Anna Elizabeth Willits was born on May 22, 1853, in Monmouth, Illinois. She is one of the six founders of the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, United States. She was born the daughter of Judge Elias Willits and Elizabeth Fish. Willits, whose occupations are unknown. Willits was a lifelong resident of Monmouth, Illinois. She was married in 1881 to Henry Howard Pattee, who was a prominent businessman. The couple gave birth to one son named Allan. Ms. Willits’ granddaughter Frances Pattee was initiated with her badge when Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Alpha chapter was re-established 1934. Anna Willits was known for her sociability, hospitality, and community service. Ms. Willits entered Monmouth College as a sub-freshman and was one of the original four organizers in Kappa Kappa Gamma, in their historical records she is listed as Alpha 4. She attended Monmouth Academy and entered Monmouth College in 1870 as a sub-freshman, receiving a AB-AM degree in 1874.She signed the sorority charter in 1870. Many early meetings were held in her home, where the design of the badge was determined, which was a golden key with the Greek letters Kappa Kappa Gamma. The legend is that Anna's mother helped the founders select a proper sort of pin and suggested a key “for a key usually stands for something secret.” Anna later confirmed the fact that her mother had suggested the use of a key for the badge, but that the Founders actually designed it. Willits and the other Founders agreed that a key would do nicely; not for its ability to guard secrets, but rather because it could “unlock the hidden mysteries in Science, Literature and Art. Fittingly, Anna’s key is the only known original to still exist. including the placement of the two sets of Greek letters. Her badge is the only known original key in existence. Lou Bennett and Anna Willits maintained that there were four original founders/organizers and that this group added three more at the first initiation. The first badges cost $5.00 each, which is equivalent to today currency, $98.52 for each badge. Anna Elizabeth Willits Pattee died on August 11, 1908 following a surgery in Chicago, Illinois and was buried in the Pattee family plot in Monmouth Cemetery. Sources: Kappa Kappa Gamma History It https://kappa.historyit.com/person-view.php?id=94751