The Alpha Gamma Chapter at the University of Kentucky was originally founded in 1917 by brothers Taylor, Heyman, Owen, Kraemer, and Eimer. Though they first formed a fraternity of their own, Gamma Alpha Kappa, they soon desired to be affiliated with a national fraternity. Fortunately, one of their chemistry faculty members, Dr. M. Hume Bedford, was an honorary member of the Zeta chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma. They invited Grand Recorder Lieutenant Shaw to visit and consider their petition. Unfortunately, the Chemistry Department was found lacking, with inadequate equipment and underpaid staff. However, they were eventually granted chapter status on April 21, 1917, only two weeks after the United States entered WWI. Although this war caused its membership to dwindle, Alpha Gamma remained a chapter and created a comprehensive plan for the future.

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            One of our greatest contributions was the gift of block and gavel made of Kentucky black walnut at the 1942 National Conclave. Additionally, we are proud to claim William Lipscomb, Jr., recipient of the 1972 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and Eger Murphree, contributor to fluid catalytic cracking, as our own. Our Chapter has a rich history and served the University and surrounding community well until their dissolution in the early 1970s due to dwindling numbers. Since then, the number of chemistry students at the University of Kentucky has grown, but there are few professional extracurricular organizations in which they could get involved.

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     The re-establishment of Alpha Gamma began in 2015. As we celebrated our centennial on April 21, 2017, Alpha Gamma was officially granted reactivation and returned to active chapter status. 

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