| Kappa Beta Pi | |
|---|---|
| ΚΒΠ | |
 | |
| Founded | Autumn December 15, 1908 Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois |
| Type | Professional |
| Affiliation | PFA (former) |
| Emphasis | law |
| Scope | International United States Canada United Kingdom France China |
| Colors | Turquoise blue and Old gold |
| Flower | Yellow Tea Rose |
| Publication | Kappa Beta Pi Quarterly (former) |
| Headquarters | Silver Spring, MD United States |
Kappa Beta Pi (ΚΒΠ) is a Legal Association which was formerly a professional law sorority in the United States.
Kappa Beta Pi was founded at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois on December 15, 1908.[1] Its Founders were:[2]
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The sorority was incorporated in Illinois on December 15, 1908.[3] This date is celebrated by chapters as Founders' Day. The organization was the first legal sorority in the U.S., that is, the first such group designed in the support of the legal profession.[4]
Since 1925, admission of new chapters has been limited to American schools that met the requirements for membership in the Association of American Law Schools, or to schools on the approved list of the American Bar Association, along with those foreign law schools meeting equivalent requirements.
In 1927 its first international chapter was formed, Omicron chapter, in Paris, France. This was later followed by chapters in London, England, in West Germany, in Shanghai, China, several in Canada, and one in the US Territory of Puerto Rico.
During the first half of the 20th century, the Sorority published lists of law firms that would hire women, and those which resisted. It also published catalogs of female judges and lawyers serving in the field.
At the 1973 convention, the name was changed to Kappa Beta Pi Legal Association International, and from this juncture is now properly referred to as a legal association, not a sorority.
At the May 1976 convention in Columbus Ohio, all references believed to indicate a restriction of membership to women were removed.
Kappa Beta Pi had been a chartering member of the Professional Panhellenic Association, and thus became a member of the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA) when the PPA merged with the Professional Interfraternity Association. Later, Kappa Beta Pi resigned from the PFA.[2]
Some records of the organization's headquarters were provided to the Denver Public Library, which reports 17 boxes of materials spanning from 1930 to 1979.[5]
The last known address for this Legal Association was either in Silver Spring, MD (per Baird's) or in Omaha, NE (Guidestar). As of November 2021, Guidestar reports "no activity for some time". The organization may be defunct.
The badge is a monogram with the Κ jeweled and superimposed over the letters Β and Π, which are embellished with scroll work. The pledge pin is an irregularly shaped shield enameled in Turquoise and old gold.[2]
The coat of arms places a field of Turquoise blue in the upper left, while the lower right field is white. Devices, the Open Book, and Scales are rendered in gold. The Knight's Helmet is shown proper, that is, in the natural color, shown full face with the visor open and is of steel with silver ornaments. The helmet symbolizes the protection of the law, and inspires chivalrous conduct.[6]
The flower is the Yellow Tea Rose.
The colors are turquoise blue and old gold.[7]
The official song, To Kappa Beta Pi was written in 1941 by Alice Craig Edgerton.
The organization publishes a quarterly, called The Kappa Beta Pi Quarterly, one edition annually in an esoteric form, called The Secret Bulletin.
A fifty-year history was also written by Ms. Edgerton, who served as its first Grand Dean, or president, and published by the organization.
The chapter roll of Kappa Beta Pi Legal Association.[2] Chapters in italics are dormant. Chapters in bold are active. Those unknown are in plain text.
