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The Early Years (From The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma 1870–1976)
“Between the hours of twelve and one on Monday, September 20, 1875, Misses Weeks, Weaver, Jones, Church, Stickles, and Bacheller met in Room 11, second floor College Hall and became the founders of the Browning Society.”Thus read the minutes of the first organized meeting of the first women’s society at St. Lawrence University. The society took its name from the poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and took for its aims self-improvement and demonstration of women’s equal capacity and fitness for intellectual advancement. No men were allowed to take part in any strictly society enterprise.
The society first met at members’ homes but soon felt the need for a permanent meeting place and applied for a room at a college building. When the request was not immediately granted, a small room was rented in one of the business blocks in town on March 4, 1876. It was not until 1880 that the society moved into a college building, so it was here that traditions and customs originated. Here the members formulated the earliest St. Lawrence University “honor code” embodied in a series of resolutions against cheating and started the custom of the May Breakfast, now called Strawberry Breakfast.
In 1891, at the unsolicited invitation of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, the Browning Society became Beta Chapter of the Fraternity (given the name of the defunct Beta – St. Mary’s School, Knoxville, Illinois), and Kappa soon found that it had added to its ranks a flourishing, original, and energetic chapter, rich in ritual, insignia, and songs. Athena, the goddess of the Brownings, with her owl, became the watchful guardian of the whole Fraternity. The Fraternity call, the heraldic shield, much of the ritual, and many songs were also adopted.
The seventh Convention of the Fraternity is of special interest. It was held in Canton, New York, during August, 1884. Beta, already known for its original songs as “the singing chapter,” was chosen to publish the first Kappa Kappa Gamma songbook.
Beta was again honored at the Convention of 1890, in Bloomington, Illinois, when Lucy Evelyn Wight (Allan) was elected grand President while still a senior at St. Lawrence University. At this time, Beta was renamed Beta Beta.
In 1898 the Fraternity, feeling that chapters of Kappa Kappa Gamma should be confined to large colleges and universities began to put this policy into effect by voting to withdraw the Beta Beta charter. The members of the chapter objected, and, unable to convince the Grand Council of their right to continue operating under their charter, referred the matter to the courts. Much feeling resulted from the controversy, and in 1903, Beta Beta ceased to be known as an active chapter and was reorganized as Zeta Phi, a local fraternity.
The chapter continued to maintain its high standing. Members lived in their own club house, the first owned by a women’s fraternity at St. Lawrence, occupied by them from the fall of 1900, and purchased by the St. Lawrence Alumnae of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
In May of 1914, Zeta Phi, wishing to enter a national organization and not wishing to give up the loyal Kappa alumnae, petitioned the Fraternity for a charter, and in April, 1915, the petition was granted by vote of the Grand Council, chapters, and alumnae associations. Installation took place the following October, creating the Beta Beta Deuteron chapter was born.
In December of 1915 the chapter held its customary meeting with the alumnae, at which time the new active chapter was presented with the original charter of Beta. It has never been surrendered.
At the 1920 Convention of the Fraternity, Beta Beta Deuteron presented a petition asking special permission to initiate members who had joined the chapter, whatever its name between the years 1898 and 1915. It was an unprecedented request but it was impressive. The strong appeal of the chapter was supported by the Grand Council and by letters from Charlotte Barrell Ware, Boston; Lucy Evelyn Wight Allan, St. Lawrence; and Jean Nelson Penfield, DePauw, all former Grand Presidents. A stirring speech by Tade Hartsuff Kuhns, Butler, first Grand President, brought about a favorable vote of the Convention, and dispensation was granted.In October, 1920, 26 Zeta Phis were initiated as Kappas and from time to time after that other Zeta Phis were also initiated as members of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
With the increase of student activities came a decidedly feminist feeling on the St. Lawrence campus. Largely responsible were four Kappas – Emily Eaton Hepburn, 1886; Lucia Heaton, 1879; Florence Lee Whitman, 1882; and Grace Lynd, 1893 – the only women trustees of the university. A director of women’s athletics was hired in 1926 and since then, all sports and play-days have been open to women.
During the next years St. Lawrence entered upon a period of expansion. New buildings were begun, the campus was landscaped. The Campbellina Pendleton Gaines Out-Door Theatre was erected by Owen D. Young, 1894, in honor of the chapter’s beloved alumna who had been interested in dramatics.
'''Housing'''
Extensive remodeling of the house, including front porch removal and extension of the wings, was begun in 1941. Final renovations were completed in 1967, which left the house as it is today.
'''Philanthropy'''
The giving of Thanksgiving baskets to needy families started in 1949 and is still continued.
In 1963 Alpha Province Convention saw Beta Beta Δ as host chapter, and the spirit of the original, energetic chapter prevails today.