Founded May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia, Alpha Delta Pi is proudly distinguished as being the first secret society in the world for college women. The original name of the sorority was the "Adelphean Society." The mother of the present sorority system, it is only fitting that our founding took place at the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. The qualifications for membership and the qualities to which members strive to exemplify, namely scholarship, high principles of behavior, and true friendships, have remained unchanged through the years. Today there are over 135 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Six young women founded The Adelphean Society. They are (pictured from left) Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, Ella Pierce Turner, Octavia Andrew Rush, Mary Evans Glass, Sophronia Woodruff Dewes, Elizabeth Williams Mitchell (not pictured). Eugenia, was acknowledged as leader of The Adelpheans and was chosen as their first president. The first six (*) to wear the cherished ribbons of the society were joined by 13 other young women before the end of the school term on July 1, 1851:

• Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald*
• Octavia Andrew Rush*
• Mary Evans Glass*
• Ella Pierce Fitzgerald*
• Elizabeth Williams Mitchell*
• Sophronia Woodruff Dewes*
• Ann Burkhalter
• Octavia Douglas
• Maria J. Easterling
• May Everett
• Mary Finn
• Josephine Freeman
• Oceana Goodall
• Mary Harris
• Anna L. Jeffers
• Sara Simms
• Mary J. Snow
• Mary M. Tucker