Changes
Xi
,→The Early Years: (From The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma 1870–1976)
Charter members: Carrie Belle DeGraff, Lulu Elizabeth Mann, Cora Miller, Myrta Susannah Myers, May Varney, Martha Jane Walker
Xi Chapter (often pronounced “zigh,” whereas Beta Xi is pronounced “k-zee”)* has the distinction of being the only listing under “X” in the 1870-1930 History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity. And since it bore the name that should would be been Chi’s, it may be said to reflect a bit of the glory. The mix-up occurred because the “i” in “Xi” must have been very small or very light, so the “X” remained and the Minnesota chapter was never known by any other name (although archives pages from the Rho record book list the Minnesota chapter as “Xi”). The troublesome, hard to pronounce, easy to confuse “Xi” was held in abeyance while eight other chapters with a mish-mash of names were installed. Finally, it was used again at Adrian, Michigan.
Adrian College, having evolved from a theological institute that had united itself with a seminary, was founded in 1859, with Dr. Asa Mahan (who had been Oberlin’s first president), as its enterprising first president. That same year it was chartered as a degree-giving institution. In 1868, the trustees transferred sole ownership to the Methodist Protestant denomination.
