Beryl Showers and six other students at the May Wright Sewall Girls' Classical School in Indianapolis, Indiana founded Tri Kappa sorority on February 22, 1901.

[1][2][3] Its founding members were: The founders elected officers, designed a pin, wrote a constitution, and established a purpose of "charity and kindness".

[2][3][4] Later, Tri Kappa's purpose became bringing women together to support charity, culture, and education.

[2] Annually, Tri Kappa purchased tickets so that school children could attend the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

[13] It established a traveling art exhibit, featuring works by Indiana artists that it purchased; this program still existed in the mid-1950s.

[2] Members also entertained soldiers and volunteered as bond salesmen, Gray Ladies, nurses aides, and Red Cross workers.

[15] Tri-Kappa notes "there has always been some discussion" over the awkward branding problem caused by the similarity of Tri Kappa's name and the unaffiliated racist group which uses the same initials.

[16][4] Tri Kappa's symbols are a pair of crossed keys, a triangle, and a white carnation.

[11] In 2022, its annual giving totaled nearly $500,000 through $1,000 scholarships to students enrolled in associate or baccalaureate programs.

[11] It also awards the Beryl Showers Holland Fellowship to an Indiana University graduate for advanced studies.

[13] Tri Kappa has raised millions of dollars for the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.