Alpha Kappa Kappa (ΑΚΚ) is a medical school fraternity that was founded in 1888 at Dartmouth Medical School. AKK had over sixty chapters at various medical schools throughout the United States and Canada for approximately eighty years but now operates with two independent, local chapters.[2]
Alpha Kappa Kappa | |
---|---|
ΑΚΚ | |
Founded | September 29, 1888 Dartmouth College Medical School |
Type | Professional |
Affiliation | PFA (former) |
Emphasis | Medical |
Scope | International |
Member badge | |
Colors | Dartmouth Green White |
Symbol | Twin serpents, book |
Jewel | Emerald and Pearl |
Publication | The Centaur |
Chapters | 2 active, 66 chartered |
Members | 35,000+ (as of 1977)[1] lifetime |
Headquarters | United States |
Alpha Kappa Kappa was established at Dartmouth Medical School on September 29, 1888.[3] It was created for "social intercourse, mental development, scholarship and mutual assistance."[3] The fraternity incorporated in New Hampshire by a special act of the legislature on July 25, 1889.[3]
The fraternity expanded to be national and international, with chapters across the United States and in Canada.[3] Its national headquarters was in Ellettsville, Indiana. It was a member of the Professional Fraternity Association.
The fraternity disbanded nationally in the 1960s, with three chapters continuing as independent organizations.[1] Alpha Theta chapter at the University of Texas Medical Branch stayed active until the mid-2000s.[4] The Epsilon chapter at Jefferson Medical College is still active.[5] It has a chapter house at 317 South Eleventh Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5] It provides affordable housing for male medical students.[6]
Alpha Psi chapter at the University of Iowa also stayed active after the disbanding of the national fraternity. Now called the Alpha Kappa Kappa Society, it operates as a residential community with a chapter house at 339 Teeter Court in Iowa City, purchased in 1925.[7] The chapter went co-ed in the 1990s.[7] It has an Alumni Board that was established in 2019.[8]
The Alpha Kappa Kappa badge was a gold crescent with the letters, Α, Κ, and Κ, enameled in black. Wrapped around the crescent are twin coiled serpents facing each other. The horns of the crescent support an enameled black book bearing the letter(s) of the chapter. (In the infobox, a photographic example shows a pin from the Mu chapter at the University of Pennsylvania.) The book may be set in pearls and emeralds, which were the fraternity's jewels. The name of the school was sometimes etched onto the side of the book, which was held at a diagonal.
The colors of the fraternity were Dartmouth green and white, to honor its founding school. Its symbols were the book and the twin serpents.
Its quarterly magazine was The Centaur.
Following is a list of Alpha Kappa Kappa chapters in Greek letter order.[1][9][10] In the early days, chapters chose their letters, so in a few cases, date order does not always match Greek letter alphabetization.[10][9] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italic.