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History of Kappa Alpha Theta

Founded in 1870 at Asbury University (now DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana), Kappa Alpha Theta is the first Greek letter fraternity for women.

Bettie Locke Hamilton was one of the first women admitted to the newly co-ed Asbury in 1867. She was familiar with the fraternity lifestyle, as her father was a member of Beta Theta Pi and her brother of Phi Gamma Delta. When a Phi Gamma Delta friend asked her to wear his badge, she responded that she could not wear it if she did not know the secrets and purposes of the letters represented. Though there was some talk of initiating Bettie into the fraternity, they instead presented her with a silver fruit basket engraved with their letters.

Impressed with the fraternity ideals, Bettie searched for a woman's counterpart. Finding none, she followed her father's suggestion to begin her own. And so, Kappa Alpha Theta was conceived. Bettie and her friend, Alice Allen, together wrote a constitution, planned ceremonies, designed a badge, and sought out other women on campus worthy of membership. Along with Bettie Tipton and Hannah Fitch, the four initiated themselves on January 27, 1870, becoming the first Greek-letter fraternity known among women.

These four women proudly wore their black and gold badges to Asbury's chapel service on March 14. The Alpha Chapter at Asbury grew to 22 sisters. Soon Theta spread to other colleges with Bettie's establishment of the Beta chapter at Indiana University in May of the same year.

For more information about Kappa Alpha Theta history, visit our national website at: www.kappaalphatheta.org

Founded in 1870 as the first Greek letter fraternity known among women, Kappa Alpha Theta's purpose is to support members to learn, grow and excel. Our core values are personal excellence, sisterhood, scholarship service and leadership.