history
fraternity history
Founded in 1870 at Indiana Asbury (now DePauw University) in Greencastle, Ind., Bettie Locke knew there was something she needed to do to get the women of Indiana Asbury on the map. She would form a Greek-letter fraternity strictly for women. Alice Allen, a fellow student and friend, helped her to make this dream a reality. In the fall, Hannah Fitch and Bettie Tipton were asked to join the organization. On January 27, they officially met in accordance to Kappa Alpha Theta’s bylaws for the first time: the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. From here, women’s fraternities grew in size and number, spreading all over the country.
Kappa Alpha Theta is the first Greek-letter Fraternity known among women. In creating Kappa Alpha Theta, our founders were leading the way for women’s groups and for women in higher education. Our members are women of all ages: women who attended college in nearly every US state and Canadian province, women who live all over the world, and women with varied professions, faiths, and ethnic backgrounds.
theta today
Theta has 146 college chapters at colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada.
Theta has more than 200 alumnae chapters and groups.
Theta has more than 250,000 total initiated members.
Thetas continue to achieve prominence in every professional field—from medicine to literature to politics. Check out some of our notable Thetas.
Theta provides growth and opportunities for young women that promote academic excellence and the widest influence for good, namely CASA, Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation, and the Friendship Fund.
The Fraternity is a not-for-profit Indiana corporation with Kappa Alpha Theta Headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind.
Visit the Kappa Alpha Theta Heritage site to view our notable Thetas.
The archive is a program partially supported financially by Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation.
chapter history
Theta Iota was established in March 2014 at Georgetown University.
Kappa Alpha Theta is currently one of two Panhellenic Sororities at Georgetown.
a letter from one of theta iota's founders:
Helping to bring Kappa Alpha Theta to Georgetown’s campus has been such an amazing opportunity over the past two years! I am so proud to be a part of this incredible organization of leading women, not to mention the fraternity of my grandmother, aunt, and mother. While these familial connections drove my desire to see Theta at Georgetown, my experience with the organization has far surpassed any of my initial expectations. I feel that I am not only strengthening the bonds I have with the women in my own family, but also widening my family to thousands of other incredible women. The women that I have met and gotten to know thanks to Theta are some of the kindest, brightest, hardest working, and most inspiring women I have met during my time at Georgetown. I simply cannot imagine my time on the Hilltop without the wonderful support system that Theta has offered. I am so happy to be continuing this wonderful tradition and cannot wait to see how Theta flourishes at Georgetown for years to come!
Sincerely,
Charlotte
mission statement
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Kappa Alpha Theta exists to nurture each member throughout her college and alumna experience and to offer a lifelong opportunity for social, intellectual and moral growth as she meets the higher and broader demands of mature life.
fraternity purpose
The intellectual ambition of the Fraternity shall be the attainment of highest scholarship. The social aim of the Fraternity shall be to exercise the widest influence for good. The moral aim of the Fraternity shall be the standard of love.
