Kappa Kappa Gamma: Beta Lambda, 1899-2000

Jonathan S. Coit

Greek Housing History Program

Information courtesy of University of Archives and the Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing

This history was produced as part of the Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing’s Greek Housing History Project. The Society was founded in 1988, with the goal of preserving the physical buildings that embody the history of the nation’s largest Greek system, and educating the public about the historical significance of fraternities and sororities on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. Dues paid by member fraternity and sorority chapters and donations from Chapter Alumni fund the Society’s work. In keeping with their mission, the Society began the Greek Housing History Project in May 2000 in conjunction with the University of Illinois Archives. The GHHP aims for nothing less than producing a complete historical record of fraternities and sororities on the University of Illinois campus, by employing a graduate assistant to research and write histories of campus chapters. Making the work possible are the extensive collections of the University of Illinois Archives, especially its Student Life and Culture Archival Program. Supported by an endowment from the Stewart S. Howe Foundation, the heart of the SLC Archives is the Stewart S. Howe collection, the world’s largest collection of material related to fraternities and sororities.

 2001 The Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. All rights reserved.

The First Three Decades of Kappa, 1870-1899

As with all fraternities, began with a small group of friends who wanted the social and academic stimulation they saw fraternities providing. Mary L.

Bennett, Hannah J. Boyd, Mary M. Stewart, and Anna E. Willits founded Kappa Kappa

Gamma at , Monmouth, Illinois, in 1870. Their goals were similar to those of many founders of men’s and women’s fraternities; as Bennett wrote, “Our aim was to draw into the society the choicest spirits among the girls, not only for literary work, but also for social development.” At the time, Monmouth had chapters of three men’s Greek letter fraternities—, , and — but women’s extracurricular activities were restricted to two literary societies. Of course, one of these was a women’s fraternity in disguise. I. C. Sorosis, later incorporated as Pi

Beta Phi, was also founded at Monmouth three years prior to Kappa Kappa Gamma. The

Alpha chapter of KKG was founded in March 1870, but the Founder’s Day date of

October 13, 1870, was agreed upon at the 1876 Kappa convention. It memorializes the day when Alpha chapter’s members were introduced to their fellow students as members of Kappa Kappa Gamma. 1

Although the Founders clearly desired Kappa’s expansion, finding colleges and

universities both receptive to fraternities and suited for stable chapter growth proved

difficult. The Founders’ own scattershot methods compounded these problems. A few

months after Alpha chapter make its existence public, Stewart and Bennett traveled to

Knox College, in Galesburg, Illinois, to establish Beta chapter. After initiating two

1 quoted in Florence Burton-Roth and May C. Whiting-Westerman, The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity 1870-1930 , Kappa Kappa Gamma, 1932, p. 3, 4; Jack L. Anson and Robert F. Marchesani, Jr., eds., Baird’s Manual of American College Fraternities , Indianapolis: Baird’s Manual Foundation, Inc., 1991, p. IV-58.

2 members, however, Alpha chapter lost contact, and the chapter was declared defunct by the 1874 convention. Kappa’s historians concluded that, in the utter absence of any further information, the most likely explanation is that Beta’s two members never managed to initiate other members, and thus the “chapter” perished when they graduated.

Other chapters fell victim to an expansion policy which required little support or organization. According to the earliest constitution, a chapter could be started with one member! Moreover, this member need not be currently attending their relevant college; this constitution specified that former students, and later, those “who might become students” could found chapters as well. In one case, a group of early Kappas decided that the University of Wisconsin should have a chapter. After selecting a girl’s name at random from the school’s catalogue, they wrote her suggesting “she form a circle of her friends and accept a charter of Kappa Kappa Gamma.”2 By 1876, only two of the first six Kappa chapters—Delta, at University, and Epsilon, at Illinois Wesleyan-- were still officially functioning.

These expansion problems, and anti-fraternity codes, made necessary a reorganization of Kappa in the 1880s. Indeed, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s early years attest to the difficulties which faced all fraternities in the late 19 th century. Alpha chapter was

ironically the first to fall. In 1873 the United Presbyterian Church prohibited fraternities

from its colleges and seminaries, and Monmouth, a Presbyterian institution, announced

its ban in the fall of 1874. Alpha operated for some years sub-rosa, inducting members as

late at 1882, but by the 1884 convention it was clear the chapter could not continue and

its charter was withdrawn.

2 Burton-Roth, History , p. 12, 14-15, 19; Anson, p. IV-51.

3 The first two decades of Kappa Kappa Gamma’s existence resulted in the eventual construction of a more stable national governing system and a more restrictive expansion policy. Although Kappa changed from a Grand Chapter system (in which an chapter selected at Convention assumed all national duties and tasks) to a Grand Council system (in which national duties and tasks are the responsibility of several elected officers) in 1881, it was not until 1890 that the Grand Council began curtailing the establishment of new chapters. Burton-Ross and Whiting-Westermann are rather vague about the means by which this occurred. At the 1882 convention, the expansion policy was amended to require three-fourths of existing chapters to approve a new chapter, rather than two-thirds. This seemed to have had some impact on the speed of expansion.

