Kappa Sigma Kappa


Kappa Sigma Kappa is the name given to one of three separate college fraternities that have claimed a common name, history, and traditions. The original incarnation of Kappa Sigma Kappa was founded at Virginia Military Institute on September 28, 1867.

First incarnation (1867–1886)

Kappa Sigma Kappa was founded at Virginia Military Institute on September 28, 1867 by four cadets: John M. Tutwiler, James Gunnell Hurst, Kenneth McDonald, and David Gamble Murrell. On that night, Cadet Tutwiler invited the three other cadets to his room where the fraternity was founded. The original name selected for the fraternity was C.E.C., but it was soon changed to Kappa Sigma Kappa. The letters "C.E.C." would continue to retain ritual significance in the new fraternity. As a result of their efforts, ten chapters had been chartered by 1885. After three of the strongest chapters closed, the seven remaining chapters became part of Phi Delta Theta in 1886.
NumberChapterInstallation DateCollege or UniversityLocationStatus
1.Gamma1867Virginia Military InstituteLexington, VirginiaChapter closed in 1885 following a ban on fraternities at VMI
2.Epsilon1871Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VirginiaBecame the Virginia Zeta chapter of Phi Delta Theta in 1886
3.Zeta1874Virginia A&M CollegeBlacksburg, VirginiaChapter closed in 1886 following a ban on fraternities at Virginia A&M
4.Delta1875University of VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaChapter closed in 1884
5.Eta1881Emory and Henry CollegeEmory, VirginiaChapter closed in 1886
6.Upsilon1881Randolph-Macon CollegeAshland, VirginiaMerged with Virginia Gamma Chapter of Phi Delta Theta in 1886
7.Nu1882University of RichmondRichmond, VirginiaMerged with Phi Delta Theta in 1886
8.Rho1883Bethel Military AcademyWarrenton, VirginiaChapter closed in 1886
9.Omega1885University of North CarolinaChapel Hill, North CarolinaMerged with North Carolina Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta in 1886
10.Alpha1885Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaCharter was withdrawn in 1886. Became the Phi chapter of Sigma Nu in 1887.

Second incarnation (1935–1962)

