Sigma Kappa History

Symbols Philanthropies

Sigma Kappa's Founders

Heritage

The American fraternity system is the outgrowth of the human desire to band together. The fraternity system has worked in conjunction with higher education for over two hundred years and is uniquely American.

Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary as a social and literary society, was the first college fraternity. Thirty years later, during the Anti-Mason movement, it was forced to reveal its ritual and became a scholastic honorary. The objectives and philosophy of purpose of Phi Beta Kappa became the model for future fraternities. Other characteristics adopted by fraternities and sororities were a degree of secrecy, an initiation ceremony, oath of allegiance, a motto, a badge, a seal, passwords, a tradition of high idealism and strong bonds of friendship. Since the founding of the first Greek-letter organization, the American college fraternity system has proven to be one of the most durable institutions in association with higher education.

Early women students were reluctantly admitted to colleges and were looked down upon by professors and male students alike. During this period of change for women, they were insulted, boycotted, sneered at, and denied a share of the more prized college rights. They were courageous and determined to make a place for women in the collegiate world. This feeling inspired the formation of sororities on the basis of scholarship, friendship, mutual interests and ideals.

Colby College in Waterville, Maine was the first college in New England to admit women on an equal basis with men students. The first woman student was admitted in 1871, and for two years Mary Caffrey Low was the only woman student at Colby College. In 1873, four more young women from Maine, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller, Frances Mann and Louise Helen Coburn were admitted to Colby and the five young women found themselves together frequently. During the school year of 1873-74, the five young women decided to form a literary and social society. They were told by the college administration that they needed to present a constitution and bylaws with a petition requesting permission to form Sigma Kappa Sorority. They began work during that year with an eager glow of enthusiasm. Their purpose at the outset was that the sorority should become what it is now, a national organization of college women. On November 9, 1874, the five young women received a letter from the faculty approving their petition. Thus, this date has since been considered our Founder's Day.

In our first constitution, chapter membership was limited to 25. The original group was known as Alpha chapter and as our sorority grew, Beta chapter and Gamma chapter were also established at Colby College. Early records indicate that the groups met together; but in 1893, the Sigma Kappa members decided intramural expansion was not desirable. They voted to fill Alpha chapter to the limit of 25 and to initiate no more into Beta and Gamma chapters. Eventually, the second and third chapters would vanish from Colby campus. Finally Sigma Kappas realized if the organization was going to continue to grow, it had to expand beyond the walls of Colby College.

In 1904, Delta chapter was installed at Boston University. Elydia Foss of Alpha chapter had transferred to Boston and met a group of women who refused to join any of the other groups on campus. When asked if Sigma Kappa was a national organization, Elydia replied, "No, but it is founded on a national basis." Elydia then took the necessary steps to make Sigma Kappa a national sorority and it was incorporated in the state of Maine on April 19, 1904. Their new status as a national sorority made Sigma Kappa eligible to join what was then called the Interfraternity Conference, now known as the National Panhellenic Conference.

Sigma Kappa Milestones

November 9, 1874 First official meeting, which is known as Founder's Day. Mary Low, Louise Coburn, Frances Mann, Ida Fuller and Elizabeth Hoag were present.

1875 First initiation ceremony. Death of Elizabeth Gorham Hoag.

1890 Because of a membership limitation of 25, Sigma Kappas established Beta* chapter on the Colby campus.

1891 Lavender and maroon were first mentioned as sorority colors.

1892 At the annual reunion meeting, the violet was chosen by unanimous vote as the sorority flower at the earnest request of Nellie Bakeman Donovan, Alpha.

Gamma* chapter established at Colby.

1893 It was decided to fill the ranks of Alpha chapter, to initiate no more into Beta and Gamma chapters, and to extend Sigma Kappa beyond Colby walls.

1894 Triangle pin was adopted- "maroon enamel, unjeweled."

1896 Odes of 1896 were published.

1904 With the installation of Delta chapter, the first beyond the Colby campus, extension grew nationwide. Sigma Kappa was incorporated under the laws of the state of Maine.

1905 Sigma Kappa was admitted to the National Panhellenic Conference.

1907 The Sigma Kappa Triangle, Sigma Kappa's official magazine, was established and has been published regularly since its first issue in January 1907. A new song book, edited by Sara M. Collins, Delta, was published.

