Chapter History


Thetas at Smart Cookie Bake Sale 2011
The Zeta Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1993 by a group of Harvard Undergraduates who recognized the need for a supportive community of sisters on campus. Theta was the first Panhellenic sorority to be founded at Harvard, and was helped onto its feet by members of the Zeta Mu chapter at MIT.  Like the founders, all current members of Zeta Xi attend Harvard College, although the chapter currently is not affiliated with the University. 
 
Last year we were excited to announce that we had made concrete steps towards getting a facility of our own with the creation of our Facility Corporation Board.  This year, however, we have even bigger news!  This past spring, we acquired our own Theta House, located at 10 Arrow Street in Harvard Square, across from Berryline. The two-story, 2,700 square-foot house is spacious and beautiful and quickly becoming a warm and welcoming home for our chapter as we continue to decorate the interior.  

Of course none of this could have been accomplished without the hard work of the Facility Corporation Board.  We would like to thank Aubrie Pagano, the President of the board and one of our very own alumnae, and the other board members for the commitment they have made to our chapter, and to Kathy Schweer, our Advisory Board Chairman, for putting the board together over the last few months. You have made our dreams a reality!

First Theta at Harvard?

Although the Zeta Xi chapter is relatively young, Kappa Alpha Theta's history on Harvard's campus dates back much further. 

In 1924 a rare copy of the third Kappa Alpha Theta Catalogue (First Quadrennial) was given to the Harvard College Library as a gift from the Harvard School of Education.  The catalogue, published by the Iota chapter, dates back to 1895 and contains photographs of the fraternity founders, ornate theta engravings, chapter descriptions and histories, and a directory of all the members of the chapters at that time.  

Among the names of the members of the Kappa Chapter listed in the catalogue is Harriet Haskell, a 1889 graduate of the University of Kansas. After graduating Hariett moved to Massachussets to enrole as a special student at Wellesley College in 1886 and later studied at Radcliffe College from 1890-1891.  

Help us remember Zeta Xi's rich history!


If you are a Zeta Xi alumna please send us some photographs or stories of your time in Theta.  We are going to begin compiling a big photo album and we want to include some of your memories!  

Maybe you'll get a chance to see the album first hand when you visit us to celebrate 20 years of Zeta Xi in 2013!!!

Photos & stories can be sent to Molly at