Between 1870 and 1881 twenty chapters were founded, nearly two per year. Between

1882 and 1890, only eleven chapters received charters. More importantly for the future of the fraternity, of those eleven, only one became defunct before 1900. Of the previous twenty chapters, nine were no longer active at the turn of the century. However, more than a policy change must have been at work, as Burton-Ross and Whiting-Westermann note that, under the two-thirds rule, chapters seldom voted against extending a charter to a new organization. It seems most likely that the policy change was the outward sign of a deeper shift in the attitudes of Kappas to expansion. 3

The shift is illustrated by the decision of the Grand Council, approved by the

Convention, to withdraw the charters of both Nu (Franklin College of Indiana) and

Omicron (, Indiana) chapters. In both cases, the charter removal was

justified in part due to the supposed “low standard” of the attendant institution. This

quite obviously refered to the relative prestige of both colleges. But it also referred to the

3 Burton-Ross, History , p. 31; Anson, p. IV-51.

4 relative size of each college, and the impact enrollment had on membership. Both Nu and Omicron were relatively small chapters and as a result, had difficulty regularly sending members to convention and making regular dues payments. Moreover, it was generally in smaller colleges that Kappa Kappa Gamma encountered anti-fraternity legislation. Nu’s charter was withdrawn in 1884, and Omicron’s in 1890, but it was not until 1898 that the National Fraternity made the situation formal. Burton-Ross and

Whiting-Westerman write, “In 1898 the National Fraternity concluded that chapters of

Kappa Kappa Gamma had best be confined to larger college and universities.” The first act in conjunction with this policy was yet another charter removal, from the Beta Beta chapter at St. Lawrence University, New York. 4

Beta Lambda at Illinois

Beta Lambda’s founding owned much to Katharine L. Sharp. While an undergraduate at in 1882, Sharp helped found and was a charter member of Upsilon chapter. Several years later, from 1894-96, Sharp served as Grand

President of Kappa Kappa Gamma. In 1897 she became Head Librarian and Director of the Library School at Illinois. With the help of Frances Simpson, a student at the Illinois

Library School and like Sharp a Kappa from Northwestern, Sharp began circulating a petition in 1898 for what would become Beta Lambda. Sharp was particularly anxious because and were already on campus, and Pi Beta Phi had great success in attracting members from the Library School. After consulting with

Champaign-Urbana’s two other Kappa alumnae, Sharp spoke to a group of six students she hoped would form the nucleus of the chapter. Five agreed to sign Sharp’s petition:

4 Burton-Ross, History , p. 33-37, 215.

5 Florence M. Beck, Georgetta Haven, Cecilia B. McConnel, Adele C. Reed, and Lucy B.

E. Willcox. The sixth, Elizabeth Montross, was unable to give her final answer until after

Sharp sent off the petition. The controversies surrounding fraternities at that time made such a decision difficult. 5

Correspondence from various Kappas to Sharp indicates that Sharp and others were concerned about the fate of the Illinois petition. Kappa Kappa Gamma’s most recent chapter had affiliated in 1893, and the prevailing sentiment within the organization seemed to indicate caution. Moreover, the de-chartered Beta Beta chapter was at that moment preparing a lawsuit against Kappa Kappa Gamma about their expansion policies.

One chapter reported unfavorably on the Illinois petition because they believed “that the fraternity’s growth should be intensive rather than extensive for the next ten years.” The issue of the University’s “standing” also led to some opposition. Bertha K. Richmond voted against Illinois because, according to Kappa Grand Secretary Carla F. Sargent, she could see no difference in the situation between the recently declined petition from a college in Albany, N.Y., and Illinois. A final area of opposition came from some concerned that the Library School background of the Illinois applicants might open

Kappa to students in “technical” courses of study. Precisely what was meant by this is difficult to discern, but the distinction seems to be between students engaged in vocational study—teaching degrees, social work, and the like—and those engaged in a

“liberal” education—Greek, Latin, Rhetoric, Mathematics, and so on. 6

5 Burton-Ross, p. 370; Barbara Rogers Houseworth, “Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Chapter Historical Information,” typescript in folder “Chapter Histories 1923-75,” box 1, Kappa Kappa Gamma Records. 6 Anson, p. IV-51, Burton-Ross, p. 215; Carla Fern Sargent to Katherine L. Sharp, March 20, 1899, folder “Chapter Founding—General (1 of 2),” box 1, Kappa Kappa Gamma Records, Record Series 41/72/29, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois (to be referred to hereafter as “Kappa Records”); Carla Fern Sargent to Katharine L. Sharp, February 20, 1899,

6 But despite these issues, Sharp’s reputation within the organization carried the petition to approval. Sargent responded to Sharp’s initial letter regarding the petition by writing “I shall be glad to work for the charter, because I have the greatest confidence in your judgement about conditions at the University.” And Grand Registrar Mignon

Talbot, who had served the same office during Sharp’s tenure as Grand President, wrote

Sharp, “I have been more or less eager for a chapter at the University of Illinois for two or three years and agree with you that it is a good opening for Kappa.” Sargent wrote

Sharp January 8, 1899 noting that she was still unsure of the reception of the Illinois petition. Three months later, however, she notified Sharp that the petition had been approved. Installation proceeded quickly. Sargent’s approval telegram arrived April 15, and installation was held April 28, 1899, in Sharp’s home at 205 E. Green St.,

Champaign. In much the same way as Alpha chapter, the Illinois group managed to keep their secret until the ceremony. On Saturday, April 29, the new chapter held two receptions at the home of Mrs. A. T. Fay, Iota, who had helped the group with their petition. Members of Illinois’ fraternities attended the afternoon session, and members of the faculty came to the evening one. Five new pledges were introduced, Elizabeth

Montross, Maud Straight, Delia Sandford, Emma Rhoades, and Florence Smith. 7

Although the arrival of Beta Lambda had been kept secret from her sister

societies, it did not take long for rivalries to develop between the women’s fraternities.

At the time of the chapter’s installation the University had only around 200 women

students, and competition was fierce between Kappa, Pi Beta Phi, and Kappa Alpha

Theta for the top rushees. No details of these early rushing seasons have survived, but as

7 Sargent to Sharp, December 3, 1898; Mignon Talbot to Sharp, December 19, 1898; folder “Chapter Founding—General (2 of 2),” box 1, Kappa Records; Houseworth, p. 2.

