Keeping in mind the history of the National Kappa Sigma Fraternity and its government which is headed by the Supreme Executive Committee (SEC), it is possible to look at the history of the Beta-Nu Chapter.  At the ninth Biennial Grand Conclave held in Baltimore, MD from December 31, 1890 through January 2, 1891, Herbert M. Martin was elected Worthy Grand Scribe, a position which he would hold for 28 years.  Durring the two decades that followed, 58 chapters were added to Kappa Sigma, 51 of which remain today.  Brother Martin's efforts would prove to be crucial to the eventual chartering of Beta-Nu on April 5, 1901.  But to fully understand the fragile nature of Beta-Nu throughout its history, we must follow the chartering and subsequent revocation of the charter of the Alpha Omicron Chapter at what now is Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.

     The church-sponsored Transylvania Seminary was founded as the first university west of the Allegheny Mountains in 1783, which subsequently graduated Mr. Jefferson Davis, the only honorary Kappa Sigma.  Transylvania merged with Kentucky University immediately following the Civil War in order to avoid being closed for lack of funds to repair war damages.  The new institution took the name of Kentucky University.  In 1878, the scientific and technical branch of the University separated from Kentucky State Agricultural and Mechanical College (KSC, now the University of Kentucky).  From this point on, Kentucky University was viewed as the more prestigious of the two institutions, requiring two years of Greek and Latin, along with one year of French, German, English, Mathematics, History, and Philosophy of each of its freshmen prior to acceptance.  If a Kappa Sigma charter was to come to Lexington in the 1890s, it would be at Kentucky University, since the men were thought to be of higher quality.

     In the early 1890s there was still a faculty rule at KU which prohibited greek-letter fraternities.  The Kappa Alpha fraternity, however, had been functioning "sub-rosa" (undercover) for years at KU, and along with Sigma Chi was firmly established at Kentucky State (UK) where fraternities were permitted.  Since the atmosphere seemed to be getting more favorable towards fraternities at KU and with the intense alumni support of John T. Green (Chi chapter, Purdue University) who was living in Frankfort, the SEC granted a charter to the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Kappa Sigma at KU at September 7, 1894.  The official recognition was not celebrated, however, until two years later at a banquet held for members of Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and Sigma Chi, after the Board of Curators voted to accept greek-lettered fraternities.  Green viewed AO Chapter as the flagship of Kappa Sigma through which chapters could later be installed at KSC (UK), Central University (EKU), and Centre College.