[3] According to the traditions of the fraternity, Kappa Sigma evolved from an ancient order, known in some accounts as "Kirjath Sepher", said to have been founded between 1395 and 1400 at the University of Bologna.

William Grigsby McCormick, George Miles Arnold, John Covert Boyd, Edmund Law Rogers, Jr., and Frank Courtney Nicodemus established the fraternity based in part on the traditions of the ancient order from Bologna, Italy.

[5][6] In 1872, Kappa Sigma initiated Stephen Alonzo Jackson, who would go on to transform a struggling local fraternity into a strong international Brotherhood.

He created the Supreme Executive Committee (SEC), which now serves as the governing body of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity on an international level.

[9] In 1912, Wilbur F. Denious (who would later become Worthy Grand Master) struck upon the idea of establishing a charitable endowment for Kappa Sigma.

[14] At the 66th Conclave, the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund was declared to be the only official educational foundation of the fraternity and is also housed at the new headquarters.

[16] Its motto is Bononia Docet or "Bologna Teaches"[17][18] The fraternity's original colors were maroon, old gold, and peacock blue.

[21] Every chapter organizes its charitable events, usually donating the proceeds to Kappa Sigma's Military Heroes Campaign or a local charity.

During the 2015-2016 school year, Kappa Sigma chapters and colonies donated $3,653,930 million and 671,537 volunteer hours to charitable causes around the United States and Canada.

The Kappa-Pi chapter at the University of Central Oklahoma hosts the Bath Tub push that benefits the Veterans' Families United Foundation.

Also, based in the international headquarters are the Area Recruitment Managers (ARM), who are in charge of recruitment goals and provide assistance to chapters in their respective service area.In 2001, an 18-year-old freshman named Chad Meredith, who was interested in joining the chapter at the University of Miami, drowned after being persuaded by fraternity members to swim across a nearly seven-foot-deep lake near campus.

As a result of Meredith's death, a law was named in his honor making hazing officially a criminal offense in the State of Florida.

[25] Eight years later, the chapter was punished by its international office due to "social and alcohol violations contrary to their codes of conduct.

"[26] In 2015, two Kappa Sigma members from West Virginia University were arrested and charged with hazing and conspiracy for the death of Nolan Burch at a Big/Little event four days after the chapter had been closed by the fraternity.

[30] In 2016, the Kappa Sigma fraternity at California State University, Long Beach was suspended after a female student reported to authorities she was sexually assaulted while attending a party it hosted.

Rustam Nizamutdinova, an undergraduate engineering student from Uzbekistan, was walking down a street when he was struck by a car driven by a Kappa Sigma pledge who fell asleep at the wheel.

[34][35][36] In 2017, dozens of Kappa Sigma members initiated at Louisiana State University were expelled by the national leadership of the fraternity for allegations of repeated hazing violations, drug usage, and misconduct.

He also reported they were made to stand in pitch-black hallways in suit and tie while fraternity members yelled insults and that cocaine use was popular in the fraternity[38] In 2023, the chapter at San Diego State University (SDSU) is facing a hazing lawsuit after it was discovered a 19-year-old pledge was beaten and challenged to drink large amounts of alcohol in an initiation ritual.

[39] In 2024, the University of Virginia suspended its Kappa Sigma chapter and temporarily paused all fraternity social events after a pledge was hospitalized due to a hazing incident.