7 the increased competition very quickly brought about ad hoc inter-sorority agreements about rushing, it must have been intense. Moreover, Kappas felt that “The chapter started out somewhat handicapped.” They lacked the houses the Pi Phis and Thetas had, as well as an established name on campus. The Library School, from which they expected to draw many members, was only a two-year program. 8

Kappa claimed an early victory. According to Emma Rhoades, before her pledgeship was announced publicly, “We were told that we had been under inspection for a long time, especially for scholarship.” Rhoades’ pledge class included valedictorian

Florence Smith, and, Rhoades noted, “no girl with grades under 90 [out of 100] was considered.” In September of 1900, though, the contest got underway in earnest. “In september [sic] there came a very real conflict with the other fraternities, but the Kappas were happily surprised with victory.” The chapter prepared for the real rushing season, after the start of fall term “with some bought and some borrowed furniture.” The chapter historian claimed another Kappa victory, with Beta Lambda securing two of its four candidates. But the conflicts did lead to problems within the emerging Illinois Greek system. “The rushing done by the other fraternities was most undignified and there was at least one case of lifting and much hard feeling.” One expects, of course, that the Pi

Phis or Thetas may have had similar feelings. All did agree, however, that rushing needed regulation. This led to Illinois’ first Panhellenic meeting, at which the five sororities—Kappa, Pi Phi, and Theta, and new additions Alpha and Chi

8 “Beta Lambda of Kappa Kappa Gamma,” typescript in folder “Chapter Histories 1899-1913,” box 1, Kappa Records; Houseworth, p. 2-3; Eva McIntyre, et. al., “Chapter History of Beta Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity,” typescript in folder “Chapter Histories 1899-1913,” box 1, Kappa Records, p. 5-6.

8 Omega—agreed on the form of a rushing contract, including a “pledge day” just before

Thanksgiving. 9

The Kappas’ story in these early years recall’s Albert Einstein’s famous saying that “One cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.” As the Kappas participated in the first attempt at obviating future rushing conflicts, at the same time they steadily upgraded their own facilities in an effort to win them. Beta Lambda held their first meetings in Sharp’s home at 205 E. Green St., but quickly sought their own home to match their rivals. In 1900 the chapter moved to a house at 903 W. St.,

Urbana. Finding this house too small, the chapter moved again in 1901 to 703 S. Third

St., Champaign. This house was both “larger and more conveniently situated,” and Beta

Lambda began their fall 1901 rushing under the new rules “with a larger chapter and very encouraging prospects.” The chapter did manage another six initiates in 1901-02, but the historian noted that these initiates were mostly “very desirable girls who had been over looked the year before….” That season’s rushing was viewed as “not altogether a strict success,” and the chapter’s hedging appears to have been the result of an especially vicious campaign. A rushing season had been agreed upon, but no rushing rules outside of the pledge day. In practice, “the evils were rather prolonged than done away with.”

Beta Lambda moved again in the summer of 1902, this time to a house at 404 E. John St.,

Champaign, which was large enough for the chapter to share their meals and entertain. 10

That fall rushing changed considerably. Exactly why this happened is difficult to discern. The chapter history notes that more regulations were placed on rushing, and that

YWCA secretary “Miss Paxson” chaired an intersorority meeting at the Kappa house for

9 McIntyre, “Chapter History,” p. 4-6.

9 the purpose of ironing out the competition for rushees. The causal relationship between the two events is not addressed, but it seems most likely that the new regulations were the result of this meeting, rather than preceding it. That the meeting was held at the Kappa house is interesting, and tends to bolster the chapter historian’s claim that the main conflict was between Theta and Pi Phi. When Kappa was installed, she noted, “the two existing women’s fraternities were at swords points.” At the meeting Paxson

“emphasized the fact that fraternity girls had a great responsibility as social leaders in the college community and that there should be cooperation and effort to make their influence a good one.” Her speech must have been persuasive, as the women’s fraternities agreed to shorten rush to four weeks, and restrict the hours of rushing and the number of rush parties. Kappa did well in subsequent rushes, with the 1904-05 rush being such a success the chapter built an addition onto its house. 11

Beta Lambda’s early years provide a seeming contradiction in intersorority behavior. Certainly rush competition was much more pointed than it would become in later years, when the University had many more women students. But social activities were more open. In its first years, Kappa’s main social event was an “At Home,” an informal party at which light refreshments were served. For these events, “Invitations were issued to all the men’s and women’s fraternities and all other ‘Greeks’ whose chapter had not been established at the University, and to many personal friends….” The chapter voted against having an informal dance in February 1900, the historian wryly noting that a dance was “something quite too frivolous for the dignity of Kappa Kappa

Gamma.” But the next year the chapter corrected this oversight with their first annual

10 McIntyre, “Chapter History,” p. 6; composite photo of Beta Lambda homes, ca. 1945, in folder “Photographic Negative, Beta Lambda Composite of Houses at UI,” box 2, Kappa Records.

10 spring formal dance. The 1903 dance, the first in a house the chapter felt was large enough to properly entertain in, “proved a great success,” thus ensuring its continuing place on the Kappa calendar. In the Spring of 1905 Beta Lambda performed a play for an audience of students and faculty, “A very bright and funny little farce called ‘Breezy

Point’; with a cast entirely for the girls….” Kappas played an active role in the establishment of the new campus Women’s League. The idea behind it, though, had already motivated the chapter to give a series of small teas for both fraternity and non- fraternity women students. 12

