Alpha Delta Pi Heritage

Pride in the Past, Faith in the Future.

Alpha Delta Pi holds the distinction of being the first secret society in the world for college women. Alpha Delta Pi was founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. The original name of the sorority was the Adelphean Society, derived from the Greek word for ’sister’.  It was even more fitting that ΑΔΠ has her roots at Wesleyan since Wesleyan was the first college institution for women chartered in the world.

Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, along with Octavia Andrews Rush, Mary Evans Glass, Ella Pierce Turner, Elizabeth Williams, and Sophronia Woodruff Dews founded the Adelphean Society.  The Adelphean Society had as its object the betterment of one another and themselves "morally, mentally, and socially," and they took for their open motto "We live for each other."  They developed a ritual and oath, grip, badge, and motto, all things by which we would recognize any fraternity or sorority today.  They also chose colors, azure blue and white, as further symbols of their ideals, as well as an official flower, the woodland violet. The qualifications for membership have remained unchanged through the years - scholarship, high principles of behavior, and true friendships.

These daring young women quickly added more to their number, and the Society was soon an influential social force on the Wesleyan Campus. A year after our founding, the Philomathean Society (present day Phi Mu) was formed, and the two groups were friendly rivals for many years before both groups spread beyond Wesleyan to become national organizations.

With the influence of national Greek Letter Organizations growing, the Adelpheans eventually decided to become national themselves rather than risk being absorbed into another group.  In 1904, the Adelpheans obtained a charter of incorporation as Alpha Delta Phi.  Thus the chapter at Wesleyan became our Alpha Chapter.  Beta Chapter at Winston-Salem was founded in 1905, and Gamma Chapter at Mary Baldwin Seminary followed in 1906.  Delta Chapter at University of Texas was founded the same year, as was Epsilon at Sophie Newcomb College.  The expansion as Alpha Delta Phi continued at a brisk pace through 1913 with the installation of Phi Chapter at Hanover College.  During Convention that summer, the Sorority's name was changed to Alpha Delta Pi, due to continued confusion with the fraternity Alpha Delta Phi.

The Alpha Delta Pi Executive Office, also known as Memorial Headquarters, has been located in Atlanta since March, 1955.  The site is located in the historic Druid Hills section of Atlanta.  The stately red brick, southern colonial mansion sits on almost three acres of sweeping, wooded grounds.  The Archives of Alpha Delta Pi are also stored here.  Displays include early Adelphean badges, early records, portraits of founders and other leaders convention pictures, books by Alpha Delta Pi authors, memorabilia.

From the beginnings of its expansion through the present day, Alpha Delta Pi has continued to grow and today nearly 200,000 initiated women and over 130 chapters across the United States and Canada.  Throughout our history, from Adelphean Society, to Alpha Delta Phi, to Alpha Delta Pi, the core ideals of our Sorority have remained the same: loyalty and sisterhood as exemplified in our open motto, "We Live for Each Other."

Significant Dates in Alpha Delta Pi History

More International Alpha Delta Pi Links

• Famous ADPi's
• Philanthropy
• Symbols
• Chapter List
• International Website

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