Heritage of Kappa Kappa Gamma
On October 13, 1870, six young women marched into the chapel at Monmouth College wearing golden keys with the Greek letters KKG in their hair. At the time, Greek letter fraternities existed only for men, and women were only able to join literary societies. Kappa Kappa Gamma is officially a women's fraternity, rather than a sorority, a term that only came into use around 1890. This first public appearance is remembered as the Founder's Day of the Fraternity. Founder's Day is a time to honor those pioneering women of Kappa, and it is also a time for Kappa members of all ages to come together in sisterhood and friendship.
The six collegians who started the Kappa journey were: Mary Louise Bennet (Boyd), Hannah Jeannette Boyd, Martha Louisa Stevenson (Miller), Mary Moore Stewart (Nelson-Field), Susan Burley Walker (Vincent), and Anna Elizabeth Willits (Pattee).
Fraternities for women were originally organized as forums for literary discussions and debate. Later, as more and more colleges were founded these "Greek letter societies" grew and flourished - but only for men. Many colleges would not even admit women and those women that were admitted were looked upon with antipathy, resentment, and ridicule. Nevertheless, women continued to seek equality. This is reflected in the story of Kappa's beginning as told by founder Louise Bennett Boyd in a letter to the editor of The Key in 1889:
Sometime during 1867-70, Minnie Stewart, Jennie Boyd, and myself, Louise Bennett, met for a "pow-wow" in the A.B.L. Hall and concluded we would have something new; the world seemed to be moving too slowly for us and moreover the young men had chapters of Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, and Phi Gamma Delta, while among the girls there were only L.M. and I.C. (literary societies) organized. We decided that nothing short of a Greek letter fraternity (we did not even speak of it as a sorority in those days) would satisfy us. We three then admitted to our solemn councils, Miss Anna E. Willits. Our aim was to draw into our society the choicest spirit among girls, not only for literary work, but also for social development. Of course we thought always that we had the brightest and best of all who came (our egotism seems very amusing at this day, but you know just how students feel). We four decided on our forms of organization, the the motto and our pins...
Gamma Iota Chapter
Gamma Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was installed at Washington University by Sarah Harris Rowe (Grand President) on September 10, 1921. Our chapter, which was the fifth sorority at WashU, started with 15 pledges and has initiated over 1500 members. Before the sororities were moved into the Women's Building in 1928, they each had suites in McMillan Hall (old female dorm).
Our Symbols
Symbols are outward and visible signs representing abstract ideas and beliefs. We recognize them as conveying ideas, but, at the same time, they allow for personal interpretation. Perhaps most important is the fact that symbols are another aspect of Kappa that only Kappas share, uniting its members in a closer bond of friendship and understanding.
The Badge--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 only by initiated members.
New Member Pin--The new member pin is a Delta in Dark Blue enameled on silver, enclosing a Sigma of light blue enamel. The pin is to be worn only by a woman pledged to membership in the Fraternity, and is surrendered to the President at the time of initiation.
The Colors and Jewel--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 Flower--The fleur-di-lis (iris) was chosen as the flower of Kappa because of its general dignity, stateliness and grace, and because it combines the two blues of the fraternity in one flower.
The Symbolic Bird--The owl is the bird of wisdom as well as the bird of Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom.
The Coat of Arms--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.