As the chapter became more established on campus, the only major change

seemed to be an increasing interest in extracurricular activities. Rushing continued to be,

in the words of the chapter’s historians, “strenuous,” despite frequent rule changes from

the Panhellenic Council. In 1909 the historian remarked that in “spite of these

restrictions which limit the time in which rushing can be done, I think it will be more

strenuous than ever.” Kappa never wanted for members, even with the difficult

competition given by their sister organizations. Beta Lambda actives continued to

require their pledges to put on a “stunt party” annually, at which the freshmen entertained

the group with a skit or songs. The chapter continued to hold a spring dance and added to

that an annual Christmas party and Founder’s Day banquet. The chapter’s parties and

entertainments were, as noted above, general invitation. Typically both fraternity and

non-fraternity students would be invited, as well as University faculty and Kappa

residents in town. The only change noticeable was members’ increasing involvement in

campus organizations and volunteer societies. Beta Lambdas served on the YWCA

11 McIntyre, p. 7. 12 ibid , p. 6-8

11 cabinet, were elected to Women’s League offices, and participated in literary societies and the Scribbler’s Club. The 1913-14 history ends with a long list of the chapter’s accomplishments. In addition to holding the highest fraternity grade average (86.14 out of 100), the chapter had one member elected to Kappa and two graduate with

PBK keys, a member in the drama society Mask and Bauble, a Senior Class officer and a committee member, five members in the Alethenai literary society, and two volunteers for the Illinois Athletic Association. 13

In 1913 the chapter moved again, to 212 W. Chalmers St., Champaign. Beta

Lambda would move once more, to 807 S. Wright St., Champaign, before settling at its current location, 1102 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana. To be sure the notion that a fraternity ought to own its own home was already well-established by this time. The story of Beta

Lambda during this period, though, illustrates some of the internal impetus to move in that direction. While the chapter never experienced dire financial difficulties, it seemed to operate on a precarious financial balance that could easily be thrown off. For example, in the fall of 1908 rooming-house owners in the area began requiring incoming freshmen to sign semester-long leases. This was most likely due to the chartering of three new sororities in 1906, who, by 1907, joined the five other chapters in avidly seeking new recruits to move in to their houses. The chapter historian observed that “the landladies of

Champaign and Urbana had been quite provoked the year before at having empty rooms on their hands, a month or two after school began….” Beta Lambda generously admitted several new pledges who were unable to pay rent until after Christmas, and the chapter was late with rent payments throughout the year. In the fall of 1916, the chapter only

13 ibid , p. 13; Helen Fairfield, “Beta Lambda History 1913-14,” typescript in folder “Chapter Histories 1913-1923,” box 1, Kappa Records.

12 netted two pledges, and perhaps as a result of this minor turn, suffered “a few financial embarrassments.” The next two years the Kappas rented spare rooms to make ends meet. 14

By the end of World War I the chapter experienced a resurgence in membership.

Elizabeth Brandt ’23 noted in her 1917-23 history that after the war the chapter grew “to such an extent that it has been necessary to maintain an annex almost continuously.” But even before, as Brandt put it, “The need for a new house is ever upon us.” Beta Lambda began taking steps toward acquiring its own home. In November of 1919 the active chapter opened a savings account and began contributing $75 per month from the house’s income. This was changed two years later, when each member was required to contribute

$25 per year for four years into the building fund. In addition, the actives occasionally had fundraising events. For example, in March 1922 the chapter held a bridge party and later that month held a rummage sale. An intermediate step was taken in 1923 when the chapter purchased its home at 807 S. Wright St., Champaign. The active chapter was able to contribute to the initial outlay, but the bulk of the funding donations appear to have come from Ruth B. Capron ’23 and her family. At the time, Capron was the

Treasurer of the Building Association, which seems to have been incorporated for this purpose. The purchase of the house on Wright Street was intended to serve two purposes. In addition to housing the chapter until enough money had been raised to acquire their own land, the Building Association planned to physically move the Wright

St. house to lots they would acquire. A brochure sent to alumnae explained that the new home would “provide for the housing of the Active Chapter…until we have secured

14 McIntyre, p. 11; Helen Ludlow, “Beta Lambda History 1916-1917,” and Elizabeth Bradt, “Beta Lambda History (1917-1923),” typescripts in folder “Chapter Histories 1913-1923,” box 1, Kappa Records.

13 sufficient funds to build our new Kappa House…” Architectural plans for the new chapter house had already been drawn up. After acquring the Wright St. property the plans hit two snags. The house required $14,000 in remodeling, nearly equal to the

$18,000 the chapter paid for it. Since the City of Champaign refused permission for the chapter to eventually move the house, Kappa elected to proceed with the remodel. 15

This move represents Beta Lambda’s progress as a chapter. By September the

chapter received help in developing a budget system to deal with their increasingly

complicated finances and probably to systematize their saving for the new house. In the

1910s the chapter had moved to holding open houses for rush instead of multiple parties,

which presumably required less effort. They also made more use of the Interscholastic

weekend at the University, when many highly regarded incoming students were already

in Champaign. This suggests the chapter’s increasing prestige on the campus. By 1924

the reputation of the house was secure enough that the chapter elected to forgo their

spring open house and decided instead “to rush highly recommended girls who were

down for formals and as personal guests.” Another sign that Kappa’s relative position

had changed was a 1926 letter from the Panhellenic Council urging the chapter to “obey

Panhellenic rules more strictly.” The chapter voted against an early Panhellenic proposal

for “stage” rushing in 1927, presumably because they did not need a requirement to visit

all houses to attract rushees. The chapter was in good enough standing by that year to

reject a legacy whose mother had issued a promissory note to the building fund. What all

this suggests is that the chapter’s more settled financial condition appears to have gone

15 Brandt, p. 1.; Minutes 11/3/1919, 11/10/1919, 11/14/1921, 3/13/1922, 3/27/1922, 1919-24 Minute Book, box 6, Kappa Records; Brochure “Proposed New Home…” ca. 1922, in folder “Building Association— Chairmans’ Notebook ca. 1959,” box 2, Kappa Records; “Report to Kappa Kappa Gamma,” folder “Building Association—Custodian’s Report 1923,” box 2, Kappa Records.