1911 Sigma Kappa coat-of-arms adopted.

1915 The pearl was adopted as our official jewel. Our official banner was accepted.

1918 The Maine Sea Coast Mission was adopted as our national philanthropy in honor of our founders, who were all from Maine.

1920 Pledge pin adopted.

A second edition of the song book, edited by Sara M. Collins, Delta, was published.

1924 History of Sigma Kappa, 1874-1924, edited by Emma E. Kinne, Epsilon, was published.

Central office was first established and located in Reading, Massachusetts.

Hattie May Baker, Delta, was appointed as Executive Secretary.

1926 Death of Mary Low Carver

1927 The name, Sigma Kappa, was patented.

1930 A new song book was published. Ruth E. Litchen, Xi, was appointed Executive Secretary, and central office was moved to Lawrence, Kansas.

1933 Death of Ida Fuller Pierce.

1935 Death of Frances Mann Hall.

1936 Central office was moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. Margaret H. Taggart, Alpha Iota, was appointed as Director of central office. In honor of our 60th anniversary, a poetry anthology edited by Lillian M. Perkins, Omicron, entitled Brave Maroon, was published.

1937 First Traveling Secretary, Ruth Norton Donnelly, Lambda, was appointed.

1941 October issue of the Sigma Kappa Triangle was our fourth song book.

1949 Death of Louise Helen Coburn.

1950 History of Sigma Kappa, 1874-1949, written by Lillian M. Perkins, Omicron, was published.

1954 Gerontology was adopted as our third national philanthropy.

1956 With the purchase of a permanent central office at 3433 Washington Blvd., Indianapolis, Indiana, Sigma Kappa became one of the first NPC groups to own its own home.

1959 Sigma Kappa and Pi Kappa Sigma sororities merged.

1962 The Sigma Kappa Foundation was established to award scholarships and grants to students and to handle all of the sorority's philanthropic endeavors.

1970 Sigma Kappa Directory was published.

1974 CENTENNIAL YEAR-History of Sigma Kappa, 1874-1974, was published.

1978 Order of the Triangle was accepted as part of our ritual.

1982 Graduate Counselors were added to our field personnel.

1984 Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders was adopted as a focus for our gerontology philanthropy.

Brave Maroon II was published. The second poetry anthology was edited by Lillian Perkins, Omicron.

The dove was accepted as our official symbol.

1985 First Sigma Kappa in Space, Dr. Rhea Seddon, Lambda. A mission specialist for NASA, she carried Sigma Kappa's badge on the space shuttle.

1987 AWARE-Guidelines for the Social Chairman was published.

1988 Booklet of Significant Sigmas was published.

Heart adopted as an official symbol.

1990 The national headquarters building located at 8733 Founders Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, was purchased by the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

1992 Adoption of Inherit the Earth as an additional focus for the gerontology program.

1993 National Housing Corporation established to assist collegiate chapters with housing and furnishing needs.

1995 The Violet Boutique established as a non-profit corporation with taxable status.

1996 Sigma Kappa becomes the first NPC sorority to undertake a consistent graphic identity campaign as a part of a marketing communication plan.

1997 Promise for new members was published.

1998 Sigma Kappa Website debuts.

1999 Promise for initiated members was published.

Sigma Kappa celebrates 125th Anniversary.

*NOTE: From records of Alpha chapter meetings, the three chapters apparently met together. We note in several instances where "in the absence of Alpha's secretary, voted to have Beta's secretary take notes." And once, "in the absence of Alpha and Beta secretaries, voted to have Gamma secretary take the notes."

