Gamma Theta
Drake University established in 1881 in Des Moines, Iowa
Founded April 30, 1921
2,080 initiates (as of spring 2011)
Some of Chapter’s Outstanding Alumnae:
Fraternity Council Officers: Marjorie Kyes Amend, Director of Membership (1946-1948) Florence Tomlinson Wallace, Grand President (1930-1932), National Registrar (1928-1930)
Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:
Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients: June Braun Bent, 2010, World War II WASP pilot, awarded Congressional Gold Medal Karen Kolbe Goodenow, 1998, Longtime leader within the National Association of the State Boards of Education Mary Elizabeth Kelly, 1966, Lieutenant colonel and deputy director of the Women’s Army Corps; fiscal officer
The Early Years The foundations of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, were laid by men of broad vision and liberal culture. When General Francis Marion Drake was appealed to for an initial gift of $20,000, he replied that he could and would do it and to go ahead with the building. A modest frame building was erected, followed immediately by Old Main, which stood at the center of the group of first buildings.
The day Gamma Theta Chapter was installed at Drake University by Sarah B. Harris (Rowe), Northwestern, Grand President of Kappa Kappa Gamma, was one of the most momentous days in the annals of Fraternity history. The date was April 30, 1921. On that day the chapters of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Gamma and Chi Omega were established on the Drake campus. Epsilon Tau Sigma, the petitioning local sorority which had been organized at Drake in February, 1903, was the first of the petitioning groups at the school to receive an answer to its petition. Word had been received on March 14, 1921, that Kappa Kappa Gamma had granted it a charter. Inasmuch as charters were soon granted to the other three local sororities, the national councils of the four fraternities conferred and decided to enter the university on the same day, thereby giving each group an equal start on the campus. This decision doubtless accomplished much in promoting congeniality and a true Panhellenic spirit.
When one looks through the archives and reads through the reports of each year’s activities and the honors won by the chapter and by individual members, it is difficult to decide whether Gamma Thetas are athletes, beauties, activity girls, or bookworms.
In its first year, Gamma Theta won first place in scholarship, and since then the scholarship trophy has often been at the Kappa house.
The Kappas have had, perhaps, more than their share of the homecoming queens, princesses, queen’s attendants, D Club sweethearts and Quax beauties.
When outstanding representative Drake women are elected, Kappas again are winners. In 1924, out of the three girls chosen as Representative Drakes, two were Kappas. In 1943, a member was elected Miss Drake and then caused a great sensation on campus when she was chosen Drake Relays Queen—the first time a Drake woman had been given the honor. Gamma Theta contributed a winner to the Miss Iowa contest in 1953. Fraternity sweethearts, too, were common in the chapter. The athletic awards captured by the chapter read like something from the sports pages. They are good sports and good at sports also.
Each year many Gamma Thetas were elected to the honorary organizations on the campus in recognition of their abilities. Long lists of Kappas’ names were on the membership rolls of Sieve and Shears, Margaret Fuller Club, Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities, as well as music, drama, education and other such organizations.
Gamma Theta leadership was shown through the work done on the campus publications. The Quax was at times been edited by Kappas, and other Gamma Thetas served as business managers. The weekly edition of the Times-Delphic had Kappas on the staff nearly every year. Kappawise, Gamma Theta’s chapter news publication won the award for the best mimeographed paper at the KKG General Convention in 1958, when Julia Brower (Lyon) was editor.
All years have not been a round of social activities mixed in with the academic endeavors. The war years found the Kappas at Drake doing their share of war work and going without. To read their accounts, they went without almost everything—including men. Social activities were limited to small house dances and inter-sorority exchanges. Kappas won some degree of fame, however, through serenades to Army Air-Corps students.
During the 1942–43 school year, the chapter voted to donate all but their three most recently won trophy cups to the metal salvage drive. That was the year that Gamma Theta had the honor of having Miss Drake, the Relays Queen and the Editor of the Quax.
A French student from Algeria entered Drake as a Kappa exchange student in 1939. Europe’s war and the Atlantic’s submarine peril prevented an active from being Drake’s exchange student to the University of Toulouse, France.
Gamma Theta claimed “Mrs. America of 1960,” Margaret King Priebe of Des Moines.
