Kappa Alpha Theta History

In 1867 Indiana Asbury University in Greencastle, Indiana opened their doors to women for the very first time. One of the women to walk through the university's doors was Bettie Locke Hamilton. Bettie wanted to find a way to make female friends at the male dominated university. It was then that Bettie, along with three of her friends, decided to found Kappa Alpha Theta. In 1870, Kappa Alpha Theta became the first Greek letter organization for women.

Today, Theta is one of the largest women's fraternities in the United States and Canada. There are more than 180 Theta college chapters and over 210,000 initiated members worldwide.

Kappa Alpha Theta donates time and money to both their national philanthropy, C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates),the Theta Foundation. To learn more about the Theta Foundation and Theta's nation history, visit Theta's National Web site.

The Kappa Alpha Theta Coat of Arms

In 1914, Kappa Alpha Theta absorbed a former chapter of Phi Mu Gamma at Sophie Newcomb College - creating the Alpha Phi Chapter. This group was the seventh national Greek organization on the Newcomb/Tulane campus. When installed, Alpha Phi became Theta’s third chapter in a Southern state.Today, Kappa Alpha Theta is a strong community of over 80 women.

Thetas are very involved in honors societies, student organizations, and academic groups ranging from ROTC, Sigma Tau Delta, Study Abroad, THEM, Undergraduate Student Government, CACTUS, Resident Advisors, and College Democrats and Republicans.

The pansy is the official flower
of Kappa Alpha Theta.

The kite and twin stars are the
official mascot of Kappa Alpha Theta.

The Kappa Alpha Theta Badge