HISTORY OF THE KANSAS CITY CHAPTER

The Association for Women in Communications was started by students in 1909. Ten years later, in 1919, the Greater Kansas City Chapter became the first professional chapter of a national organization that today has 50 professional chapters throughout the United States and several international chapters.
    Charlotte McKenzie compiled this history, the special historical highlights and the list of presidents from 17 boxes of chapter materials housed in the Jackson County Archives in Independence, Missouri. Charlotte is a long-time member and former chapter president. Information from recent years was compiled by Marilyn Ebersole, long-time member and the 2001-02 chapter president.

• Historical Timeline of the KC Chapter from 1909-present
• Special Historical Highlights
• List of Chapter Presidents from 1919-present

HISTORICAL KC CHAPTER PHOTOS

At Matrix Table 1960 at the Hotel Muehlebach, are President Harry Truman; Dorothy Suddarth and Mary Marcene Tomson, Theta Sigma Phi members; Charlotte McKenzie, chapter president; Willie Snow Etheridge, speaker; and Bess Truman.

 

 

 

At the March 12, 1960, Matrix Table at the Hotel Muehlebach, were, from left, Nila Magidoff and Willie Snow Etheridge, speakers; Charlotte McKenzie, chapter president; Jane Saunders, Independence, second vice president and Matrix Table chairman; and Susannah Gentry, city editor of the Independence Examiner and Matrix Table honoree. More than 1,000 people attended.

 

 

A tea on March 24, 1959, hosted by Nell Snead and Margaret Sally Keach, honored national Theta Sigma Phi president Mary Kimbrough, St. Louis, Shown are, seated, Nell Snead, society editor for The Kansas City Star, and May Reed Porter. Standing, from left, are Mary Kimbrough, Diane Rutherford, Mrs. Keach and Mrs. J.C. Rutherford. The Rutherfords and Mrs. Porter are from Santa Fe, N.M., and everyone shown, except Mary Kimbrough, is a member of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Theta Sigma Phi. Mary Kimbrough is one of the founders of B.A.T.S. (Born Again Theta Sigs), an organization of long-time members, which now meets at the national convention.

The October 1959 dinner meeting of Theta Sigma Phi was hosted by Gladys and Barnett Helzberg at Helzberg's on the Plaza. Standing, from left, are Rebecca Maxwell, a member of the San Antonio chapter; Katherine Edelman, poet; Georgia Tucker Smith, author of several children's books; and Gladys and Barnett Helzberg. Gladys, who died in 1973, was a long-time and involved member of the Greater Kansas City Chapter. They are talking with Graham Porter, local book author and speaker at the meeting.