History of Kappa Alpha Theta

"Remember the black dear, remember the gold, and remember the story that's always been told. Remember the friendships so faithful and true. Remember that Theta loves no one but you. "

Established January 27, 1870

In 1837, the Methodist Church established Indiana Asbury (now DePauw University) in Greencastle, Indiana.

Indiana Asbury officially opened its doors to women in 1867, but not without great uproar from the male students. The first women students at Indiana Asbury were looking for ways to make friends and find support and encouragement for their academic pursuits. They were reviled by their teachers, taunted by their classmates, and ignored by their girlhood friends who did the "right" thing and attended conservatories for girls. It took these brave pioneers three years to found Kappa Alpha Theta, the first Greek-letter Fraternity for women.

To be sure, there were societies for women before 1867, and some of these had secret rituals with badges, passwords, mottoes, and other symbols. But in 1870, Theta became the first women's Greek-letter fraternity because its primary founder, Bettie Locke, wanted full membership in a male fraternity. When the men asked her to wear their fraternity badge as a "mascot," she responded, "If you won't initiate me into your fraternity, I'll start my own." Thus, Kappa Alpha Theta was established on January 27, 1870. In 2010, Kappa Alpha Theta celebrated its 140th anniversary.

To visit the National Kappa Alpha Theta website, click here.

To visit the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation website, click here.

Symbol  Colors Flower
     Kite-Shaped Badge            Black and Gold       The Black and Gold Pansy

Founders

Bettie Locke Hamilton Alice Allen Brant
Bettie Tipton Lindsey Hannah Fitch Shaw
Bettie Locke Hamilton Alice Allen Brant Bettie Tipton Lindsey Hannah Fitch Shaw

Notable Thetas

Brittany McGee Glenna Goodacre
Wife of Cowboys Quarterback Stephen McGee Designed Sacagawea Dollar
Texas A&M University - Class of 2010 Colorado College
Tory Burch Amy Grant
Fashion Designer Recording Artist
University of Pennsylvania Vanderbilt University
Laura Bush Marjorie Husted
Former U.S. First Lady Creator of Betty Crocker
Southern Methodist University University of Minnesota
Jenna Bush Katie Lee Joel
     Daughter of Former U.S. President      Chef & Wife of Billy Joel
The University of Texas at Austin Miami University
Barbara Bush Ann Margaret
Daughter of Former U.S. President Actress in Grumpy Old Men
Yale University Northwestern University
Lynne Cheney Cindy McCain
Wife of Former U.S. Vice President      Wife of U.S. Senator John McCain    
Colorado College USC
Sarah Clarke Rue McClanahan
Actress on 24 Actress on The Golden Girls
Indiana University Tulsa University
Taylor Cole Whitney Port
Cast Member on Laguna Beach Star of MTV 'The City'
University of Arizona USC
Joan Cooney Kerri Strug
Creator of Sesame Street Olympic Gymnast & Gold Medalist
University of Arizona UCLA
Sheryl Crow Marlo Thomas
Recording Artist Actress
University of Missouri USC


Melinda Gates Koren Zailckas
Wife of Bill Gates Author of Smashed
Duke University Syracuse
Dylan Lauren Kate Snow
Owner of Dylan's Candy Bar, Daughter of Ralph Lauren Anchor for Good Morning America
Duke University Cornell University

Theta Crest