History

 

Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded on October 13, 1870 at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. On that day 6 women marched in the Chapel wearing keys in the hair with the letters KKG pronouncing themselves as a new women's fraternity. Since Monmouth College is the first chapter, the chapter name is Alpha.

Since Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded it has grown to 134 collegiate chapters and nearly 300 alumnae associations.

More than 200 women have been initiated since our founding. The six women that founded Kappa were pioneers.

Kappa is a women's fraternity, the word sorority was not coined until after our founding.

Founders Kappa Firsts Famous Kappas Symbols The Stewart House

 

 

 

Mary Moore "Minnie" Stewart

Anna Elizabeth Willits

Susan Burley Walker

Hanna Jeanette "Jennie" Boyd

Mary Louise "Lou" Bennett

Martha Louisa "Lou" Stevenson

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Kappa Firsts

FIRST of women's fraternities to to turn from Grand Chapter Form of Organization to Grand Council Organization (1881)
FIRST of women's fraternities to publish a magazine (1882)
FIRST to extend invitations to a Panhellenic Council
FIRST to adopt the Graduate Counselor system (established as a Co-Organizer Program, 1928. Chapter Consultant Position)
FIRST to set up Women's service centers (1942)
FIRST women's fraternity to establish a permanent fraternity headquarters (1952).
FIRST to join with another sorority in a co-housing venture- with Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Pittsburgh (1965).

 

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Famous Kappas

* Sophia Bush, Actress, One Tree Hill	* Jean Bartel, Miss America
* Gena Rowlands Cassavettes, Actress, The Notebook	* Donna de Verona, Sports Commentator
* Ashley Judd, Actress	* Nancy Ritter, wife of John Ritter
* Kate Spade, Designer	* Lucy B. Hayes, wife of President R.B. Hayes
* Laurie Hinckson-Smith, Designer, Trading Spaces	* Jane Pauley, News Anchor

 

 

 

 

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Kappa Symbols

The Golden Key was selected by the founders as the badge of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership, and may be work only by initiated members.

The fleur-de-lis or the iris was selected as the fraternity flower in 1890 because of its general dignity, stateliness, and grace. It also combines the two colors of the fraternity into one flower.

The colors of the Fraternity are light blue and dark blue, which have been described as those shades which in light and dark tones reproduce the “soft velvety blue approaching the cornflower in shade,” which is also a description of the sapphire, the Fraternity jewel. The sapphire is recognized as a symbol of truth, sincerity and constancy.

The owl the bird of wisdom, as well as the bird of minerva who is the Goddess of wisdom. The owl was first used for Kappa in 1881.

The Fraternity Coat of Arms combines the well known symbols of Kappa Kappa Gamma-the key, the Greek-letters, the new member pin, the fleur-de-lis, the owl and the two blues.  It also displays the head of Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom. 

 

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