Our Founders
Betty Locke	Alice Allen	Bettie Tipton	Hannah Fitch

Kappa Alpha Theta boasts a long and celebrated history because we are the
first Greek fraternity known among women. Theta was founded on January 27,
1870 at Indiana Asbury University (now DePaw) by Betty Locke Hamilton, Alice
Allen Brant, Bettie Tipton Lindsey, and Hannah Fitch Shaw. Currently there are
125 chapters in the United States and Canada with over 170,000 active
members.

Betty Locke's idea to start a woman's fraternity was based on ideas from her
father (alumnus of Beta Theta Pi) and brother (Phi Gamma Delta). Members of her
brother's fraternity offered to let her wear their badge, but she declined, saying
that she would not wear it without knowing the secrets the letters represented.
Her father then suggested that she start her own fraternity for women, and the
idea of Kappa Alpha Theta was born. Locke and her friend Alice Allen came
together, and after 3 years of planning and campaigning the four original
members initiated themselves, becoming official Thetas.

Here at UC Berkeley, we are the Omega chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. This
means that we were the 24th chapter founded and the last in the single Greek
letter naming system. Founded in 1890, Theta is the first sorority to be
established and remain on the Berkeley campus.

The practice of Ritual originates from prehistoric sacred oral
traditions. These traditions can still be found in underdeveloped
communities where legend and customs have been handed down orally,
unchanged for centuries. Consequently, the process of learning and
memorizing a story or tradition to keep it unchanged was imperative.
To aid this process, symbolism and ritual was introduced. In order
for a ritual to assist in the truthful and accurate delivery of
information, it became important that it be portrayed in the same
circumstances. How it was said become as important as what was said.

The stigmas that often revolve around rituals are reactionary to the
secrecy of many of these traditions. Yet, its secrecy is of the up
most importance: its confidentiality is not to incite fear in
outsiders, but rather emphasize the importance of the information
being bestowed, so that only those who were qualified may receive it,
while additionally protecting the members and community at large from
impostors.

These methods of practice, passed down from ancient Egyptian,
Sumerian, and Phoenician groups through the Greeks and Romans and
ultimately Renaissance Intelligencia, are most noticeably used today
by religions, governments, schools, and social organizations. The
opening of congress, the beginning of a court trials, marriage
(religious or secular); ritual emerges where someone goes through a
change. It equals a transition into a new phase, ultimately making
an obligation of truthfulness.

Kappa Alpha Theta, as the first Greek-letter Fraternity known among
women, continues this ancient exchange of knowledge and loyalty.
Regarded with absolute respect and diligence, our Rituals help unify
our members, by easing their transitions into the world as successful
women, enriching their lives with diversity and equal opportunity,
linking the present with the past, ensuring the original intent of
our Founders, and creating a community devoid of prejudice and malice
to protect ethical and moral standards.

Ritual allows Kappa Alpha Theta and her members to withstand the
wearing of time through everlasting bonds of friendship and sisterhood.

Proud to be a Theta!

(Written by: Lauren Terry)

Katie Beaudin
Omega Chapter Ritualist 2009



founded: January 27, 1870 at DePauw University
symbol: kite, twin stars
flower: black and gold pansay
colors: black and gold
philanthropy: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
national headquarters: www.kappaalphatheta.org

In 1907, Omega alumna and famed architect Julia Morgan started designs for the
chapter house which was built in 1908 in the same location the current house
stands. It was remodeled in 1923 by Morgan, but was ultimately torn down in 1929.
Our current house was designed by Gardiner A. Dailey and was not completed until
1939. Its exterior appeared on the cover of Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine and interior
was featured in the April 1946 edition of Architectural Record. By the 1950's, a larger
house was needed in order to fit the growing number of Thetas! Construction began
in 1956 on an addition to the west side of the house, now known plainly as "new".

Our chapter house has a spacious first floor with living, entertaining, and dining
areas, four floors of bedrooms housing over 60 members, a re-decorated study
room, multiple sun-decks, and a private patio area. Wireless internet is available
throughout the house, making studying convenient anywhere. Many changes are
happening over the next few summers; new paint, bathrooms, carpet, and
landscaping are only a few of the updates our house will boast at the end of this
major remodeling. We are so proud of our history and legacy at UC Berkeley and
look forward to a bright future full of sisterhood and scholarship.

Omega Thetas
	Julia Morgan, Omega/UC Berkeley Initiated 1890 The first woman to be licenced in architecture in California. She designed over 800 buildings including Hearst Castle, St. Francis Hotel in San Fransisco, Livermore House in San Fransisco, various campus buildings, and the original Kappa Alpha Theta Omega chapter house in 1907.
	Katherine Towle, Omega/UC Berkeley Initiated 1916 The first woman to be appointed Director of Women Marines in the United States Marine Corps. After her tour of duty she served as Dean of Students at UC Berkeley.
	Helen Hull Jacobs, Omega/UC Berkeley Initiated 1929 Famous 1930's tennis player: U.S. singles and doubles champion 1932-1935, and Wimbledon Champion in 1936. She was the first woman to wear man-tailored shorts at Wimbledon.
Other Memorable Thetas
Nancy Landon Kassebaum, Kappa/Kansas (1951): Former U.S. Senator Mary Ritter Beard, Alpha/DePaw (1895): Woman's rights activist, 'founding mother' of American's woman's history Ann Margret, Tau/Northwestern (1960): Famous actress Sheryl Crow, Alpha Mu/Missouri (1981): Grammy award winning recording artist Dian Fossey, Gamma Xi/San Jose State (1953): First female primatologist Rue McClanahan, Gamma Tau/Tulsa (1953): Famous actress "Golden Girls" Bertha Van Hoosen M.D., Eta/Michigan (1880): First female president of the American Medical Women's Association Laura Bush, Beta Sigma/Southern Methodist (1966): First Lady of the United States Lynne Cheney, Beta Omega/Colarado College (1960): Vice-President Dick Cheney's wife Amy Grant, Alpha Eta/Vanderbilt (1981): Famous recording artist Kerri Strug, Beta Xi/UCLA (1997): Olympic gold medal winning gymnast in 1996 Sarah Clarke, Beta/Indiana (1990): Actress "24"