Kappa Alpha Theta


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Kappa Alpha Theta History…

Bettie Locke and her friends, some of the first female students at Indiana Asbury (now DePauw University), were looking for ways to make friends and find support and encouragement for their academic pursuits. Locke sought full membership in a male fraternity, but was denied. Instead, the men asked her to wear their fraternity badge as a "mascot." Her response, "If you won't initiate me into your fraternity, I'll start my own," led to the three year process of founding Kappa Alpha Theta, and on January 27, 1870, Theta became the first Greek-letter Fraternity for women.

Delta Omicron Chapter History…

When Thetas gathered in Tuscaloosa in the mid-1950s to discuss colonizing at the University of Alabama, Hannah Fitch Shaw’s (one of Kappa Alpha Theta’s four founders) granddaughter, Miss Ella Shaw, was a luncheon guest. Unfortunately Miss Shaw passed away before the Delta Omicron Chapter became a reality in 1967. But Fraternity heritage was represented. Professor John Ramsey presented his mother’s vintage 1896 badge to the chapter and spoke of her own chapter friendships, which lasted over 65 years. In this light the Delta Omicron chapter was formed and strives not only to uphold the ideals of Kappa Alpha Theta, but to also to embody the charge given by Miss Ella Shaw—one of lasting friendship and unceasing commitment to the first Greek letter fraternity for women.

Famous Thetas…

Ann Margret- Ann Margret is an actor known for her roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Grumpy Old Men, and starring opposite Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas.

Laura Welch Bush-First Lady- Laura Bush is the wife of President George W. Bush, and is both a teacher and a librarian. She has focused her energies as an advocate for children’s literacy, teacher education, and early childhood preparation for learning.

Lynne Vincent Cheney is the wife of Vice President Richard Cheney and was also the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1986 – 1993.

Sarah Clarke- Actor- Sarah Clarke plays Agent Nina Myers in the television show "24."

Joan Ganz Cooney is a founder of the Children’s Television Workshop, and in 1969, she created Sesame Street.

Sheryl Crow is a Grammy-award winning vocalist and songwriter.

Agnes DeMille choreographed Broadway productions such as Rodeo, Oklahoma, Carousel, Brigadoon, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Anna Dickinson was the first woman to speak before the United States Congress.

Barbara Hackman Franklin was the 29th U.S. Secretary of Commerce (1992-1993), and therefore the highest-ranking woman in George H.W. Bush’s administration.

Melinda French Gates, along with her husband, Bill Gates, directs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on world health issues and access to education and technology. She was named Time Magazine's 2005 Person of the Year along with her husband and the musician Bono.

Amy Grant is a Grammy award-winning vocalist and songwriter, particularly noted for her contemporary Christian music.

Marjorie Child Husted was the first radio voice for General Mills’ Betty Crocker.

Katie Lee Joel is the anchor of the television series Top Chef and wife of Billy Joel.

Nancy Landon Kassebaum was the first woman elected to the United States Senate who had not succeeded her husband or first been appointed to fill an unexpired term.

Mary Wells Lawrence was considered the first great woman in the field of advertising and was named one the Ten Most Successful Women in American Business.

Rue McClanahan played Blanche in the television series The Golden Girls.

Julie Moran was the host on Entertainment Tonight during the 1990s and the first woman to host ABC's Wide World of Sports.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was the Pulitzer-prize winning author of The Yearling.

Mary Louise Epperson Smith was the first woman to chair the Republican National Committee.

Kate Snow is an anchor for Good Morning America-Weekend Edition.

Melissa Stark is a sideline reporter for ABC's Monday Night Football.

Kerri Strug, a gymnast, won the Bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics, the Silver medal in the 1994 World Championship, and the Gold medal in the 1996 Olympics.

Ida Tarbell was the groundbreaking journalist and historian whose The History of the Standard Oil Company, published by McClure's (1902-1904), was ranked #5 in a list of the top works of journalism in the 20th century.

Maurine Dallas Watkins wrote the original Broadway play Chicago.

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