History of Kappa Sigma
Founded on November 22nd, 1982, the Mu-Delta chapter of Kappa Sigma is the longest standing fraternity at the University of California, Irvine.
Kappa Sigma traces its roots back to the year 1400, in the city of Bologna, Italy. Bologna was renown throughout the Western world for its University, the University of Bologna, and for this reason, it was also known as "The City of Letters". Bologna has been home to some of the greatest thinkers of all time, including Dante, Petrarch, Galileo, Copernicus, and many others that contributed to its academic reputation. Unfortunately, the students of Bologna were terrorized by the unscrupulous governor, Baldassarre Cossa. Manuel Chrysoloras, a teacher of language at the University, formed in 1400 a society of students for mutual protection against Cossa. In the year 1400, Chrysoloras and his five disciples formed a society for mutual protection which inspired the Ritual and beliefs of modern day Kappa Sigma.
On December 10, 1869, Kappa Sigma was re-founded at 46 East Lawn at the University of Virginia. The founding fathers were William Grigsby McCormick, George Miles Arnold, Edmund Law Rogers, Frank Courtney Nicodemus, and John Covert Boyd (founder of American National Red Cross). For many weeks the bonds of friendship had drawn these five together; now the need became clear for a formal structure to contain their feelings. Thus, not only did the Founders formalize their friendship, but they also created a fraternity steeped in the traditions of the past and dedicated to the Pursuit of Learning. The new brothers recorded their bond in a Constitution and in an Oath which set forth the ideals and principles to all Kappa Sigmas today. From these humble origins and five friends and brothers, the Order of Kappa Sigma has come to dominate the fraternal world, and is currently the largest and most successful fraternity in North America.
Today, Kappa Sigma comprises over 230 chapters and colonies in both the United States and Canada, with over 230,000 men. Kappa Sigma is the sixth largest fraternity and has approximately 150,000 Brothers in North America.
Kappa Sigma traces its roots back to the year 1400, in the city of Bologna, Italy. Bologna was renown throughout the Western world for its University, the University of Bologna, and for this reason, it was also known as "The City of Letters". Bologna has been home to some of the greatest thinkers of all time, including Dante, Petrarch, Galileo, Copernicus, and many others that contributed to its academic reputation. Unfortunately, the students of Bologna were terrorized by the unscrupulous governor, Baldassarre Cossa. Manuel Chrysoloras, a teacher of language at the University, formed in 1400 a society of students for mutual protection against Cossa. In the year 1400, Chrysoloras and his five disciples formed a society for mutual protection which inspired the Ritual and beliefs of modern day Kappa Sigma.
On December 10, 1869, Kappa Sigma was re-founded at 46 East Lawn at the University of Virginia. The founding fathers were William Grigsby McCormick, George Miles Arnold, Edmund Law Rogers, Frank Courtney Nicodemus, and John Covert Boyd (founder of American National Red Cross). For many weeks the bonds of friendship had drawn these five together; now the need became clear for a formal structure to contain their feelings. Thus, not only did the Founders formalize their friendship, but they also created a fraternity steeped in the traditions of the past and dedicated to the Pursuit of Learning. The new brothers recorded their bond in a Constitution and in an Oath which set forth the ideals and principles to all Kappa Sigmas today. From these humble origins and five friends and brothers, the Order of Kappa Sigma has come to dominate the fraternal world, and is currently the largest and most successful fraternity in North America.
Today, Kappa Sigma comprises over 230 chapters and colonies in both the United States and Canada, with over 230,000 men. Kappa Sigma is the sixth largest fraternity and has approximately 150,000 Brothers in North America.
