| Letters: | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ |
| Kappa Sigma Kappa | |
| Crest: | Kappa Sigma Kappa Crest (Restored).png |
| Alt: | KSK |
| Birthplace: | Virginia Military Institute |
| Affiliation: | Independent |
| Status: | Defunct |
| Defunct Date: | 1992 |
| Type: | Social |
| Scope: | International |
| Flower: | Purple iris |
| Publication: | The Iris of Kappa Sigma Kappa |
| Chapters: | 30 (third iteration) |
| City: | Lexington |
| State: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
Kappa Sigma Kappa (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ) is the name of three separate college fraternities, sharing a common history and traditions but disconnected by decades and a break in organizational continuity. The original incarnation of Kappa Sigma Kappa was formed at Virginia Military Institute on . Most of its active chapters merged into Phi Delta Theta in .
A larger, second incarnation sparked by the memory of the first group at the University of Virginia was formed approximately fifty years after the first merger, leading to the creation of over seventy new chapters. Many of these would later merge into Theta Xi in . Some of Kappa Sigma Kappa's chapters were unable to join in this merger due to NIC rules, leading to a third incarnation of the fraternity. In the late 's, this third edition of Kappa Sigma Kappa dissipated as a formal entity. One chapter remained active until .
Kappa Sigma Kappa was founded at Virginia Military Institute on, by four cadets:
On that night, 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 .
After the closure of several chapters, five of its remaining chapters became part of Phi Delta Theta in . One chapter merged into Sigma Nu.[1] [2]
The badge was 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.
These are the chapters of the first iteration of Kappa Sigma Kappa, many of which left to join Phi Delta Theta in . Inactive chapters and institutions are listed in italics.
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | – | Virginia Military Institute | Lexington, Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΘ) | [3] | |
| Epsilon | – | Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΘ) | ||
| Zeta | – | Virginia A&M College | Blacksburg, Virginia | Inactive | [4] | |
| Delta | – | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | Inactive | ||
| Eta | – | Emory and Henry College | Emory, Virginia | Inactive | ||
| Upsilon | – | Randolph–Macon College | Ashland, Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΘ) | ||
| Nu | – | University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΘ) | ||
| Rho | – | Bethel Military Academy | Warrenton, Virginia | Inactive | ||
| Omega | – | University of North Carolina | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΘ) | ||
| Alpha | – | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΝ) |
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. 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 . Seven chapters of the new Kappa Sigma Kappa were established before World War II.
After the war, the fraternity emphasized 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 allowed several chapters on campuses of unaccredited schools, and as a result, Kappa Sigma Kappa was unable to obtain membership in the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC). 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 it 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 . As a result of the merger, twenty-one chapters of Kappa Sigma Kappa located at accredited schools became chapters of Theta Xi.[5] In addition, one further chapter of Kappa Sigma Kappa at Lawrence Technological University joined when the school was accredited.[5] Each of the chapters was given a new Greek-letter chapter designation that was prefaced by the letter Kappa.
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 its 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.[6] [7]
Inactive chapters and institutions are noted in italics. [8] [9]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | – | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | Inactive | ||
| Pi | – | Lebanon Valley College | Annville, Pennsylvania | Withdrew (local) | ||
| Pi (2) | – | Wofford College | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΣΦ) | ||
| Beta | – | Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | Inactive | ||
| Theta | – | Texas College of Mines | El Paso, Texas | Inactive | ||
| Iota | – | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, Ohio | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Lambda | – | Waynesburg College | Waynesburg, Pennsylvania | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΧ) | ||
| Mu | – | New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas, New Mexico | Inactive | ||
| Nu | – | University of Illinois | Champaign, Illinois | Inactive | ||
| Kappa | – | Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College | Monticello, Arkansas | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Upsilon | – | Randolph–Macon College | Ashland, Virginia | Inactive | ||
| Omicron | – | Fairmont State College | Fairmont, West Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Rho | –19xx ? | University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Inactive | ||
| Xi | – | Concord College | Athens, West Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Phi Delta | – | Fort Hays Kansas State College | Hays, Kansas | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΚΛ) | ||
| Sigma | – | Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Tau | – | Eastern Illinois State College | Charleston, Illinois | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΚΑ) | ||
| Chi | – | Arizona State College | Flagstaff, Arizona | Inactive | ||
| Florida Alpha | – | University of Tampa | Tampa, Florida | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΤΚΕ) | ||
| Psi | – | Central Missouri State College | Warrensburg, Missouri | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΧ) | ||
| Michigan Alpha | –19xx ? | Detroit Institute of Technology | Detroit, Michigan | Inactive | ||
| West Virginia Gamma | – | Morris Harvey College | Charleston, West Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| West Virginia Delta | – | Glenville State College | Glenville, West Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Illinois Gamma | – | Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Indiana Beta | – | Ball State College | Muncie, Indiana | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Maryland Alpha | – | University of Baltimore | Baltimore, Maryland | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ revival) | ||
| British Alpha | – | Northern Polytechnic Institute | London, England | Inactive | ||
| New Zealand Alpha | – | University of Canterbury | Christchurch, New Zealand | Inactive | ||
| Tasmania Alpha | – | University of Hobart | Hobart, Tasmania | Inactive | ||
| California Alpha | – | Sacramento State College | Sacramento, California | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΣΦ) | ||
