Our Story:
On March, 8, 1935, Mrs. Norma Smith (Salter) Bristow, Second National President of Delta Kappa Gamma International, chartered Kappa State with thirteen founders at the first meeting held in Little Rock. This was the first state to have more than twelve (12) founders.* Arkansas was the tenth (10th) state to be organized. Prior to that time, the National Convention had been held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in June of 1934 with the intent to secure founders needed and to complete plans for the organization of the state and three Arkansas women had been initiated into the society. These women, Dr. Flora M. Gillentine, Opal Albright Herrington, and Annie Griffey, began the search for key women teachers to help form a state society. More information about these women is found on these pages: Founders 1, Founders 2, Founders 3, and Founders 4.
The Founders and first officers were:
President: Annie G. Griffey (Supt.of City Schools, Little Rock)
1st Vice President: Pearl Williamson (Supt. of DeQueen public Schools)
2nd Vice president: Rosa Walker (Home Economics, Fort Smith)
Corresponding Sec.: Edna Rudolph (Arkadelphia)
Recording Sec.: Bessie Moore (State Dept. of Education, Little Rock)
Treasurer: Lelia M. Conte (Hot Springs)
Keeper of the Records: Frances Bailey (State Dept. of Education, Little Rock)
Members:
Opal Albright Herrington (Little Rock)
Dr. Flora M. Gillentine (Henderson State Teachers College)
Alma M. Keys (State Dept, of Education, Little Rock)
Willie Lawson (Sec, of Arkansas teachers Association, Little Rock)
Constance Mitchell (State Teachers College, Conway)
Beryl Henry (Hope)
The first annual convention as held in Little Rock on November 5, 1938. Four local chapters were quickly organized previous to this convention with Alpha in El Dorado on March 12, 1938 by Mrs. Mattie H. Bryant and on March 26, 1938, Beta in Texarkanna. On April 16, Gamma in Little Rock was organized by Dr. Flora Gillentine and Delta on May 7, 1938 in Hot Springs by Dr. Gillentine. A fifth chapter, Epsilon in Pine Bluff was organized on February 25, 1939 by Dr. Gillentine. In June of 1937, Mamie Sue Bastain, Delta Kappa Gamma founder, appointed Dr. Flora Gillentine as Kappa State president. The second convention was held in El Dorado. In all 26 chapters had been organized by the end of 1948.
During the war years, the members spent time giving service to teachers and schools across the state. Even when travel was difficult, Kappa State members and founders established nine (9) more chapters. Service to teachers was still the top priority upholding the Purposes and expanding the societies influence. In 1942, the first state scholarship committee was formed. Also, at this convention, a $500 government bond was purchased. In 1948, a state scholarship was offered in the amount of $150.00. In 1949, two scholarships were awarded. The Dr. Flora M. Gillentine Scholarship has continued to be awarded as part of the Education Foundation established on June 2, 1979.
When the convention opened in March of 1948, teacher legislation was the focus of the discussions. Kappa State sponsored a bill to increase the number of school days from 100 to 150. This was the first piece of legislation sponsored by any state organization of Delta Kappa Gamma. A committee was formed to study the school laws in Arkansas and the state scholarship mentioned above became effective.
The annual convention in 1951 held in Fort Smith, was a time for expansion. A foreign exchange student was sponsored by Kappa State and the state became a member of the Board of the Foundation for the international Exchange of Students at the University of Arkansas. That year we were also invited to participate in the national Citizenship Conference in Washington, D.C. We stepped into World Fellowship eagerly and lent our influence to many exchange students from various countries.
Kappa State has continued to advance education and encourage and support teachers. To keep our network of key women educator strong, the first district meetings (now called area meetings) were held in the spring of 1956. The first Kappa State News was printed in 1948-1949 and still aids our members with support and current information.
Kappa State has continued to grow and change as the need arises. We have hosted Regional Conferences and served as hostess for an International Convention in 2002. We have had many outstanding members serve on Kappa State committees and boards and several have serve and are continuing to serve on International committees.
We are honored to have Carolyn Pittman serve as International President during the 2016-2018 biennium. The vision and encouragement from our founders and from the key women educators that have gone before us will strengthen and mentor a new generation of key women who will touch the lives of our students and the world they will make new.
On March, 8, 1935, Mrs. Norma Smith (Salter) Bristow, Second National President of Delta Kappa Gamma International, chartered Kappa State with thirteen founders at the first meeting held in Little Rock. This was the first state to have more than twelve (12) founders.* Arkansas was the tenth (10th) state to be organized. Prior to that time, the National Convention had been held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in June of 1934 with the intent to secure founders needed and to complete plans for the organization of the state and three Arkansas women had been initiated into the society. These women, Dr. Flora M. Gillentine, Opal Albright Herrington, and Annie Griffey, began the search for key women teachers to help form a state society. More information about these women is found on these pages: Founders 1, Founders 2, Founders 3, and Founders 4.
