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→The Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870-1976)
As long ago as 1936, Rheva Ott Shryock, Beta Alpha- Pennsylvania, included in her extension report a recommendation that "...we should thoroughly familiarize ourselves with conditions at Vanderbilt University where the registration of women has been steadily increasing." However, in 1937 the Fraternity Proceedings contained a few discouraging words that no move would be taken at the present time for colonization at Vanderbilt.
By the time 1937 had become 1973, however, Kappa had installed a chapter in Nashville. The Fraternity had been petitioned by the Philean Society and University Chancellor Alexander Heard extended an invitation to Kappa to establish a chapter, the first National Panhellenic Conference group to be invited to the campus since 1954. The Philean Society dated back only to February, 1972, when a group of about five decided, after rush, that another club was needed. The Independent Women's Association had folded and there was no social group available for unaffiliated women. The Philean Society began as a non-Greek social club, existed as an open group, and was encouraged by the dean. By common consent, Carolyn Kraft was in charge. By March, the Phileans had been invited to become associate members of Panhellenic, which involved some organization on the part of the group. Carolyn Kraft was elected president, and everyone else became an officer. (Some became two officers.) The Panhellenic Council encouraged national affiliation and was very helpful. In the fall of 1972, only nine were left to rush and four girls joined. All four became important officers later. This "baker's dozen" won the APO Blood Drive for the second time, enjoyed the Homecoming buffet, had parties, and weekly dinner meetings. They realized that a decision must be made about national affiliation. By the time the final vote was taken the Phileans knew exactly what they wanted in a national fraternity and on April 1, 9173, the final vote was Kappa Kappa Gamma unanimously. The decision was given to the university. On July 1, the answer came from Kappa Headquarters that there would be a new chapter at Vanderbilt University. Epsilon Nu had the distinction of sharing its installation date, October 13, 1973, with the anniversary of Kappa's Founders' Day. Gamma Pi was the installing chapter. Installation took place at St. Augustine's chapel on the campus with the significance of the occasion heightened by the presence of two 50-year members, former Nashville residents, Margaret Aldrich Kruger, Xi- Adrian, and Mildred (Maude) Miner Fisher, Kappa- Hillsdale. Alice Hardison Huffman, Gamma Delta- Purdue, was marshal. After installation, six girls were pledge in the chapter room of Branscomb Quadrangle. At the installation banquet at Hillwood Country Club that night, Betty Pritchard Dunn, Delta Rho- Mississippi, wife of the governor of Tennessee, was among the guests. Lucile "Lucy" Blue Van Voorhoees, Delta Beta- Duke, was toastmistress. Lucy Ann Hughston, Gamma Pi president, offered a toast, and Rebecca Joan Dilcher, Epsilon Nu president, responded. Sally Moore Nitschke, Beta Nu- Ohio State, summarized greetings sent the new chapter, and after an interesting talk by the vice chancellor of Vanderbilt, Marian Schroeder Graham, Beta Phi- Montana State, Fraternity president, supervised the closing ritual. The next day the Nashville Alumnae Association entertained in honor of the new chapter in Branscomb formal lounge. The charter members of Epsilon Nu presented Jean Hess Wells, Delta Upsilon- Georgia, director of chapters, with a fruitwood tray which had needlepoint under glass with EN, KKG, 1973 over a fleur de lis, done in blue and blue. Epsilon Nu was the eighth chapter which Jean Wells had helped to install. At the 1974 Convention in Columbus, Deborah Dukes, Epsilon Nu's second president, enthusiastically told of her Kappa affiliation. Sarah Harris Rowe, Upsilon- Northwestern, Kappa's ranking president, looked on with pride as her granddaughter, (Sarah) Ann Kanaga, an Epsilon Nu pledge, spoke before the convention. Also in the audience was Rheva Shryock, a delighted member, who had had reason to believe 38 years earlier that Vanderbilt would be worth looking into as a site for a Kappa chapter.
==Highlights of 2012==