Almost fifty years after the original fraternity had dissolved, a group of four students at the University of Virginia desired to form a new social fraternity in 1935. The group was led by St. Paul Henstridge. They were attracted to the Kappa Sigma Kappa badge, so they decided to revive the former fraternity as their own. After searching the University of Virginia archives, the students found the names of three members from the old Delta Chapter who were still alive, including two charter members. They then discovered that one of the founders of the original fraternity, Kenneth McDonald, was still alive and living in San Francisco, California. The students made contact with McDonald, and he assisted them in redeveloping the fraternity and learning many of the original fraternity traditions. The second incarnation of Kappa Sigma Kappa was officially established in September 1935, and seven chapters of the new Kappa Sigma Kappa were established before World War II.
After the war, the fraternity placed an emphasis on expansion. New chapters were rapidly established, and members of the fraternity felt the need to become better organized on a national level. The fraternity held its first national convention in St. Louis, Missouri in 1948. National conventions continued to be held every year, but the fraternity still lacked a strong national organization. Although the fraternity had experienced great growth in the years after the war, Kappa Sigma Kappa found itself struggling by the early 1950s. It had chartered several chapters on campuses of unaccredited schools, and as it result Kappa Sigma Kappa was unable to obtain membership in the National Interfraternity Conference. As a result of its lack of NIC membership, lack of uniform chapter operations, and lack of a strong national organization and central office, Kappa Sigma Kappa began rapidly losing its chapters in the 1950s as they began to affiliate with other NIC fraternities.
Kappa Sigma Kappa saw a merger with Theta Xi as its opportunity to repair its rapidly deteriorating situation. Following a series of meetings, the national organization of Kappa Sigma Kappa officially merged with Theta Xi on August 20, 1962. As a result of the merger, twenty-one chapters of Kappa Sigma Kappa located at accredited schools became chapters of Theta Xi. In addition, one further chapter of Kappa Sigma Kappa at Lawrence Technological University joined when the school was accredited. Each of the chapters was given a new Greek-letter chapter designation that was prefaced by the letter Kappa. Additionally, as part of the terms of the merger, the fraternity flower of Theta Xi was changed from the white carnation to the blue iris, the Theta Xi coat of arms was modified to replace the fleurs-de-lis with upright crescents, and the fraternity pledge manual title was changed from The Theta Xi Pledge Manual to The Quest For Theta Xi.
NumberChapterInstallation DateCollege or UniversityLocationStatus
1.DeltaUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaChapter closed
2.PiLebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PennsylvaniaChapter closed in 1942 during WWII, after the war became local fraternity known as Knights of the Valley
3.BetaWestern Reserve UniversityCleveland, OhioChapter closed in 1942
4.ThetaTexas College of MinesEl Paso, TexasChapter closed in 1942
5.IotaYoungstown State UniversityYoungstown, OhioBecame the Kappa Alpha chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
6.KappaArkansas Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeMonticello, ArkansasBecame the Kappa Beta chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
7.LambdaWaynesburg CollegeWaynesburg, PennsylvaniaChapter closed
8.UpsilonRandolph–Macon CollegeAshland, VirginiaChapter closed by 1943
9.OmicronFairmont State CollegeFairmont, West VirginiaOriginally organized locally as Omicron Pi in 1928. Became the Kappa Gamma chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
10.MuNew Mexico Highlands UniversityLas Vegas, New MexicoChapter closed
11.XiConcord CollegeAthens, West VirginiaBecame the Kappa Epsilon chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
12.Phi DeltaFort Hays Kansas State CollegeHays, KansasBecame the Alpha Delta chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda in 1962
13.SigmaIndiana Institute of TechnologyFort Wayne, IndianaBecame the Kappa Delta chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
14.TauEastern Illinois State CollegeCharleston, IllinoisChapter closed
15.ChiArizona State CollegeFlagstaff, ArizonaChapter closed
16.Florida AlphaUniversity of TampaTampa, FloridaBecame the Epsilon Beta chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon in 1955
17.PsiCentral Missouri State CollegeWarrensburg, MissouriBecame the Epsilon Phi chapter of Theta Chi in 1962
18.Michigan AlphaDetroit Institute of TechnologyDetroit, MichiganChapter closed
19.West Virginia GammaMorris Harvey CollegeCharleston, West VirginiaBecame the Kappa Zeta chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
20.West Virginia DeltaGlenville State CollegeGlenville, West VirginiaBecame the Kappa Eta chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
21.West Virginia EtaWest Virginia Wesleyan CollegeBuckhannon, West VirginiaBecause the Kappa Tau chapter of Theta Xi in 1963
22.Illinois GammaWestern Illinois UniversityMacomb, IllinoisBecame the Kappa Theta chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
23.Indiana BetaBall State CollegeMuncie, IndianaBecame the Kappa Kappa chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
24.Maryland AlphaUniversity of BaltimoreBaltimore, MarylandChapter was not eligible for the 1962 merger with Theta Xi, became part of the third Kappa Sigma Kappa organization
25.British AlphaNorthern Polytechnic InstituteLondon, EnglandChapter closed in 1951
26.New Zealand AlphaUniversity of CanterburyChristchurch, New ZealandChapter closed in 1951
27.Tasmania AlphaUniversity of HobartHobart, TasmaniaChapter closed in 1951
28.California AlphaSacramento State CollegeSacramento, CaliforniaChapter closed in 1952, changed to local Kappa Sigma Phi and eventually part of Alpha Sigma Phi in 1961
29.Arkansas BetaHenderson State Teachers CollegeArkadelphia, ArkansasBecame the Kappa Iota chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
30.Canadian AlphaUniversity of ManitobaWinnipeg, ManitobaChapter closed in 1960
31.Michigan BetaLawrence Institute of TechnologySouthfield, MichiganContinued as local group until October 5, 1968 when it was chartered as Kappa Chi chapter of Theta Xi
32.Ohio EpsilonCedarville CollegeCedarville, OhioChapter closed
California BetaStanford UniversityStanford, California
33.California GammaArmstrong CollegeBerkeley, CaliforniaChapter closed
California DeltaSan Jose State CollegeSan Jose, California
34.New York AlphaUniversity of BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkChapter closed
Illinois EpsilonChicago Technical CollegeChicago, IllinoisClosed. School ceased operations in 1977.
Old Dominion UniversityRichmond, VirginiaBecame the Kappa Lambda chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
New York BetaRochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, New YorkBecame the Kappa Mu chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
Ohio ZetaDefiance CollegeDefiance, OhioBecame the Kappa Nu chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
Michigan DeltaUniversity of DetroitDetroit, MichiganBecame the Kappa Xi chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
Pennsylvania GammaPennsylvania Military CollegeChester, Pennsylvania
California IotaUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, California
University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Illinois ZetaQuincy CollegeQuincy, IllinoisChartered in 1950, rechartered in 1974
New York GammaErie County Technical InstituteBuffalo, New YorkClosed in 1975
Michigan GammaWestern Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MichiganFormerly Zeta Delta Epsilon
North Carolina AlphaLenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory, North CarolinaBecame the Kappa Omicron chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
Michigan EpsilonWayne State UniversityDetroit, MichiganBecame the Kappa Pi chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
Virginia AlphaCollege of William & MaryWilliamsburg, Virginia
Michigan EtaFerris State UniversityBig Rapids, MichiganBecame the Kappa Rho chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
Michigan ZetaHillsdale CollegeHillsdale, MichiganBecame a local fraternity at the time of the 1962 Theta Xi merger
Indiana GammaTri-State UniversityAngola, IndianaFormerly a chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma, Alpha Lambda Tau and Tau Kappa Epsilon. Chapter was not eligible for the 1962 merger with Theta Xi, became part of the third Kappa Sigma Kappa organization. Became a chapter of Kappa Sigma in 1966
New York EpsilonAlfred State CollegeAlfred, New YorkChapter disaffiliated with Kappa Sigma Kappa in November 1954 and became local fraternity Kappa Sigma Epsilon due to the forced localization at SUNY campuses.
New York DeltaRussell Sage CollegeTroy, New York
Michigan GammaKettering UniversityFlint, MichiganBecame the Kappa Sigma chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
New York ZetaUtica CollegeUtica, New YorkBecame the Kappa Upsilon chapter of Theta Xi in 1962
Illinois EtaNorthern Illinois UniversityDeKalb, IllinoisClosed 1961
New York Eta1958Westchester Community CollegeValhalla, New YorkClosed in 1967
New York Theta1958Hudson Valley Community CollegeTroy, New YorkClosed
1958University of Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandAbolished in 1960
North Carolina BetaWestern Carolina UniversityCullowhee, North CarolinaBecame the Kappa Phi chapter of Theta Xi in 1962

