We were founded on May 15, 1851, at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi holds the distinction of being the first secret society for women and the mother of today’s sorority system. The original name of the sorority was the "Adelphean Society." The word "Adelphean" is derived from the Greek word meaning sister.
The six original founders of the Adelphean Society were Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, Ella Pierce Turner, Octavia Andrew Rush, Mary Evans Glass, Elizabeth Williams Mitchell (not pictured), and Sophronia Woodruff Dews.
The Adelphean Society flourished through the years and in 1904, the members voted to become national. In 1905 the name was changed to Alpha Delta Phi, but because of continued confusion with a men's fraternity of the same name, the name was changed to Alpha Delta Pi in 1913.
We were founded on the principles of scholarship, leadership, service to others and sisterhood. These principles still guide the policies and programs of the sorority today. To date, Alpha Delta Pi has initiated more than 182,500 women, many of whom are actively involved in one of our over 130 collegiate chapters or 150 alumnae associations throughout the United States and Canada. |
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