National History

In the years that followed World War I, a movement developed among college and university bands, searching for some motivating force that would create a greater interest in band music. This movement sought expression in a effort to develop good will, fellowship and understanding among bands and their members, and to recognize the value of dedicated leadership. Seizing upon this idea, ten members of the Oklahoma A & M College (later to be known as the Oklahoma State University) Band, led by William A. Scroggs and their director, Bohumil Makovsky, drew up a plan for the national honorary society for college bandsmembers.
                                                                                Bohumil Makovsky
Bohumil Makovsky
Director Makovsky selected nine men to work with Scroggs to organize the first local club. These ten charter members were: A. Frank Martin, Raymond D. Shannon, Clyde Haston, Clayton Soule, Carl Stevens, William Copedge, Dick Hurst, Asher Hendrickson, and Iron H. Nelson. Officers for the local club were elected and William Scroggs was selected as president.
With the local organization complete, a corporation was formed which petitioned the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for a charter. The charter was granted November 27, 1919; and "Kappa Kappa Psi, Honorary Fraternity for College Bandsmen," was established on the Oklahoma State University campus with the local group being known as "Alpha Chapter".
From that point on, the members of Kappa Kappa Psi have strived to increase their numbers by organizing the Fraternity on a Local, District, and National Level. Furthermore, a goal for the Fraternity was to provide a means of establishing new chapters so that college students who wanted to dedicate themselves to Music more than the average bandmember could do so in a positive environment.