The Founders and first officers were:
President: Annie G. Griffey (Supt.of City Schools, Little Rock)
1st Vice President: Pearl Williamson (Supt. of DeQueen public Schools)
2nd Vice president: Rosa Walker (Home Economics, Fort Smith)
Corresponding Sec.: Edna Rudolph (Arkadelphia)
Recording Sec.: Bessie Moore (State Dept. of Education, Little Rock)
Treasurer: Lelia M. Conte (Hot Springs)
Keeper of the Records: Frances Bailey (State Dept. of Education, Little Rock)
Members:
Opal Albright Herrington (Little Rock)
Dr. Flora M. Gillentine (Henderson State Teachers College)
Alma M. Keys (State Dept, of Education, Little Rock)
Willie Lawson (Sec, of Arkansas teachers Association, Little Rock)
Constance Mitchell (State Teachers College, Conway)
Beryl Henry (Hope)
The first annual convention as held in Little Rock on November 5, 1938. Four local chapters were quickly organized previous to this convention with Alpha in El Dorado on March 12, 1938 by Mrs. Mattie H. Bryant and on March 26, 1938, Beta in Texarkanna. On April 16, Gamma in Little Rock was organized by Dr. Flora Gillentine and Delta on May 7, 1938 in Hot Springs by Dr. Gillentine. A fifth chapter, Epsilon in Pine Bluff was organized on February 25, 1939 by Dr. Gillentine. In June of 1937, Mamie Sue Bastain, Delta Kappa Gamma founder, appointed Dr. Flora Gillentine as Kappa State president. The second convention was held in El Dorado. In all 26 chapters had been organized by the end of 1948.
During the war years, the members spent time giving service to teachers and schools across the state. Even when travel was difficult, Kappa State members and founders established nine (9) more chapters. Service to teachers was still the top priority upholding the Purposes and expanding the societies influence. In 1942, the first state scholarship committee was formed. Also, at this convention, a $500 government bond was purchased. In 1948, a state scholarship was offered in the amount of $150.00. In 1949, two scholarships were awarded. The Dr. Flora M. Gillentine Scholarship has continued to be awarded as part of the Education Foundation established on June 2, 1979.
When the convention opened in March of 1948, teacher legislation was the focus of the discussions. Kappa State sponsored a bill to increase the number of school days from 100 to 150. This was the first piece of legislation sponsored by any state organization of Delta Kappa Gamma. A committee was formed to study the school laws in Arkansas and the state scholarship mentioned above became effective.
The annual convention in 1951 held in Fort Smith, was a time for expansion. A foreign exchange student was sponsored by Kappa State and the state became a member of the Board of the Foundation for the international Exchange of Students at the University of Arkansas. That year we were also invited to participate in the national Citizenship Conference in Washington, D.C. We stepped into World Fellowship eagerly and lent our influence to many exchange students from various countries.
Kappa State has continued to advance education and encourage and support teachers. To keep our network of key women educator strong, the first district meetings (now called area meetings) were held in the spring of 1956. The first Kappa State News was printed in 1948-1949 and still aids our members with support and current information.
Kappa State has continued to grow and change as the need arises. We have hosted Regional Conferences and served as hostess for an International Convention in 2002. We have had many outstanding members serve on Kappa State committees and boards and several have serve and are continuing to serve on International committees.
We are honored to have Carolyn Pittman serve as International President during the 2016-2018 biennium. The vision and encouragement from our founders and from the key women educators that have gone before us will strengthen and mentor a new generation of key women who will touch the lives of our students and the world they will make new.
History 1935-1958
History 1958-1969
Kappa State Founders
Beryl Henry Annie Griffey Dr. Flora Gillentine Willie A. Lawson Bess Moore Constance Mitchell Pearl Williamson Alma Keys Frances Bailey Edna Rudolph Rosa Walker Opal Allbright Herrington Lelia Conte |
Past Kappa State Presidents1935—1937 Miss Annie Griffey*
1937—1940 Dr. Flora Gillentine* 1940—1942 Mrs. Mattie Bryant* 1942—1946 Mrs. Claire T. White* 1946—1950 Mrs. Hazel L. Dabney* 1950—1953 Mrs. Gladys J. McDaniel* 1953—1957 Mrs. Lois Thomas* 1957—1961 Mrs. Helen Henderson* 1961—1963 Mrs. Elizabeth H. Buck* 1963—1965 Miss Julia McKemie* 1965—1967 Mrs. Mary Miller* 1967—1969 Mrs. Adgie Williams* 1969—1971 Mrs. Margarette Martin* 1971—1973 Mrs. Elsie Greig* 1973—1975 Mrs. Mary McClendon* 1975—1977 Mrs. Lela Willis* 1977—1979 Mrs. Gladys Hudgins* 1979—1981 Dr. Gayle White 1981—1983 Mrs. Wilma Beard 1983—1985 Mrs. Wanda Roe* 1985—1987 Mrs. Nellie Rae Gordon* 1987—1989 Mrs. Jo Nell Lowry 1989—1991 Mrs. Margaret Glover* 1991—1993 Mrs. Mary Helen Peters 1993—1995 Mrs. Karen Thompson 1995—1997 Mrs. Carolyn Pittman 1997—1999 Mrs. Ella Reese* 1999—2001 Mrs. U. Lee Shelton* 2001—2003 Mrs. Charlotte Akelaitis* 2003—2005 Mrs. Jane Bakke 2005—2007 Mrs. Jo Ann Williamson* 2007—2009 Mrs. Cissie Pendergrass 2009—2011 Dr. LaVonne Kirkpatrick 2011—2013 Mrs. Cathy Long 2013—2017 Mrs. Candice Martin 2017—2019 Mrs. Joy Graham 2019-2021 Mrs. Cathy Toney 2021-2023 Mrs. Sue Cook *Deceased |