Kappa Delta, Eta Alpha Chapter

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History

Our History

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"A chilly rain splattered against the windowpanes of the little dormitory room on Professional Hall, the dormitory floor where most of the seniors lived. Saturday meant no classes, and the dreary weather that hung over Farmville was a perfect excuse for the four friends to tuck themselves away in that cozy spot and talk for hours... It was that afternoon that Kappa Delta was born - October 23, 1897 - at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia."

~ Ordinary Miracles: 100 years of Kappa Delta Sorority

It was because of the beautiful friendship of Lenora Ashmore, Mary Summerville Sparks, Julia Gardiner Tyler, and Sara Turner that Kappa Delta began. Today, the ideals of friendship, fellowship and sisterly love have remained constant and strong for 100 years, just as our four founders envisioned it in the beginning.

In 1912, Kappa Delta Sorority was the only Sorority to become a member of the National Panhellenic Conference immediately upon petition. Kappa Delta's founders were four very different women. They ranged in age from 15 to 23, yet brought a singular sense of purpose to this particular endeavor. Their dream was to create something more lasting than a club--a sorority! It was to be an entity that would grow beyond their own chapter at State Female Normal School. They never dreamed that it would grown into an organization of nearly 200,000 women, over 200 chartered chapters and nearly 500 chartered alumnae associations nationwide.

As of January 2005, Kappa Delta has 206 chartered chapters. In addition, Kappa Delta has 487 chartered alumnae associations, the most of any NPC group.

Our Founders

JuliaTyler

Julia Gardiner Tyler Wilson

Quiet and extremely intelligent, Julia Gardiner Tyler Wilson came from a distinguished and respected family; her grandfather was John Tyler, former U.S. president, and her father was the president of the College of William and Mary.

Lenora Ashmore Blackiston

Lenora Ashmore Blackiston was unconventional. She was a dreamer and an idealist filled with enthusiasm for new ideas. Nicknamed "Nora," she was a writer and a poet, able to put her thoughts into action. She was the one who first suggested the idea of forming a sorority.

MarySparks Mary Sommerville Sparks Hendrick

Mary Sommerville Sparks Hendrick was much loved and respected by all students at State Female Normal School. She was known for her fine character and gentle understanding. She was a Bible class leader. She was a Bible class leader. Mary stayed on and helped the fledging sorority through its early years.

Sarah Turner White

Daughter of a Virginia senator, Sara Turner White was gracious and friendly, but known as being a bit more straight-laced than most students. She enjoyed her friends and social activities more than she did her studies. Sara remained steadfastly involved with Kappa Delta throughout her long life.

"Friendship was the ideal of Kappa Delta, and it grew out of the beautiful friendship of four girls. We felt it could be extended to a large multitude of girls; there was so much of it in our hearts for each other. The friendship young girls have for each other is a very lovely thing, unselfish, pure, very loyal, and brave for the sake of its name, and that is why Kappa Delta has endured, because she sprang from such a pure source."

~ Lenora Ashmore (Blackiston), The Angelos, 1912