The previous information was excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, 1870-1976. The information that follows has been gleaned from available resources including Chapter History Reports, chapter meeting minutes, letters and comments from chapter members and alumnae, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Archives, and The Key. Each chapter is expected to update its history record annually. Contact Fraternity Headquarters at kkghq@kkg.org with questions.
Highlights of the 1970s
From chapter’s History Report: During the 1970’s Gamma Theta emerged on campus as one of the leading sororities. The had the most improved G.P.A.( exceeding 3.0) as well as being honored for most involved chapter with Honorable Mention at Province in 1976. Gamma Theta’s sisterly bonds grew as it met quota for each fall rush and created bonds of sisterhood that would never be forgotten. Through these years the ladies of the Gamma Theta chapter also participated in the Bulldog Olympics making the Kappa name on campus great.
Housing: During the 1970’s chapters of other Greek organizations were closing on campus, but Kappa thrived and gained steam through successful Recruitment and an increased emphasis on academics.
Philanthropy: In 1971, the Revitalization Corps in Des Moines, Iowa had 11-12 Gamma Thetas volunteer to work with the underprivileged of Des Moines by tutoring, serving free meals, counseling former mental patients and supervising youth recreation.
Chapter Convention Awards:
Highlights of the 1980s:
Philanthropy: Gamma Theta participated in and hosted philanthropic activities that benefited Drake and the Des Moines community. Some events that the chapter held were dance-marathons and a Halloween party for underprivileged first graders in a local school. A favorite event to be involved in was the Iowa Lung Walk-a-thon for the American Lung Association, but the most well know event was the Drake Relays. This is an annual, nationally recognized track-and-field event. During the week leading to the event there are activities and competitions between many campus organizations. Gamma Theta members created floats to proudly show off Kappa to the Drake community!
Chapter Convention Awards:
Highlights of the 1990s Panhellenic constantly changed the schedule for rush (now called Recruitment) during the 1990’s. By the the end of the decade it was condensed into a three day event. Like Panhellenic, the chapter also had a tradition of frequently changing the themes from year-to-year for their various rush parties. This helped keep the members excited for membership recruitment.
Housing: In 1991, the Gamma Theta house was renovated which generated a lot of excitement among the actives. There 128 women in the chapter after pledging 34 new members. During the nineties, members of Gamma Theta were the beneficiary of a robust House Board and were the recipients of constant updating and decorating. In the summer of 1998, the House Board restored the house to what it originally looked like when the chapter was founded in 1921.
Philanthropy: Gamma Theta excelled in their philanthropic spirit and by the end of the 1998 school year they had fulfilled their goal of raising $10,000 for Project 2000. They enjoyed hosting their annual Chili Kook-off to benefit the recipients of Rose McGill and also participated in several other community and Panhellenic philanthropic events.
Chapter Convention Awards:
Highlights of 2000-2010 At Province meeting Gamma Theta received the following awards: Most Improved Chapter, Honorable Mention for Outstanding Achievement in Programming, and Honorable Mention for Outstanding Achievement in Scholarship and Programming. The chapter was also recognized during Greek Week with the Dean of Students Award.
In 2007, the chapter welcomed an incredibly large pledge class. Gamma Theta members were active in other campus organizations such as; Student Senate, American Marketing Association, Drake Magazine, and fraternities of business and pharmacy. Taking it one step further, many of the members also held leadership positions in other campus organizations.
When Gamma Theta incurred standards and financial reporting hurdles, the members quickly took action and developed plans which increased chapter morale and accountability.
Philanthropy:
In the spring and fall of 2005 Gamma Theta won Alpha Phi and Delta Gamma's philanthropy events and placed second in both Sigma Chi Derby Days and the Sig Ep's philanthropy. Kappa Kasino, had the best turn-out in its history during 2007 and raised approximately $3,700 that went directly to the Heart Connection.
Chapter Convention Awards:
6/30/08 Standards Honorable Mention
6/30/06 New Member Program Honorable Mention
6/30/06 Sally Moore Nitschke Lifelong Education Honorable Mention
6/30/06 Standards Honorable Mention
6/30/00 Panhellenic Honorable Mention
Highlights of 2011-2019 From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
Housing:
Philanthropy:
Chapter Convention Awards:
Highlights of 2020s:
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
Housing:
Philanthropy:
Chapter Convention Awards:
Note to Chapter Registrar: Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.
Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!