Third incarnation (1962–1992)

Seven active chapters of the former Kappa Sigma Kappa fraternity were not accepted by Theta Xi in the 1962 merger, because they were located at unaccredited schools. Although their national organization had merged and was now a part of Theta Xi, these seven chapters formed a new national structure and continued to use the Kappa Sigma Kappa name. In turn, they began approving new chapters of Kappa Sigma Kappa on more campuses, often at community colleges. During the late 1970s, the national organization dissolved but the Pennsylvania Alpha Chapter remained active until 1992.
NumberChapterInstallation DateCollege or UniversityLocationStatus
1.Maryland Alpha1948University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MarylandMerged with Maryland Beta Chapter in 1974, now closed
2.Illinois Epsilon1949Chicago Technical CollegeChicago, IllinoisClosed. School ceased operations in 1977.
3.New York Gamma1950Erie County Technical InstituteBuffalo, New YorkClosed in 1975
4.Indiana Gamma1952Tri-State UniversityAngola, IndianaBecame a chapter of Kappa Sigma in 1966
5.New York Eta1958Westchester Community CollegeValhalla, New YorkClosed in 1967
6.New York Theta1958Hudson Valley Community CollegeTroy, New YorkClosed
7.Pennsylvania Alpha1966Spring Garden CollegePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaSchool closed in 1992
8.Texas Alpha1968University of Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TexasClosed
9.New Jersey Alpha1962Mercer County Community CollegeTrenton, New JerseyClosed
10Missouri Alpha1966Finley College of EngineeringKansas City, MissouriClosed
Maryland BetaBaltimore College of CommerceBaltimore, MarylandClosed
New York Kappa1994State University of New York, BrockportBrockport, New YorkNamed Colony

Symbols and traditions

Badge

The badge is a gold Jerusalem cross in the center of which is a circular black enameled disc displaying the letters of the fraternity. The letters "C.E.C." are engraved on the back of every badge.