AS K T HE AR C HI V I ST
All About
Alumnae By: Staff Archivist Noraleen DuVall Young, Alpha Chi/Purdue, and Director of Alumnae Engagement Liz Sinnock Drake, Beta/Indiana
Alumnae are an important part of the Theta experience. Once a collegian graduates, she becomes an alumna— not only of her college or university, but also of the Fraternity. The connections made during a member’s undergraduate years continue throughout her life. The role of an alumna has included both support for the college chapter as well as an opportunity to socialize with fellow Thetas, either from her chapter of initiation/affiliation or within her community. Early on, it was alumnae who often helped establish chapters on various campuses around the U.S. and Canada. Alumnae Groups As the number of alumnae grew, Theta began looking at ways to organize and tap into the assistance of this valuable group. In the early years, as permitted by Kappa Alpha Theta’s Constitution at that time, alumnae could continue to vote in their college chapter if they paid dues and attended meetings. With its first issue in June 1885, the Theta Magazine included information about what
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alumnae were doing in their lives and careers: Alumnae in Topeka, Kans. formed an alumnae group in 1889; Alumnae living in Greencastle and Bloomington, Ind., and Chicago, Ill., formed alumnae groups. In as early as 1890, an editorial in the Magazine offered, “Why can’t they revive their old-time enthusiasm for Theta by organizing alumnae chapters?” The 1891 Grand Convention body established alumnae chapters when a “sufficient number” of Thetas desired to organize. Then, the new alumnae chapter could receive a charter and solicit dues from chapter members (very similar to a college chapter). Programming at Grand Conventions and other meetings was then expanded to more specifically include alumnae groups. Alumnae chapters organized around the U.S. and Canada. Beyond the social opportunities offered to their members, the groups supported their local Theta college chapters and began to provide philanthropic support to Theta projects and their local communities. In 1922, alumnae clubs were established: These were groups that operated with fewer
KA P PA A L P HA T H E TA MAGA Z I N E
Why Alumnae and not Alumni? Alumnae (pronounced uh-lum-nee) is the feminine version of alumni; similarly, alumna is the feminine version of alumnus. As an organization defined as women members, Theta utilizes the feminine versions of this verbiage pertaining to college graduates.