On November 19, 1919, Kappa Kappa Psi, a “co-educational fraternal organization that advances college and university bands for the benefit of its members and society through dedicated service and support to bands, encouragement of musical growth, lifelong educational experiences, leadership opportunities, and recognition” was founded in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at Oklahoma A&M College, now Oklahoma State University. The organization is gearing up for its upcoming centennial.
Michael J Raymond, Ph.D., an alumnus of the Miami University chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha who has written extensively about his fraternity’s history, wrote this about the founding of Kappa Kappa Psi and its connection to Lambda Chi:
Music has been associated with Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity from its earliest years. In the past its chapter participated in campus songfests, Mother’s Day musicals, and serenades. In addition to the tradition of singing, it is a little-known fact that members of Lambda Chi Alpha played a major role in the founding of Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity.
This fraternity was created to promote excellence in college and university band programs by providing leadership, recognition, and service opportunities to its members. The organization has approximately 180 chapters throughout the United States.
Kappa Kappa Psi was founded at Oklahoma A&M College, now Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, on November 27, 1919. The organization has many famous alumni in its ranks including bandmaster John Philip Sousa, musician Ray Charles, composer John Williams, band leader Lawrence Welk, and former President Bill Clinton.
This story of Kappa Kappa Psi and Lambda Chi Alpha intersect at Stillwater, Oklahoma. Lambda Chi’s Alpha-Eta chapter was installed as the first national fraternity at Oklahoma A&M College on September 15, 1917. In less than two years following its establishment, the chapter would supply five of Kappa Kappa Psi’s ten founding members.
The following Lambda Chis were founders of Kappa Kappa Psi: William H. Coppedge, principal designer of the Kappa Psi membership badge; Andrew F. Martin, known as “Mr. Kappa Psi,” first grand president and long-time executive secretary of the fraternity; Dick Hurst, grand secretary of the fraternity; Clayton E. Soule; and Iron Hawthorne Nelson. It is interesting to note that these men were members of Alpha-Eta chapter at the same time Chester Gould, creator of the Dick Tracy strip, who was also a member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
