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The History of Kappa Alpha Theta
Indiana Asbury (now DePauw University) was established by the Methodist Church in 1837. It was not until 1867 that the University first began admitting women. Relative to the times, these women were not immediately accepted into the male-dominated society. Instead, they found encouragement and friendship amongst themselves.
This bond that the women shared led to the founding of the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. On January 27, 1870, Kappa Alpha Theta was founded at DePauw University. The founding members, led by Bettie Locke, were:
Bettie and the Girls
   
Bettie Locke Hamilton Alice Allen Brant Bettie Tipton Lindsey Hannah Fitch Shaw
“What would Bettie do?"
Kappa Alpha Theta originated by design from two separate fraternities: Beta Theta Pi and Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji). Beta Theta Pi was Bettie Locke’s father’s fraternity and Fiji was her brother’s fraternity. Bettie wanted to join Fiji, but was instead asked only to wear her brother’s badge as a token of friendship. Because Bettie did not know the ideals that the letters represented, she chose not to wear the badge. The fraternity still presented her with a silver fruit basket engraved with their letters.
Bettie acted on the advice of her father and began her own fraternity for women, Kappa Alpha Theta. Bettie and her friend, Alice Allen, wrote a constitution, designed a badge, planned ceremonies, and recruited women on campus worthy of membership.
The four founders wore their black and gold badges proudly to Asbury Chapel on March 14. The Alpha Chapter increased in number to 22 members. Bettie also established the Beta Chapter at Indiana University in May, 1870. Kappa Alpha Theta helped to draw women to coeducational colleges and helped them attain their degree.
 Since the first chapter at DePauw University, Theta has grown internationally. The organization includes over 120 college chapters and over 170,000 initiated members in the United States and Canada. Theta also has more than 180 alumnae chapters.
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