History

Mission Statement

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Kappa Alpha Theta exists to nurture each member throughout her college and alumnae experience and to offer a lifelong opportunity for social, intellectual and moral growth as she meets the higher and broader demands of mature life.

In 1867, when Bettie Locke was one of the first four women admitted to Asbury University (now DePauw University) in Greencastle, Indiana, sororities did not exist. But, Bettie Locke was a woman ahead of her time. She had visions and ideals of equality in education between men and women. These ideals prompted her to envision an organization for women based on friendship, sharing of ideals, and loyalty, much like the mens fraternities present on campus. She also hoped that an organization like this would attract other women to attend and pursue degrees at co-educational colleges. Phi Gamma Delta, Bettie's brother's fraternity, and Beta Theta Pi, her father's fraternity, both played a role in the establishment of the first Greek letter fraternity for women. Bettie had many good friends in Phi Gamma Delta, and when one of them asked Bettie to wear his badge as a token of friendship, not as a romantic attachment, she declined because she did not know the secrets and ideals that it represented. Her father encouraged her to form her own fraternity when her search for an existing fraternity for women failed. Bettie's closest friend, Alice Allen, shared Bettie's dream of founding the first fraternity for women. These two women worked on fulfilling their dream by studying ritual and organizing a plan for their fraternity. Bettie and Alice eventually chose two other women, Hannah Fitch and Bettie Tipton, to be a part of their organization. On January 27, 1870 the first formal meeting of Kappa Alpha Theta took place. Bettie Locke initiated herself in front of a mirror and then in turn initiated her three friends. This event marked the beginning of Kappa Alpha Theta, the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. The society was kept a secret until their badges, which were referred to as "kites" by the men at Asbury University, arrived on March 14. Their badges were large enough to be noticed by all, and to add a dramatic and stylish touch, some of the members wore their badges in their hair. A fraternity for women at Asbury was the start of a much larger national organization. In May of 1870, Bettie Locke installed the Beta Chapter at Indiana University, and Kappa Alpha Theta was on its way to being a national organization that attracted many fine, young, adventuresome women seeking higher education. Since those beginning years, Kappa Alpha Theta has grown to include 123 college chapters with over 170,000 members.

On December 8, 1984, the Epsilon Rho Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at Lehigh University initiated its founding sisters. These women chose Louise Glotfelty to be the first president of Epsilon Rho. Ever since these beginning years, the sisters of Kappa Alpha Theta have made their presence known on campus as well as in the surrounding community.