Founding Date

Jun 9th, 1920

On Friday, November 13, 1910, a group of 13 women at Washburn banded together to form a new Greek letter society, Kappa Kappa Chi. Two of the charter members, Ina and Lida Kendall, had a Delta Gamma friend who had given them a Delta Gamma pillow which they displayed in their room. This was the inspiration for the first members of Kappa Kappa Chi to desire a Delta Gamma charter. Kappa Kappa Chi's letters of inquiry date from 1911. The first petition was submitted in 1916. Miniature books which introduced the members of Kappa Kappa Chi and the college, and asked for "a place in the larger sisterhood of Delta Gamma," were sent to each chapter. In the fall of 1917 Council voted against the petition. The notice from Council stated: "This in no way reflects either upon your group or the very fine institution of which you are members, but comes as a result against expansion in smaller colleges. It gave us great unhappiness to vote as we did, for your many friends, including Mrs. Treat, (Fraternity President) have spoken of you with great enthusiasm. Delta Gamma may or may not be right in her policy of conservatism, but the policy seems deeply rooted." During the summer of 1918 an attempt was made to renew correspondence with Delta Gamma, but word was received that it would be useless to petition again. This rejection seemed to spur the women on. The group had been approached by other national groups, but they decided to continue to strive for Delta Gamma. As a part of a campaign to convince Delta Gamma of their worthiness, Kappa Kappa Chi distributed several issues of a leaflet named The Kappa Ki Kodak. The headings on these said: "Special word to subscribers EVENTUALLY, WHY NOT NOW?" and "Mailing list limited: For members of Delta Gamma only." Letters of endorsement from every prominent Kansas politician and businessman available--from the governor on down and even including Kansas' most famous citizen, William Allen White were sent to Province Secretary Mary Raymond Lambert, Sigma-Northwestern. Good news finally arrived the morning of March 29, 1920! Council had approved the petition and were sending it to the chapters for a vote. The November 1920 ANCHORA states: "We all got together at the house and screamed for a solid half-hour." An official telegram dated May 26, 1920 read: "Delta Gamma is happy to grant petition of Kappa Kappa Chi Best wishes to all L.J.Hawley." This news was announced with a dramatic ceremony at the spring formal. Theo Cobb stepped to the platform and asked for the attention of the group. The lights were turned off and a lighted Kappa Kappa Chi seven-point star flashed on the screen. It then faded out and was replaced by the Delta Gamma anchor. Initiation was held on June 9, 1920, at the Whitamore house on College Street. Collegians and alumnae from the past three years were initiated. A banquet followed at Pelletier's Tearoom where Fraternity President Gertrude Wilbur, Sigma-Northwestern presented the charter to Dorothy Jones, the new president of Alpha Kappa. In 1921 the new chapter bought the first chapter house at 1601 Boswell. In 1936 work began on a new chapter house which was destroyed by a tornado 30 years later. Alpha Kappa took first place in the Delta Gamma song contest at the 1938 Convention with "Delta Gamma Dream Girl." It has been our national sweetheart song ever since. Ralph Stowle, a member of a local fraternity, wrote the song for Vera Grace Rickenbocker who was a former chapter president of Alpha Kappa.