Chapter History

Delta Delta Chapter Information

Kappa Alpha Theta became the first women’s Greek-letter fraternity on January 27, 1870. At Asbury College, in Greencastle, Indiana, our founder Bettie Locke and three friends decided to form a women’s fraternity in response to the need for friendship and support while attending a predominately male college. For the first time in history, women had started learning alongside men in higher educational settings, and society did not see this as a ladylike or proper thing to do. To cope with the negativity thrown at them, and to send a message to the men that would not include them in their fraternities, Bettie Locke and her friends founded Kappa Alpha Theta. Within a year, four more chapters were formed, and three of the five chapters were at coeducational institutions. From the beginning, it was Theta’s goal to assist women who wanted to learn in a rigorous environment, and still is today.

Kappa Alpha Theta’s presence at Whitman began in the 1950s when Dr. Chester C. Maxey—then the President of Whitman College—invited Theta to join Whitman’s community. Colonization began immediately with transferring three Thetas from the University of Washington, Washington State College (now Washington State University), and Colorado University. With the help of Thetas from Washington State, Whitman’s recruitment of fall 1956 yielded 17 new members. On March 17, 1957, the Delta Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta was installed at Whitman College. An installation gift from the Washington State Thetas was the kite that hung above the entrance to Theta Section of Prentiss Hall until recently.

General Theta Information

Kappa Alpha Theta is a Greek-letter fraternity for women; in fact, it was the very first such group. We have more than 120 chapters at colleges and universities across the US and Canada, and our total initiated members number more than 170,000. When Theta was founded in 1870, the very idea of higher education for women was a novelty. Since then, Thetas have excelled as students and have gone on to achieve prominence in every professional field- from medicine to literature to politics. A few famous Thetas are Sheryl Crow, Laura Bush and Kerri Strug. Kappa Alpha Theta offers a nurturing environment on both large and small campuses. Theta provides growth and leadership opportunities for young women and promotes academic excellence. The Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation supports Theta's education programs, as well as our philanthropy. The Foundation's scholarship endowment program is one of the largest in the Greek community.

Jewel
The Pearl

 Colors
Black and gold.
Symbol
The kite-shaped badge. 		Fraternity
Crest
Flower
The black and gold pansy.

National Contact Information:
Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity Headquarters
8740 Founders Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268

Phone: 1-800-526-1870
Fax: (317) 876-1925