14 hand in hand with increasing campus prestige. Obviously Kappas, from the first initiates on, had always considered themselves to be something of an elite. And there are very material reasons why having a larger chapter—the outward sign of the chapter’s social position—would lead to more financial security. But as earlier Kappas seemed quite proud of not having to resort to the dastardly tactics of the Pi Phis to win pledges, the available evidence suggests a subtle shift in attitudes toward rushing rules. 16

At the same time, however, moral and disciplinary concerns seemed to occupy

more of the chapter’s attention. In part this might have been due to increasing chapter

size. In 1918 Kappa’s Illio page shows twenty-three members; their 1924 page, twenty-

nine members; their 1925 page, thirty-three members; and by 1926 the chapter boasted

forty-two members. No doubt this increase in itself necessitated some changes in chapter

rules. In 1924 the actives voted to institute a “black mark” system to keep track of pledge

misbehavior, for example. But changes outside the fraternity played a role as well. In

1920 the chapter voted “that all suggestive forms of dancing be abandoned by Kappas at

every place at school.” It was euphemistically noted in the February 26, 1923 minutes

that, “There was a discussion of the rules and regulations and it was decided to abide by

them in the future.” Later that year the chapter elected to revoke their mandatory 10:45

bed check, on the condition that late nights be kept only for studying. This may have

been honored at first, but two years later the chapter President informed the members that

“It will be necessary to sign in and out if we don’t be more careful about getting in late.”

Chapter officers felt obliged to remind the members in 1925 that “leaving town without

Mrs. Patton’s [chaperone’s] permission is against the rules…,” and later that year that

“There must be absolutely no dancing with men in the house.” The house had it’s first

16 Minutes 9/14/1923, 3/24/1924, 3/8/1926, 11/15/1926, 10/24/1927.

15 full blown morals crisis when members heard that “Reports have been circulating about the campus” concerning the “indiscreet conduct of the girls—those in the annex especially.” The girls had been seen drinking alcohol and smoking in public! The chapter clearly took the situation very seriously, and held a special meeting for the purpose of discussing this question, as the conduct brought “a bad reputation against the chapter and Kappa as a whole.” Interestingly enough, the members rejected a motion to strip the two worst offenders of their chapter offices. Instead they passed a new conduct rule: “any girl who should smoke or drink in public places, or any conspicuous place or should have the smell of liquor on her breath, or who should smoke or drink in the Kappa house, should have her key lifted temporarily and be put on probation for one semester.”

Of course what is most interesting here is what was not said. Drinking alcohol in a private place—say, a men’s fraternity, with breath mints at the ready—was conspicuously absent from the list of prohibited activities. And it is possible that members voted against punishing the two offenders out of something more than sisterly affection. 17

Beta Lambda quite clearly weathered this particular bout of stormy weather, and

of course would face these issues again in later years. The 1920s illustrate that despite

the emotion that was no doubt provoked by such controversy, the chapter could grow and

strengthen itself. The chapter participated enthusiastically in the group of annual campus

events—Homecoming, Dad’s Day, and Mom’s Day—as well as maintaining their

Founder’s Day tradition, annual Christmas party, and spring dance. They also entered

teams in inter-sorority athletics, especially basketball. Little is recorded in the minutes

17 Illio 1919, 1925, 1926, 1927; Minutes 12/1/1924, 11/15/1920, 2/26/1923 12/10/1923; 4/1925, 10/26/1925, 10/12/1925, 1/11/1926, 3/12/1926; by “suggestive forms of dancing” the chapter meant dances

16 about inter-fraternity social events. One reference, however, suggests that the relatively informal tradition of open house parties proved increasingly cumbersome as the number of chapters on campus grew. In 1920 the Panhellenic representative reported that there would only be ten inter-fraternity parties during the school year, the first being hosted by

Kappa Alpha Theta. Hosting an open house on a campus with fifteen men’s and eight women’s fraternities was one thing. But by 1920 there were thirteen women’s and thirty- nine men’s houses, not including local societies, or non-Greek houses like 4-H or Presby

House which sometimes participated in Greek events. As a result, toward the end of the decade Beta Lambda began organizing the type of events that would later metamorphose into exchanges. 18

A central goal of the decade’s efforts was the construction of a new house. The chapter moved into its current location, 1102 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, in 1928 after years of hard work and fundraising by alumnae and actives. The active chapter planned frequent fundraising events and sales in support of the effort, in addition to the required contribution of $100 per member. The chapter held a movie benefit in the fall of 1923, a benefit dance in 1925, and, as construction approached in 1927, made personal visits to alumnae. The new house offered more room to the expanding chapter, promising living space for forty members. Beta Lambda moved into its new home on February 29, 1928.

However, not everything was complete. The chapter spent the next year raising money for new furniture, and only introduced the house to the community after all preparations were complete in 1929. Although that year now is most famous for the stock market crash, it introduced Beta Lambda to the inconvenient realities of owning substantial

like the cakewalk, Lindy Hop, etc., in which the dance partners had more freedom of movement. 18 Minutes 10/11/1920, 1/10/1927 3/31/1927, 3/28/1927, for social events see Minutes, passim.