| Arkansas Beta | – | Henderson State Teachers College | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Canadian Alpha | – | University of Manitoba | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Inactive | ||
| Michigan Beta | – | Lawrence Institute of Technology | Southfield, Michigan | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Ohio Delta | – | University of Toledo | Toledo, Ohio | Inactive | ||
| Georgia Alpha | –19xx | Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | Inactive | ||
| Iowa Alpha | –19xx | Upper Iowa University | Fayette, Iowa | Inactive | ||
| Ohio Epsilon | – | Cedarville College | Cedarville, Ohio | Inactive | [10] | |
| California Beta | –19xx ? | Stanford University | Stanford, California | Inactive | [11] | |
| California Beta | 1948–19xx ? | Sacromento Junior College | Sacromento, California | Inactive | ||
| California Gamma | – | Armstrong College | Berkeley, California | Inactive | ||
| California Delta | – | San Jose State College | San Jose, California | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΣΦΕ) | [12] | |
| Lambda Mu | –19xx | Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Inactive | ||
| Illinois Delta | –19xx ? | Eureka College | Eureka, Illinois | Inactive | ||
| New York Alpha | – | University of Buffalo | Buffalo, New York | Inactive | ||
| Illinois Epsilon | – | Chicago Technical College | Chicago, Illinois | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ revival) | ||
| Virginia Beta ? | – | Old Dominion University | Richmond, Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| New York Beta | – | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, New York | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Michigan Gamma | – | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΥ) | [13] | |
| Ohio Zeta | – | Defiance College | Defiance, Ohio | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Michigan Delta | – | University of Detroit | Detroit, Michigan | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Pennsylvania Gamma | – | Widener University | Chester, Pennsylvania | Inactive | ||
| California Iota | –19xx ? | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | Inactive | [14] [15] | |
| California Zeta ? | ?–19xx ? | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | Inactive | [16] | |
| Illinois Zeta | –19xx ?, –19xx ? | Quincy College | Quincy, Illinois | Inactive | [17] [18] | |
| New York Gamma | – | Erie County Technical Institute | Buffalo, New York | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ revival) | ||
| North Carolina Alpha | – | Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory, North Carolina | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | [19] | |
| Missouri Beta | – | Saint Louis University | St. Louis, Missouri | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΣΦ) | ||
| Michigan Epsilon | – | Wayne State University | Detroit, Michigan | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | [20] | |
| Virginia Alpha | –19xx ? | College of William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia | Inactive | ||
| Michigan Zeta | – | Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, Michigan | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΤΚΕ) | ||
| Michigan Eta | – | Ferris State University | Big Rapids, Michigan | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | [21] | |
| Indiana Gamma | –, – | Trine University | Angola, Indiana | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ revival), Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣ) | ||
| New York Delta | – | Russell Sage College | Troy, New York | Inactive | ||
| New York Epsilon | – | Alfred State College | Alfred, New York | Withdrew (local) | ||
| Michigan Gamma (2) | – | Kettering University | Flint, Michigan | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | [22] | |
| Rhode Island Alpha | – | University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy | Providence, Rhode Island | Inactive | [23] | |
| West Virginia Eta | – | West Virginia Wesleyan College | Buckhannon, West Virginia | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| New York Zeta | – | Utica College | Utica, New York | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | ||
| Illinois Eta | – | Northern Illinois University | DeKalb, Illinois | Inactive | ||
| North Carolina Beta | – | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Merged (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΘΞ) | [24] | |
| New York Eta | – | Westchester Community College | Valhalla, New York | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ revival) | ||
| New York Theta | –19xx ? | Hudson Valley Community College | Troy, New York | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ revival) |
Several chapters were noted by the Archive as forming post-merger with the support of the remaining chapters of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ. This was the "third iteration" of the fraternity. These are listed separately, below.
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.
Chapters held over into the third iteration of the Kappa Sigma Kappa or created after the merger, include the following. Inactive institutions and chapters are in italics.
| Chapter | Date | College or University | Location | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland Alpha | – ? | University of Baltimore | Baltimore, Maryland | Inactive | ||
| Illinois Epsilon | – | Chicago Technical College | Chicago, Illinois | Inactive | ||
| New York Gamma | – | Erie County Technical Institute | Buffalo, New York | Inactive | ||
| Illinois Zeta ? | –19xx ?, –19xx ? | Quincy College | Quincy, Illinois | Inactive | ||
| Indiana Gamma | – | Tri-State University (now Trine University) | Angola, Indiana | Withdrew (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣ) | ||
| New York Eta | – | Westchester Community College | Valhalla, New York | Inactive | ||
| New York Theta | –19xx ? | Hudson Valley Community College | Troy, New York | Inactive | ||
| New Jersey Alpha | –197x ? | Mercer County Community College | Trenton, New Jersey | Inactive | ||
| Pennsylvania Alpha | – | Spring Garden College | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Inactive | ||
| Missouri Alpha | –197x ? | Finlay Engineering College | Kansas City, Missouri | Inactive | ||
| Texas Alpha | –197x ? | University of Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi, Texas | Inactive | ||
| Maryland Beta | 196x– | Baltimore College of Commerce | Baltimore, Maryland | Consolidated (MD Alpha chapter) | ||
| New York Kappa Colony | 1994–197x ? | State University of New York, Brockport | Brockport, New York | Inactive |
There may have been up to 30 chapters in this third iteration of the fraternity. While not listed in Baird's Archive (as of), the Quincy College Gyrfalcon yearbook of notes re-establishment of Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΚΣΚ on that campus that year, occurring post-merger as part of the third iteration of the fraternity. That same reference notes there being 30 chapters of the fraternity at that time. Thus some chapters may be missing from this third chapter list.