On November 9, 1874, Sigma Kappa was founded by five young women, the only females enrolled at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. They received a letter from the faculty approving the organization’s petition, which included a constitution and bylaws.
The five founders of Sigma Kappa are Mary Low Carver, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller Pierce, Louise Helen Coburn and Frances Mann Hall. In Sigma Kappa’s first constitution, chapter membership was limited to 25 women. The original chapter is known as the Alpha chapter. After Alpha chapter’s membership reached 25, a Beta chapter was formed. A Gamma chapter soon followed. Although there were some early joint meetings, the members did not think it feasible to continue that way. In 1893, a vote was taken to limit Alpha chapter to 25 members and to allow no more initiations into Beta and Gamma chapters. In due time, Beta and Gamma were no more.
I’m often asked how I had my start in fraternity and sorority history. I answer that I would routinely find myself lost in reading the bound copies of The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi which were in the archives in the Pi Phi chapter house at Syracuse University. It’s a sure bet that I can find myself absorbed in the magazine of any GLO. Last night, I was lost in issues of the Sigma Kappa Triangle from a century ago.
World War I was first and foremost on the minds of the Sigma Kappa women and each chapter shared what it was doing to help the effort.
There was this cute photo of Murette Morgan, sent by her mother.
This letter contains a quote from Mary Love Collins, Chi Omega.
And this note from the editor about conventions is timeless and any applies to all GLOs!