17 property. Just before a severe blizzard hit the area, a defective gasket in the new house’s furnace caused an explosion. The resulting work kept the Kappas out of their house for several weeks, which they spent split up at other women’s fraternities—Pi Beta Phi,

Kappa Alpha Theta, , and . But the chapter ended that semester on a high note. National Recording Secretary Florence Tomlinson made a chapter visit, and sent the chapter a letter “commending Beta Lambda for the improvements they have made in financial standing.”19

Sources for the 1930s are rather sketchy but it does appear that scholarship was a central concern of the chapter. In the 1920s Beta Lambda had adopted several variations on standard quiet/study hours, which lasted from Monday throught Friday, 8am until

10pm, with exceptions for meal times. But 1929 and 1930 saw the chapter fall all the way to twenty-sixth place among campus sororities in scholarship. By that spring grades were much better, and the house placed third among women’s fraternities. Nevertheless, the alumnae seemed concerned enough to give the chapter a cup, to be inscribed annually with the name of the active member who made the largest improvement in grades over the preceding term. While no records note that Beta Lambda ever placed first in scholarship during this period, Houseworth notes that they placed seventh in both 1931 and 1936. In 1937 Kappa took a decisive step in this direction and began building a book collection in their library. Each member was instructed to bring two books with them in the fall of that year, and a Book Committee was formed and gave a “book shower.”

Alumnae pledged their support and also contributed many volumes to the initial drive. 20

19 Minutes 10/8/1923, 10/12/1925, 3/14/1927, 4/8/1929 ; brochure “Beta Lambda’s New Home” ca. 1928, in folder “Building Association—Chairman’s Notebook ca. 1959,” box 2, Kappa Records; Houseworth, p. 4. 20 Houseworth, p. 5-6; Minutes 4/22/1929, 5/20/1929, 10/28/1929, 11/11/1929, 3/24/1930

18 America’s entry into World War II, as one might expect, significantly changed the chapter’s activities. Perhaps the most symbolic change was a new tradition: the Sadie

Hawkins Dance. In addition to a Western theme, a Sadie Hawkins dance features women asking men for dates instead of vice versa. Since the male population on campus decreased drastically as a result of the war, it might simply have been more convenient for women to ask men to dances. But in more serious ways the chapter’s activities were affected as well. Beta Lambda puchased war bonds, donated money to the Red Cross, and subscribed 100% to the campus War Chest and War Stamps drives. They took active roles in entertaining soldiers stationed at Chanute Field and on campus. In February

1944 for example the chapter held a pie party and dance for servicemen, and provided entertainment for the wounded at Chanute Field hospital. The chapter was affected in other ways as well. Great attention was paid to the members’ ration books; the cook needed their books to purchase food during the year, and the girls needed them back to purchase groceries over the summer. But the normal activities continued at the

University, even in wartime. The 1945 Illio notes that Kappa Mary Jean Karitz was selected May Queen; Margaret Robbins was Phi Beta Kappa, co-chair of Star Course, a

Mortar Board member, and served on a Union committee; Kay House was one of four

Daily Illini editors; several members were also in honorary societies; and the chapter also continued to participate in inter-sorority sports. Chapter minutes record more activities with other women’s fraternities than usual and, not surprisingly, very few with men’s fraternities. The chapter went on picnics with Kappa Alpha Theta and , and had exchange dinners with the Pi Phis, Thetas, and Chi Omega. 21

21 Minutes 3/16/1942, 5/4/1942, 10/26/1942, 11/30/1942, 2/22/1943, 11/29/1943, 2/21/1944, 2/28/1944, 3/6/1944, 1/15/1945, Illio 1945.

19 But at the same time, the chapter experienced internal conflicts of the kind rarely recorded in the typical sources. Centrally these were the same kinds of internal problems the chapter experienced in the 1920s, centering on drinking, although in this case sexual impropriety was at issue as well. The crisis was preceded by some interesting rumblings; the recording secretary noted at the March 25, 1942 chapter meeting that “It was suggested that the seniors be permitted to be absent from chapter meetings if the discussions were to be impertinent.” Amid consistent reports of clothes borrowing and lightbulb stealing, a chapter officer “reminded the girls that no two girls could date the same boy.” The occasional notes continued, prompting alumna Elizabeth Gregory ’30 to lecture the chapter about the meaning of fraternity in January 1942, “urging that the girls realize the full meaning of fraternity life as a lesson in cooperation in social living.”

While clearly these reports in themselves appear as trivial matters, the sequence of events suggests that they might have played an important role, or at least served as an important signal, of deeper problems. Given that the strictures against drinking and sexual impropriety were typically framed in terms of the bad light they would cast on the other members, on Beta Lambda, and on Kappa more generally, it seems plausible that in order for serious offenses against prevailing morality to occur, members would have to in some sense remove themselves from the group. 22

The chapter President called a special meeting January 19, 1944 to discuss the

actions of four girls, two actives and two pledges. All were accused of similar offenses:

“late dating,” “being in the Phi Gam [Phi Gamma Delta] apartment,” as well as more

22 Minutes 3/25/1942, 12/9/1942; . This is of course not to suggest that the social, cultural, and especially institutional context did not play important roles here; I discuss below a later incident in which the role of the Dean of Students et. al. in policing morality is much clearer from the evidence. Obviously members’ morals were quite different in 1940 than they would have been in 1990. Of course it is also perfectly

20 general attitude problems. In response all four girls claimed that other sorority members had done the same, and that there had been drinking in the chapter house. Singling out these four was rather baldly defended in the minutes: “Girls have left evidence of going out after hours. Since we need a full house next semester, steps must be taken and these are the girls who have offended most.” Both actives were placed on six weeks probation and required to turn in their Kappa pins until reinstated. The members voted to refuse to repledge or initiate one of the pledges, while the other was told “the whole chapter wanted to help her,” but that her initiation would be postponed until fall semester. The determining factor here seemed to be that the first pledge not only had inferior grades, but also that “her whole attitude was wrong” and “she had not supported the house in a fitting way.” One of the actives—interestingly enough, the one that seemed to protest the proceedings most adamantly—continued in the chapter and graduated a Kappa. But the other committed what the chapter deemed to be another offense and her membership was revoked.

