The history of the Gamma-Lambda Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity is preserved through a vast collection of letters, memos, news clippings, Chapter Newsletters, and official meeting minutes. These invaluable records, safely stored in the chapter room’s closet, document the legacy of our brotherhood. Now, let’s take a look at the journey that brought us here.
We start in 1903, when a secret society known as Glen Atri emerged at Iowa State College of Engineering and Agriculture. The group met off-campus for social, philanthropic, and educational endeavors. By the fall of that year, it transitioned into a recognized fraternity under the name Gamma Alpha.
By 1907, Gamma Alpha had grown into the strongest fraternity on campus, boasting over 50 new members, including Seaman A. Knapp Jr., the son of the college’s president. As the fraternity expanded, its members sought national affiliation. They considered three organizations: Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, and Kappa Sigma. Kappa Sigma was the unanimous choice due to its strong reputation and nationwide support for its brothers.
Securing a charter from Kappa Sigma was no small feat, as demand was high. It took over a year, but on January 21, 1909, Gamma Alpha officially became the Gamma-Lambda Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. The installation ceremony lasted an entire weekend and was attended by distinguished figures, including Dr. Charles Richardson, Worthy Grand Procurator and co-founder of Chi Omega, as well as Finis K. Farr, Kappa Sigma’s librarian and historian.
At Iowa State, Kappa Sigma became the fifth national fraternity to join the Interfraternity Council. Many Gamma-Lambda brothers held leadership positions within the IFC, including President, Secretary, and Treasurer. This trend continued for over a decade, with eight IFC presidents coming from our chapter between 1908 and 1921.
However, with highs come lows. In 1927, tragedy struck when the chapter house was lost to a fire. Undeterred, Brother Hi Ostrander led efforts to rebuild, and by 1928, a new and improved chapter house was completed at 237 Ash Avenue. At the time, it was the largest fraternity house on campus.
In the early 1940s, nearly two-thirds of the chapter’s members left Iowa State to support the war effort during World War II. The chapter remained committed to assisting beyond enlistment, temporarily closing its doors and repurposing the house for women's housing.
Following World War II, Gamma-Lambda experienced a resurgence, growing to nearly 100 members by 1957. That same year, Brother Allen Whitfield was appointed Worthy Grand Master, the highest office in Kappa Sigma’s national organization.
The 1960s were another prosperous era for the chapter. Gamma-Lambda earned multiple first-place awards in Homecoming, VEISHEA, and Greek Week. In 1962, the chapter house underwent a major expansion, doubling its size. To cap off this historic decade, Allen Whitfield was named Kappa Sigma’s Man of the Year in 1966, further solidifying Gamma-Lambda’s reputation for excellence.
The momentum carried into the 1970s. In 1970, Brother Tom A. Carleton led the chapter to an unprecedented sweep, securing first place in all major Greek competitions: Homecoming, VEISHEA, and Greek Week. Just three years later, in 1973, the chapter received the prestigious Boyd House Award for best-maintained fraternity house in the nation.
The 1980s saw continued success, with Gamma-Lambda earning the Most Improved Chapter Award from Kappa Sigma Nationals in 1985.
In 1993, the chapter house underwent a $1.3 million renovation, during which the entire interior was gutted and updated with modern structural, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems. The exterior of 237 Ash Avenue was also sandblasted and refinished.
In 1999, the chapter hosted the annual “Yankee Conclave.” Over 200 brothers from five states gathered in Ames to attend the two-day regional conference. Worthy Grand Master Jim T. Brown attended the conclave and was the keynote speaker at the formal banquet.
The mid-2000s presented challenges for the chapter, culminating during the Great Financial Crisis. In 2012 Brothers Van Houweling and Smith agreed to acquire the house, preventing the chapter from losing the house. During their ownership the chapter grew in numbers, initiating some of the largest classes in chapter history. Thirty-six brothers were initiated in 2017 alone.
By the early 2020s the chapter remained strong in numbers and brotherhood, helping the house stay open during the Covid pandemic. However, the house fell into disrepair. During the summer of 2024 a system-wide plumbing failure forced members to vacate the house for the entire school year. Even without a house to call home, the chapter persevered, even placing second in Greek Week.
During a time of uncertainty, alumni answered the call. The Building Corporation was reestablished and purchased the house back on January 6, 2025. The Building Corporation spent over $500,000 to upgrade the house, allowing brothers to move back in for the 2025-26 school year.
After over a century of accolades and achievements, the chapter is embarking on another significant endeavor. A new fundraising campaign kicked off in 2025 to further secure and upgrade the house to ensure the physical house returns to prominence and the chapter continues to welcome brothers for years to come.