On December 6, 1921, a group of public school teachers and college professors gathered in Stillwater, Oklahoma to share teaching ideas, to socialize and to simply have fun. Among them were Mary Brogden and Mable Caldwell, two educators at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University), who played a significant role in the founding of the sorority (now a 501c3 nonprofit professional organization). This women’s group organized the Order of the Blue Blue Violet.
They obtained a state charter in Oklahoma on January 10, 1922. At the annual meeting on February 6, 1931, the name was changed to Kappa Kappa Iota. In April 1949, Kappa Kappa Iota was nationalized.
The violet was chosen as the flower. The blue-violet of the violet and the yellow-gold were selected as the organization’s colors.
This corporation was formed to promote good fellowship and fraternal cooperation; to oppose all forces which do not tend toward the improvement of public schools; to issue charters signifying membership to local chapters; and to receive fees to provide scholarship funds for deserving education majors.
Kappa Kappa Iota has the distinction of being one of the oldest organizations for educators in the United States and is now a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
More information about the history of Kappa Kappa Iota can be found in the Legend of the Violets available through the National Headquarters.