Even though steps were continually taken, it seemed through the remainder of the period covered by chapter minutes that some Kappas continued to have difficulty obeying the strictures placed on their behavior. In April 1945 one of the officers “reported unfavorable comment on our actions on the campus, and asked that the girls watch their behavior more closely.” Less than a year later a nearly identical warning appeared in the minutes, and later, in 1946, a chapter officer scolded the actives: “The actions of the actives aren’t acceptable as good examples for the pledges.” Less than one month later the chapter was placed on social probation. Two actives were caught having stayed out

possible that the events I discuss here were merely the result of a few “bad apples,” although those bad apples all claimed they were not alone.

21 all night. The whole situation was rather complicated and of course it is impossible to judge the veracity of the various versions of events. In any case, on November 2, 1947 the housemother, Mrs. Emory, was woken up and discovered that many of the house’s doors were unlocked and windows open. She called the police, who took a full report— which included the fact that two members were not in the house at 1am—and who promptly transmitted the report to the University. The chapter president, in a letter to

National Director of Chapters Marty Cox, claimed that the girls had not been drinking, had not asked for the doors or windows to be left open, and that the chapter was convinced the girls “had done nothinh [sic] wrong as far as morals are concerned.” She did aver that “They had been in various small towns around here with three Phi Delta

Thetas in a car which had no university permit.” The two members were prohibited from weekend dating for the remainder of the semester, but the University took much harsher action. The girls were expelled pending appeal from the Student Senate, and the chapter put on social probation (which at that time meant no events involving men) until the end of Spring term. The chapter president noted that “this social probation seems to be quite the fad down here,” as ten other men’s and women’s houses had similar sentences. Cox, in her reply to the president, noted that while the National chose not to punish the chapter for their actions, it was because they felt “We do not need to”:

We do want to point out again how easy it is for things like this to happen, and how important it is for every girl to realize that because she is a member of a group, she is responsible to that group for her own individual actions. Beta Lambda has learned a good many lessons the hard way in the past few years. We hope you have learned them well, and that the lessons will last you a long time. 23

23 Minutes 1/29/1944, 4/1019/44, 2/22/1945, 4/23/1945, 3/18/1946, 11/18/1946, 11/21/1946, 11/25/1946, 12/9/1946 in folders “Chapter Meeting Minutes 1942-47,” box 1, Kappa Records; Nancy ? to Marty Cox

22 The paucity of available source material for the period roughly from 1950-1983

(the year of the last chapter history) is especially evident given the richness of the earlier sources. But the sources available do indicate that Kappas continued to be heavily involved in campus activities, and also demonstrate the continuing growth of the chapter.

After the difficulties the chapter experienced in the 1940s, the 50 th Anniversary of

Beta Lambda in 1949 must have seemed a welcome celebration of what the chapter had been able to achieve. At the previous year’s convention, the three Beta Lambda Phi Beta

Kappas led the chapter to an award for greatest scholarship improvement. And in 1949, the chapter competed strongly at the University Sing and won a second consecutive

Intervarsity Swim title. A later Founder’s Day celebration, in 1955, featured 50-year member Jane Craig’s reading of a poem she had composed for her own initiation.

Several actives dressed up as Founders and related stories about the chapter and their lives. By the early 1950s it was clear that the chapter house had to expand, since it regularly housed over 45 members in a building designed for 40. After another successful fund drive, the chapter did an extensive remodel of their house, increasing the capacity by twelve, and adding a new dining room and chapter room. Jane Seiler ’53 remembers the living room of the Kappa house was the daily social spot. Social activities in her years in college were formals at hotels, exchanges, or dinners at campus men’s fraternities. She remembered a particular party called the ATO Scramble—contestants would make outfits for a Kappa and her date, and the team whose outfit contained the least amount of material won. 24

1/7/1947 (unsigned), folder “Personnel Committee 1944-52, 1960,” box 1, Kappa Records; Cox to ? 2/10/1947, folder “Probation 1947,” box 2, Kappa Records. The girls’ names have been omitted. 24 Houseworth, p. 10-11, 14, 16; Scrapbook 1952, box 4, Kappa Records; Scrapbook 1955-62, box 2, Kappa Records; Scrapbook 1956-57, box 4, Kappa Records; Jane Seiler interview, Kappa Records.

23 Although there are some indications that the 1960s and early 1970s were difficult years for the chapter, members continued to be active on campus and seemed to end the decade more resolute about Beta Lambda and fraternities in general. Houseworth states that anti-fraternity sentiment prompted some members to wear their pins only out of plain view. This sentiment seems to have continued well into the 1970s, as an anonymus male caller made a bomb threat against the chapter in 1971, and even later, in the summer of

1978, most of the house’s windows were shot out. But even in this climate, traditionally

Greek activities were not slighted. Beta Lambda won trophies for both their

Homecoming float and Stunt Show skit in 1965, and in 1973 the chapter boasted the most members of Star Course of any house on campus. Beta Lambdas were regularly honored with memberships in Mortar Board, reflecting their involvement in campus activities.

There are also indications which suggest that the chapter chose to constructively engage in the social change which surrounded them. Kappa hosted the Afro-American Dance

Group in 1969, and started a new cultural program in 1963. The first year the chapter

“had talks on religious beliefs, fraternity goals, and proper etiquette.” But the next year the members focused the program on politics, hosting a talk by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and University Professor on the 1964 election, and later featuring a debate between Beta Lambda Democrats and Republicans. 25

So while the 1960s and early 1970s provided challenges to the Illinois Greek

System, by 1972 it had recovered from its worst doldrums both materially and

psychically. It also seemed to appeal to those who came to oppose what was known as

the “counterculture.” For example, Beta Lambda Cindy Evans, interviewed by a

25 Houseworth, p. 10-11, 14, 16; “Summer Work Done at Beta Lambda,” August 1978, folder “Annex (proposed) and House Repair, 1978,” box 2, Kappa Records.