© Sigma Kappa Sorority 2001
All Rights Reserved

1875	First initiation ceremony. Death of Elizabeth Gorham Hoag.
1890	Because of a membership limitation of 25, Sigma Kappas established Beta* chapter on the Colby campus.
1891	Lavender and maroon were first mentioned as sorority colors.
1892	At the annual reunion meeting, the violet was chosen by unanimous vote as the sorority flower at the earnest request of Nellie Bakeman Donovan, Alpha. Gamma* chapter established at Colby.
1893	It was decided to fill the ranks of Alpha chapter, to initiate no more into Beta and Gamma chapters, and to extend Sigma Kappa beyond Colby walls.
1894	Triangle pin was adopted- "maroon enamel, unjeweled."
1896	Odes of 1896 were published.
1904	With the installation of Delta chapter, the first beyond the Colby campus, extension grew nationwide. Sigma Kappa was incorporated under the laws of the state of Maine.
1905	Sigma Kappa was admitted to the National Panhellenic Conference.
1907	The Sigma Kappa Triangle, Sigma Kappa's official magazine, was established and has been published regularly since its first issue in January 1907. A new song book, edited by Sara M. Collins, Delta, was published.
1911	Sigma Kappa coat-of-arms adopted.
1915	The pearl was adopted as our official jewel. Our official banner was accepted.
1918	The Maine Sea Coast Mission was adopted as our national philanthropy in honor of our founders, who were all from Maine.
1920	Pledge pin adopted. A second edition of the song book, edited by Sara M. Collins, Delta, was published.
1924	History of Sigma Kappa, 1874-1924, edited by Emma E. Kinne, Epsilon, was published. Central office was first established and located in Reading, Massachusetts. Hattie May Baker, Delta, was appointed as Executive Secretary.
1926	Death of Mary Low Carver
1927	The name, Sigma Kappa, was patented.
1930	A new song book was published. Ruth E. Litchen, Xi, was appointed Executive Secretary, and central office was moved to Lawrence, Kansas.
1933	Death of Ida Fuller Pierce.
1935	Death of Frances Mann Hall.
1936	Central office was moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. Margaret H. Taggart, Alpha Iota, was appointed as Director of central office. In honor of our 60th anniversary, a poetry anthology edited by Lillian M. Perkins, Omicron, entitled Brave Maroon, was published.

1937	First Traveling Secretary, Ruth Norton Donnelly, Lambda, was appointed.
1941	October issue of the Sigma Kappa Triangle was our fourth song book.
1949	Death of Louise Helen Coburn.
1950	History of Sigma Kappa, 1874-1949, written by Lillian M. Perkins, Omicron, was published.
1954	Gerontology was adopted as our third national philanthropy.
1956	With the purchase of a permanent central office at 3433 Washington Blvd., Indianapolis, Indiana, Sigma Kappa became one of the first NPC groups to own its own home.
1959	Sigma Kappa and Pi Kappa Sigma sororities merged.
1962	The Sigma Kappa Foundation was established to award scholarships and grants to students and to handle all of the sorority's philanthropic endeavors.
1970	Sigma Kappa Directory was published.
1974	CENTENNIAL YEAR-History of Sigma Kappa, 1874-1974, was published.
1978	Order of the Triangle was accepted as part of our ritual.
1982	Graduate Counselors were added to our field personnel.
1984	Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders was adopted as a focus for our gerontology philanthropy. Brave Maroon II was published. The second poetry anthology was edited by Lillian Perkins, Omicron. The dove was accepted as our official symbol.
1985	First Sigma Kappa in Space, Dr. Rhea Seddon, Lambda. A mission specialist for NASA, she carried Sigma Kappa's badge on the space shuttle.
1987	AWARE-Guidelines for the Social Chairman was published.
1988	Booklet of Significant Sigmas was published. Heart adopted as an official symbol.
1990	The national headquarters building located at 8733 Founders Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, was purchased by the Sigma Kappa Foundation.
1992	Adoption of Inherit the Earth as an additional focus for the gerontology program.
1993	National Housing Corporation established to assist collegiate chapters with housing and furnishing needs.
1995	The Violet Boutique established as a non-profit corporation with taxable status.
1996	Sigma Kappa becomes the first NPC sorority to undertake a consistent graphic identity campaign as a part of a marketing communication plan.
1997	Promise for new members was published.
1998	Sigma Kappa Website debuts.
1999	Promise for initiated members was published. Sigma Kappa celebrates 125th Anniversary.
*NOTE: From records of Alpha chapter meetings, the three chapters apparently met together. We note in several instances where "in the absence of Alpha's secretary, voted to have Beta's secretary take notes." And once, "in the absence of Alpha and Beta secretaries, voted to have Gamma secretary take the notes."