In 1936 Jay N. Emerson, a member of the Pullman Washington Kiwanis Club, presented a plan to his club proposing that the Pullman Kiwanis Club purchase a house that could be rented to young men in need of assistance to attend the local college. The plan became a reality as the Kiwanians established the "Circle K House" at Washington State College. For ten years the "Circle K House" became affiliated with a Greek letter organization, although it continued to be sponsored by the Pullman Kiwanis Club.
Eleven years later in 1947, Donald T. Forsythe, Trustee of Kiwanis International, aided in transitioning Circle K from a fraternity to a service-oriented organization. That year, during September, the first Circle K club similar to our present day organization, was chartered at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois. (The college moved to its present-day location of Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1962.)
As Circle K's structure adapted from being a fraternity, its purpose also changed. The organization established the following objectives:

Circle K began as one man's dream to enable the success of local collegians and continued to grow as others began to believe in the concepts of Circle K and in the men who belonged to Circle K. Though Jay N. Emerson died June 12, 1947, before he could his dream become a reality, his vision of a collegiate-level, international youth organization will live on forever.

Transitioning from a Fraternity

For two years, the Carthage College Circle K Club existed alone. But on March 26, 1949, the University of Western Ontario became the second Circle K Club to charter. Carthage College and the University of Western Ontario were soon joined by the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute on May 13, 1949. Circle K gained momentum and grew rapidly throughout the United States; sixteen more clubs chartered in 1950.

With the formation of Circle K clubs, Kiwanis International established a Special Committee on Circle K Clubs in 1952. Andy Hodges of Carthage, Illinois, was appointed chairman of the committee. The committee brought about following changes in the objectives of Circle K:

The motto of the organization became the same as that of Kiwanis International: "We Build."

By 1953, Circle K clubs were located at 57 different (upper level) institutions with a total membership of 1,425.

Important Dates in Circle K History...

1936 - Jay Emerson, a member of the Pullman Kiwanis Club in Washington, proposed a plan which established the Circle K House Fraternity at Washington State University. 
1947 - Circle K changes from a fraternity to a service organization. 
1953 - Circle K becomes an International organization. Kenneth B. Creasy of Ohio Wesleyan was elected the first Int'l President. 
1955 - CKI is officially recognized by Kiwanis International. 
1957 - First district is established - the Texas/Oklahoma District. 
1971 - Females admitted into Circle K. 
1977 - Bahamas become first nation outside the US and Canada to enter into CKI. 
2000 - There are currently over 11,000 CKI members worldwide!!!

The Twenty-Seven Nations of CKI