History of Sigma Kappa
Colby College in Waterville, Maine was the first college in New England to admit women on an equal basis with men students. The first woman student was admitted in 1871, and for two years Mary Caffrey Low was the only woman student at Colby College. In 1873, four more young women from Maine, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller, Frances Mann and Louise Helen Coburn were admitted to Colby and the five young women found themselves together frequently. During the school year of 1873-74, the five young women decided to form a literary and social society. They were told by the college administration that they needed to present a constitution and bylaws with a petition requesting permission to form Sigma Kappa Sorority. They began work during that year with an eager glow of enthusiasm. Their purpose at the outset was that the sorority should become what it is now, a national organization of college women. On November 9, 1874, the five young women received a letter from the faculty approving their petition. Thus, this date has since been considered our Founder's Day.
Symbols and Insignia
Colors:
Louise Helen Coburn's early reminiscences give us her memory of white as the color favored in the early days of Sigma Kappa. She said that lavender and maroon, as our colors, occur in the minutes of June 1891. They were being used then and apparently had been approved earlier.
Flower:
Violets were loved by all Sigma Kappas from the beginning. The delicate flowers grew wild along the banks of the Messalonskee River where the founders sat and dreamed of Sigma Kappa. In June 1892, the violet was adopted as our national flower. The flower was thought to belong to the days of promise as is Sigma Kappa.
Symbols:
The dove was accepted as an official symbol of Sigma Kappa at the 1984 convention and the heart was adopted at the 1988 convention. Both symbols signify the love felt by members across the country.
Jewel:
The pearl is the official jewel of Sigma Kappa. It is recognized as a symbol of purity and gracious character. The pearl has been the sorority jewel since 1920.
Triangle Badge:
On March 7, 1894, the triangle badge was chosen with "unjeweled maroon enamel, if possible." Jeweled badges were approved at the 1915 convention when the pearl was adopted as our national jewel. Unjeweled badges have a scroll edge.
Colby College in Waterville, Maine was the first college in New England to admit women on an equal basis with men students. The first woman student was admitted in 1871, and for two years Mary Caffrey Low was the only woman student at Colby College. In 1873, four more young women from Maine, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller, Frances Mann and Louise Helen Coburn were admitted to Colby and the five young women found themselves together frequently. During the school year of 1873-74, the five young women decided to form a literary and social society. They were told by the college administration that they needed to present a constitution and bylaws with a petition requesting permission to form Sigma Kappa Sorority. They began work during that year with an eager glow of enthusiasm. Their purpose at the outset was that the sorority should become what it is now, a national organization of college women. On November 9, 1874, the five young women received a letter from the faculty approving their petition. Thus, this date has since been considered our Founder's Day.
Symbols and Insignia
Colors:
Louise Helen Coburn's early reminiscences give us her memory of white as the color favored in the early days of Sigma Kappa. She said that lavender and maroon, as our colors, occur in the minutes of June 1891. They were being used then and apparently had been approved earlier.
Flower:
Violets were loved by all Sigma Kappas from the beginning. The delicate flowers grew wild along the banks of the Messalonskee River where the founders sat and dreamed of Sigma Kappa. In June 1892, the violet was adopted as our national flower. The flower was thought to belong to the days of promise as is Sigma Kappa.
Symbols:
The dove was accepted as an official symbol of Sigma Kappa at the 1984 convention and the heart was adopted at the 1988 convention. Both symbols signify the love felt by members across the country.
Jewel:
The pearl is the official jewel of Sigma Kappa. It is recognized as a symbol of purity and gracious character. The pearl has been the sorority jewel since 1920.
Triangle Badge:
On March 7, 1894, the triangle badge was chosen with "unjeweled maroon enamel, if possible." Jeweled badges were approved at the 1915 convention when the pearl was adopted as our national jewel. Unjeweled badges have a scroll edge.