![]() ![]() ![]() Aislinn herself understands the power of history: pinned to her blouse, beside her own KKG key, is a fleur-de-lis pin originally worn by an ancestor during the late 1800s. “It may be more legend than fact,” admits Aislinn Lowry ’10, current vice-president of standards for the Epsilon chapter, but the wheel is still a potent symbol of the literal and metaphorical journeys that KKG’s early founders took. According to Kappa lore, she later saved one of the wheels from her carriage as a memento of the journey. In the basement of the KKG house on Graham Street is a battered, wooden carriage wheel bearing a small plaque: “On a dark night in 1873,” it reads, Kate Ross drove home to Bloomington from Monmouth College, carrying the news of the founding of a women’s fraternity at that school and the inspiration to provide the same opportunity to the women of Wesleyan. ![]() Ross, who founded the Epsilon chapter of KKG in 1873, along with her classmates Kate Graves and Millie Clark. And the first woman admitted to IWU was none other than Kate B. That model was also adapted by the Monmouth women who founded Kappa Kappa Gamma in 1870 - the same year that Illinois Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees allowed women to enroll for the first time. In 1867, 12 women at Monmouth College founded Alpha Delta, the first female fraternity in the Midwest and the first to use the men’sįraternity as its model. In 1851, the first-ever collegiate society for women, now known as Alpha Delta Pi, was established at Wesleyan College. But now I find myself reflecting on all the women who have made Kappa, with 134 collegiate chapters and almost 300 alumnae associations, what it is today. No one has ever asked me to explain the bonds of sisterhood or why, as the oldest chapter continually in existence, the Epsilon KKG remains such a vital institution. In the 35 years since my initiation into KKG, I had not given much thought to my chapter’s history. The effort brought into focus my own Kappa experience as well as the larger context of the history of the Illinois Wesleyan Epsilon chapter, which celebrates its 135th anniversary this year. My curiosity set in motion a series of e-mails and phone calls to learn who Eleanor Ann Jones was and to find out how to get her key safely returned to the Epsilon chapter. With all this in mind, I wondered, how in the world did a key end up for sale on eBay? The key may also be returned to a sister’s chapter house or Kappa’s national headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, where the Heritage Museum - which “acquires, preserves and presents Kappa memorabilia” - is located. Considered Kappa for a lifetime, a sister may have her badge buried with her, or left to a female family member who becomes a Kappa. Like many national Greek letter organizations, Kappas are asked to make their wishes for their badges known to their families. 13, 1870, by marching into required chapel service wearing keys in their hair adorned with the letters KKG so the student body would learn of the new women’s fraternity.īecause of its symbolic importance, keys can be worn only by Kappa members and may not be lent or given away except to fellow members. In fact, the six founding members announced the formation of their new group at Monmouth College in Illinois on Oct. Like thousands of women before and after me, I’d pledged that day, among other things, to protect my badge.Ĭhosen to signify “unlocking the hidden mysteries in Science, Literature and Art,” the Kappa golden-key pin is the first and oldest sign of Kappa membership. Most of all, I recalled the overwhelming pride I felt as my own shining Kappa key was pinned on my sweater, its significance almost impossible to forget. I sat, stunned by the image on my computer screen, overcome with memories of my own college days - the pledges, ceremonies and the meaning behind several generations of sisterhood. Our in store shop in South Milwaukee will be CLOSED during this time April 22 - May 7, but you may still place online orders and we will have them shipped as soon as possible.It was listing number 320277033796 on eBay, under the heading “Kappa Kappa Gamma, Historical Memorabilia, Jewelry.” The little golden Kappa key was available on auction for $349 and engraved with the name of a sister, Eleanor Ann Jones, initiated into the Illinois Wesleyan Epsilon chapter on March 9, 1940. ![]() We are pleased to be featured as one of the designers in the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Fashion Show and as a Vendor at the car show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Or book an appointment by emailing HoursĪpril 22-May 7 SHOP HOURS ARE CLOSED FOR VIVA Hours may change due to special events, and we are available for later evening hours if needed. Typically we have OPEN shopping hours Mon-Fri 11AM-5PM and 916 Milwaukee Ave, South Milwaukee, WI 53172 ![]()
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