However, due to the severely reduced numbers of members, the fraternity was unable to decide whether or not to accept Tau Beta Sigma’s petition. Frank Martin, who was serving as National Executive Secretary, and Max Mitchell, Grand Second Vice President. The sorority petitioned Kappa Kappa Psi to be chartered as an auxiliary chapter of the fraternity, which was supported by founder A. At Texas Tech, a local sorority for bands women was established as Tau Beta Sigma. Only five chapters remained active during the war.īecause of the diminished numbers due to the number of men serving in the military, many band programs opened up to women. The national organization granted those chapters a “war furlough.” Instead of treating the chapter as inactive, their military service would be honored. This greatly strained the fraternity to the point that 90 percent of chapters were forced to suspend activities. When the war began, band members left to serve in the armed forces. World War IIīefore World War II, most college bands were exclusively male. Additionally, he created the office of National Executive Secretary.įortunately, the National Organization left that convention on good footing as growth slowed during the Great Depression and almost ground to a halt during World War II. He brought the young organization its first set of comprehensive bylaws and parliamentary procedures. Lee Burke presided and helped to stabilize the constitutional framework and administrative structure of Kappa Kappa Psi. Each chapter would then vote on whether or not to accept the colony to the fraternity.Īt the 1927 National Convention, Grand President J.

The petitioning document was very important in the early days of the fraternity because it was mailed to each chapter as a way to introduce a new colony to the national organization.

Kappa Kappa Psi grew rapidly during its first 10 years, with 27 chapters that spanned from Duke University in the east to the University of Washington in the west. He enthusiastically responded, saying, “Brothers, I have received medals and honors from every civilized country, but I feel this honor above all, due to the fact that this was given me by a group of university bandsmen who are furthering the great work that I have dedicated my whole life to.” Though voted on as a national honorary, Sousa’s membership was assigned to the Delta chapter. Shortly after the close of the convention, the organization offered membership to John Philip Sousa. With steady growth, preparations were made to host the first National Meeting of Kappa Kappa Psi at Oklahoma A&M in January 1922. In the fall of 1920, Montana State University and the University of Washington were the first to send petitioning documents, becoming the Beta and Gamma chapters in December 1920. They mailed informational letters to 10 universities and received back five letters of interest. Professor Makovsky saw the great potential for such an organization and recommended the top 10 bandsmen to form it.Īfter its founding, the charter members worked to spread excitement for the organization first on campus and then nationally. Scroggs approached Oklahoma A&M Director of Bands Bohumil Makovsky with an idea for a national organization to form closer ties between the bandsmen of the country’s universities.

Kappa kappa psi