In 1867, 17-year-old Bettie McReynolds Locke [Hamilton] was the first female to enroll in Indiana Asbury College (now DePauw University) in Greencastle, Indiana. The first decision to allow women to attend Asbury was made in 1860. However, it was rescinded several times with debate following each decision. Kappa Alpha Theta was founded on January 27, 1870. The story involves Bettie Locke and a Phi Gamma Delta badge.
Jessie Baldbridge LeBrecht was born in La Junta, Colorado. She entered the University of Kansas where she became a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta chapter. She served and chapter president and as president of the Equal Suffrage League. A Phi Beta Kappa, she graduated in 1909.
She married Hal Rueben LeBrecht, an Alpha Tau Omega, on December 8, 1910. They moved to Kansas City and she joined the Theta city alumnae. She was appointed District President in 1918, when “everyone else had the ‘flu,’” she noted later.
One hundred years ago, at the 1922 convention, LeBrecht was elected Theta’s Grand Vice President. Her daughters, Louise and Florence, were three- and seven-years-old , respectively, when she took on that role. Florence would later become a Theta at her mother’s chapter. Louise became a member of the University of Arizona Theta chapter.
LeBrecht’s impressions of the 1922 convention were published that fall:
College life is but the early expression of what society in general will be as the succeeding various generations of graduates progress into their mature cycle. And, just now, when the youth of the country is being weighed in the balance because of their tradition-breaking expression of new freedom of thought, what an opportunity for the thousands of fraternity women to— not suppress—but turn this freedom toward a worthy and elevating aim. This restless spirit, expending itself so often in revolt, would generate an unimagined power if applied in the many worth-while directions that the universities and the world offer.
The opportunity for service seemed to be the underlying thought of our every discussion, and our own group of women, almost five hundred strong in conference, were eager to grasp and investigate every possibility for unselfish interest that was proposed. Cannot this wonderful spirit be infused into each chapter and give them a new viewpoint of their responsibility to the college community?
This convention was a ‘loyalty’ convention and what an illumination of that sometimes shop-worn word we received! It was not preached to us in dogmatic fashion, nor did it take the selfish form of loyalty only to our own organization. It became a warm, glowing emblem of our acceptance of responsibility—to our homes, our colleges, our selves, most of all to fusing the best from the old traditions and the best from the new freedom into a sane, balanced order.
LeBrecht was elected Grand President at the 1924 convention and served two terms. After she left office, she spoke at Gamma Phi Beta’s 1929 convention held in Kansas City. She was involved in Kansas City civic organizations including serving as president of the Woman’s Club of Kansas City. In 1955, the LeBrechts moved to Paradise Valley, Arizona.
In 1966, she sent greetings to the convention body:
All glory to the 1966 Grand Convention of Theta. Fraternity has taken on new meanings as the decades pass and Theta’s widespread influence is most rewarding to the many who serve her with such love and devotion. My good wishes for the future.
Arizona Republican, February 13, 1960
LeBrecht died on December 22, 1973.
