Patty Berg - golfer, won US Open
Leslie Bush - Olympic gold medalist in diving

Kappa Kappa Gamma National Headquarters are located in Columbus, OH. Headquarters is also the home of the Heritage Museum and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. If you would like to visit the Kappa National page, visit www.kappakappagamma.org.

Last Update 4/13/04