History

The Gamma Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded on December 6, 1929. Before the chapter became a part of Kappa Kappa Gamma, however, it was a local women's fraternity known as Kappa Phi. Kappa Phi was the oldest local fraternity on campus, and was the second oldest in the United States, having been founded in 1898. When Kappa Phi was founded, the girls were attending Shepardson College, which did not become a part of Denison until 1900. Six women founded the fraternity in 1898, and met every Saturday morning for chapter, which was usually held out of doors. In 1905 the women of Kappa Phi wanted to find a place to call their own, and so they bought a plot of land on Cherry Street in Granville. One of the woman's uncles donated the money so they could build their house, and in the Fall of 1906 the little house was completed. For many years, the President of Denison and the Board of Trustees had voted to deny the fraternity's request to petition national sororities to join. However, in 1928, the sororities on Denison's campus were allowed to petition nationals by order of seniority. Kappa Phi, being the oldest, had first choice, and gladly asked Kappa Kappa Gamma if they could start a chapter at Denison. On December 6, 1929, Kappa Phi officially became the Gamma Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma and 222 women were initiated.

Founded October 13, 1870 by six young women at Monmouth College in Illinois, Kappa Kappa Gamma has grown to be an international organization for women with over 200,000 initiates and nearly 300 active alumnae associations. Considered a fraternity, Kappa was founded before the term 'sorority' came into use. Today, Kappa Kappa Gamma headquarters and Heritage Museum are located in Columbus, Ohio. The Stewart House in Monmouth, Illinois, home to one of Kappa's original founders, is also owned by the fraternity. On the National Register of Historic Places, the Stewart House remains significant as the founding location of one of the earliest women's fraternities and its importance in the progression of the women's movement. 137 years ago, Kappa's six pioneering founders strove to achieve a bond of sisterhood to celebrate friendship, mutual support, opportunities for self-growth, respect for intellectual development, and an understanding of and an allegiance to positive ethical principles - qualities that Kappa's members still value and celebrate today.

To visit Kappa Kappa Gamma's national website click the Key!

The golden key was selected by the Founders as the badge of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members. Members may not lend their badges to anyone except other Kappas. To keep badges only in the possession of members, it is encouraged that the badges of deceased members be returned to Headquarters.

The colors of the Fraternity are light blue and dark blue, which have been described as those shades which in light and dark tones reproduce the soft velvety blue approaching the cornflower in shade, which is also a description of the sapphire, the Fraternity jewel. The sapphire is recognized as a symbol of truth, sincerity and constancy.

The owl is the bird of wisdom as well as the bird of Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom.

The Fraternity Coat-of-Arms combines the well-known symbols of Kappa Kappa Gamma: the key, the Greek letters, the new-member pin, the fleur-de-lis, the owl and the two blues.

The fleur-de-lis was chosen as the Fraternity flower because of its general dignity, stateliness and grace, and because it combines the two blues of the Fraternity in one flower.