24 newspaper reporter about her leadership in Block I, remarked “People think all college students are rioting, smoking pot, and causing trouble. I think people should know there are still old fashioned students… Nothing makes me madder than to hear about the long hair hippie type student stereotype.” Janni Piercy ’71 noted in an interview that many of the issues which served as the basis for student protest “did not touch home” for many

Kappas. But generalizations do elide what no doubt was a complex and disparate experience. Alumna Anne Robertson recalls that the events and movements of the 1960s had a far ranging impact “on our sense of purpose.” Robertson said that “Most people cared about rights, responsibilities, and felt that their input would make a difference. I still believe that.” What was clear, though, was that men’s and women’s fraternities were increasingly popular. Robertson notes that she chose to rush mainly because in the dorms, “the whole atmosphere was too much for me.” Although drugs and alcohol were prohibited in the dorms, she noted “you know how that goes,” and by the mid-1970s, when Robertson pledged, there were few regulations on male-female interaction for students to break. In addition to “a more traditional living environment,” Robertson found what generations of pledges have found before and since, “friendships that are truly lasting and the sense that you are part of something bigger than yourself.”

Robertson noted that between 2000-3000 women went through rush each year she was an active. By 1979 the chapter was so large that they purchased an annex at 808 W. Ohio

St., Urbana to house all their members. 26

Fanee Lebkas’ 1983 chapter history describes an amazingly busy Beta Lambda chapter. Each week featured multiple social events, but somehow members found time to

26 Houseworth, p. 10-11, 14, 16; Janni Piercy interview, Kappa Records; Anne Robertson interview 1/16/2002, Kappa Records; “Summer Work Done at Beta Lambda,” August 1978, folder “Annex

25 participate in inter-sorority sports, and no doubt study. The Kappa’s 1983 initiation saw thirty-nine new members enter the chapter—a chapter which had existed for over twenty years before having that many members at once. In addition to winning the Atuis-

Sachem sing with , the chapter had parties or exchanges with Phi Kappa

Psi, Phi Gamma Delta, Beta Theta Pi, , , Epsilon,

Alpha Tau Omega, and ; celebrated Founder’s Day with a dinner, historically-themed style show, and a pledge mother night; participated in a trivia bowl; attended all Illini home football games; held a barn dance; participated in Greek Week; organized twenty-four rush parties for 1800 rushees; held a winter formal, a pledge dance, and a scholarship dinner; nearly emptied the house for Spring Break trips to

Florida; had an exchange dinner with and ; held an Easter party for poor children with ; rented out Kam’s bar for initiation; rented another bar for Halloween with Kappa Alpha Theta; had the annual Out-of-House dinner; and held a “lock-in” at which the chapter watched “Kramer vs. Kramer” and ate thirty- nine pizzas. While some of this activity can obviously be accounted for by the fact that the chapter had well over 100 members by this point, it is nevertheless a testament to the extent to which Beta Lambda, like other chapters at Illinois, unapologetically threw itself into Greek life in the 1980s—even if that Greek life may have been to a great degree quite different from how the Founders envisioned it. 27

The chapter’s activities in the 1990s appear quite similar to those of the 1980s. A

1995-96 Kappa scrapbook shows exchanges with , Delta Upsilon, Pi

Kappa Alpha, Epsilon, , Beta Theta Pi, and Alpha Sigma Theta. In

(proposed) and House Repair, 1978,” box 2, Kappa Records. 27 Fanee Lebkas, “Kappa Kappa Gamma Chapter History 1983,” unprocessed Kappa Records.

26 addition to a barn dance, a semi-formal and formal, the chapter held an elaborate

Founders’ Day event. Beta Lambda also hosted “Kappitat,” a volleyball tournament to benefit Habitat for Humanity. But the similarities coexist with some interesting, if unfinished, changes. Sarah Schilling Ross ’95 noted in an interview that the makeup of the house is now quite different from her years as an active. The extensive building of apartments close to campus, has, she believed, resulted in fewer juniors and seniors living in the house. Because of this, and also in part because of the increased interest in studying abroad, Ross said the chapter’s leaders are younger. Ross, like other interviewees, stresses the central continuity of the chapter. Her favorite memory of the house was “just hanging out with the girls,” and “The friendships you create. Kappas gave us all a home away from home.” 29

Conclusion

Ross’ interview highlights the intimate connection between fraternity life and the status of University housing in the entire community. But as the Kappa history shows, the chapter was directly affected by all different kinds of issues—social reforms, wars, the changing nature of the University—all exerted an influence. But interviewees also highlight an important facet of the fraternity experience, which continues to provide the basis for the life of the institution. Every interviewee always remembers and treasures the friendships they were able to form while in the collegiate chapter.

28 Scrapbook 1995-96, currently at the Kappa Kappa Gamma Chapter house; Sarah Schilling Ross interview, Kappa Records. 29 Scrapbook 1995-96, currently at the Kappa Kappa Gamma Chapter house; Sarah Schilling Ross interview, Kappa Records.

27 Note on Sources:

The main body of source material for this history are the Kappa Kappa Gamma Records,

Record Series 41/72/29 at the Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois.

The Kappa Records contain among other items voluminous minutes, chapter histories written by collegiate members, and an extensive collection of correspondence received by

Katherine L. Sharp regarding Beta Lambda’s colonization. The Stewart S. Howe

Collection, RS 26/20/30 at the Student Life and Culture Archives, contains a history of

Kappa Kappa Gamma through 1930 written by Florence Burton-Ross and May C.

Whiting-Westerman. It also contains a magazine-style history of the fraternity and its chapters which continues through 1975; however, the source of the Beta Lambda account in that volume, Barbara R. Houseworth’s ca. 1972 chapter history, is preserved in its entirety in the Kappa Records.

28