Kappa Kappa Gamma has 136 chapters, more than 230,000 initiated members and over 300 active alumnae associations. Founded in 1870, she is one of the oldest  and largest women’s Greek Letter Organizations in the world. At the time of her founding, the term ‘sorority’ had not yet been coined, and so Kappa is in fact a Women’s Fraternity.

Of the three Panhellenic sororities in existence at Johns Hopkins University, nationally Kappa Kappa Gamma is the oldest and by far the largest. Kappa has a national reputation as one of the most prestigious sororities a young woman can join.

Our Founding


Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, on October 13, 1870, by six pioneering young women.  Minnie Stewart, Anna Willits, Susan Walker, Jeannie Boyd, Lou Bennett and Lou Stevenson declared their intent by marching into the college chapel, the most public place on campus, wearing golden keys in their hair. This event is celebrated every year on Kappa Kappa Gamma Founder’s Day, during which Hopkins Kappas hand out free cupcakes to students on the Breezeway and hold a party in which Kappa alumnae and collegiates 
are united in their love for the Fraternity.

At the time of our founding, Kappa Alpha Theta was the world's only other greek letter organization for women. Theta had been founded just a few months earlier at DePauw University. For this reason, Kappa Kappa Gamma is often considered the world's second oldest sorority. Several other women's groups, including I.C. Sorosis (which would later become Pi Beta Phi), The Aldephian Society (later, Alpha Delta Pi) and The Philomathean Society (later, Phi Mu) were also in existence at the time, but did not become greek organizations until many years later.

Eta Epsilon Chapter

Eta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded on October 23rd, 1999, at Johns Hopkins University by a close-knit group of friends who sought to establish a new sorority distinct from those in existence at the time. 

The Charter Members of Eta Epsilon Chapter

Eta Epsilon chapter is currently composed of over 80 extraordinary young women from many different backgrounds, states and majors. The chapter supports a number of local philanthropies as well as national ones and works hard to give back to the community. The chapter's average GPA is consistently higher than the All-Undergraduate, All-Female and All-Greek GPAs. Our sisters pride themselves on being active campus leaders, scholars, athletes and friends.

Sisters bond and grow as Kappas through sisterhood events held throughout the semester. These may be as informal as a group of sisters having weekly Kore dinners, meeting up to watch America's Next Top Model every Wednesday, or renting a Hopkins van to shop at Arundel Mills for the day. However the sorority also sponsors trips for the whole chapter such as cosmic bowling, pumpkin picking, laser tag, ice skating, horseback riding and an annual Chapter Retreat. The sorority also puts on a number of Date Parties, Mixers, Crush Parties and Formals every year. Part of being a sister in Kappa Kappa Gamma is finding a new group of friends to have fun with! All of these events are free for sisters and their dates.

Accepting the Panhellenic Award at National Convention 2008
L-R: Former Chapter President, Province Director of Chapters,
Fraternity Panhellenic Adviser and Regional Director of Chapters.

Our Badge

The badge of Kappa Kappa Gamma is a golden key bearing her letters. 
The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated sisters. 

New Members who have not yet been initiated wear 
the new member pin: the Sigma within the Delta.

The meaning of these badges is secret and is revealed upon Initiation.

Our Symbols

The colors of the Fraternity are light blue and dark blue, which have been described as those shades which in light and dark tones reproduce the "soft velvety blue approaching the cornflower in shade." 

The Fraternity jewel is the sapphire, which is recognized as a symbol of truth, sincerity and constancy.

The fleur-de-lis was chosen as the Fraternity flower because of its general dignity, stateliness and grace, and because it bears the two blues of the Fraternity. Because the fleur de lis is a mythical flower, the iris is often used in its place in Fraternity affairs.

In addition to the sapphire and the fleur de lis, the symbols of Kappa Kappa Gamma also include the owl and the key.  The owl is the bird of Minerva, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. The meaning of the key is kept secret by our sisters.

Our Mission Statement

Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity is an organization of women, which seeks for every member throughout her life bonds of friendship, mutual support, opportunities for self-growth, respect for intellectual development, and an understanding of and an allegiance to positive ethical principles.