Zeta Kappa Collection

Zeta Kappa was a local sorority founded at Pepperdine University, which lasted for 58 years and provided Pepperdine women with both social activities and charitable service opportunities.

The sorority was founded in October, 1938, as a social club of the women's dormitory, Marilyn Hall. It began as an affiliated chapter of the Ko-Jo-Kai social club at Abilene Christian University, and chose the name Zio Kem as well as a gypsy theme for all their events. In the 1940s, Pepperdine administrators decided to allow social clubs to take on Greek names, so in June of 1943, Zio Kem changed its name to Zeta Kappa, and became a local sorority. The sorority continued until 1969, when the chapter was temporarily disbanded due to disinterest, but was reestablished in 1978 and continued to flourish until 1996. In the spring of 1996, the Greek system at Pepperdine underwent a major change, as national fraternities and sororities were allowed on campus for the first time. All local Pepperdine chapters were colonized by larger national groups, including Zeta Kappa, whose members chose to establish the Eta Beta chapter of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, which is still in existence on campus today.

The Zeta Kappa Alumnae Association was founded in 1949, as a way for former members of the sorority to stay connected, and raise scholarships for active Zeta members. While the sorority no longer exists, the alumnae association is still active and continues to hold events for its members.