Kappa Alpha Theta was founded at DePauw University (once Indiana Asbury University) in Greencastle, Indiana on January 27, 1870, making it the first Greek letter fraternity for women. Bettie Locke Hamilton, founder of Theta, was one of the first few woman, admitted to Asbury in 1867. She was a true believer in equality among women, and wanted to enrich her college experience by uniting with other college women, together creating a place for women in higher education.
She shared her idea with Alice Allen, Bettie Tipton, and Hannah Fitch, and the four of them founded Kappa Alpha Theta. Later that year, Kappa Alpha Theta established a chapter at Indiana University.
By spring of 2008 a group of 80 young woman started the Eta Sigma chapter at Chapman University preserving the Theta ideals of sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership.
