When I came to college two years ago, the last thing on my mind was joining a sorority. It makes me laugh because now, I can’t imagine college without it. During my first year on campus, I slowly started learning about Greek Life and how it wasn’t anything I expected. After deciding to go through recruitment, I was excited for all the great opportunities I could achieve from being in a sorority. Alpha Delta Pi gave me everything I expected and more! I can’t explain how much I love this organization locally and nationally! Being apart of something that is 161 years old is crazy to think about. There have been so many great women in this sorority and I know many who are currently in it. Meeting sisters on forums and here on tumblr, has been so much fun! All of you are amazing women and great representatives of this organization. I normally don’t write a lot on this blog but in light of the day I thought I would make an exception. I love all of you and the reason this sorority is First Finest and Forever is because of amazing women like you. Love and Loyalty- Taylor <>
“Founded on May 15, 1851, Alpha Delta Pi is the oldest secret society for college women in the world. Established at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, the first college chartered to grant degrees to women in the world, the story of Alpha Delta Pi is a remarkable one and it all began with a young girl’s dream.
Eugenia Tucker was just sixteen years old when she left her family home in Laurens County, Georgia, to enter Wesleyan College. Before the end of her first year she would establish the first sorority in the world.”
When Eugenia Tucker decided to form a society, her dearest and most admired friends were asked to join her. She listed them in her journal as: Ella Pierce, daughter of a bishop; Octavia Andrew, daughter of a bishop; Bettie Williams of South Carolina; Sophronia Woodruff; and Mary A. Evans, daughter of a useful and beloved pastor of Macon Mulberry Street Methodist Church for several years.
Elizabeth Moseley Coles, who was elected national president at the first grand convention, was responsible for having the coat of arms designed. Another sister of Alpha chapter, Agnes Chapman, is given credit for the actual design of our coat of arms. Symbolism from our ritual and our Alpha pin were combined in the coat of arms, and the design originally had a background of violets. In 1919, the convention body voted to make changes and the present design was accepted.
The first diamond-shaped badge was worn by the Adelpheans in 1852. Stars were not included on this first badge, but it did have a monogram of the Wesleyan pin attached to the badge by a link chain, thus forming a guard.
In 1854, the stars were added, but it was not until 1874 that the stars and the clasped hands were raised. This design remained with only slight modifications until 1906 when, at Alpha Delta Pi’s first convention, Nanaline King presented a new design for the pin. Her design was a smaller gold badge with a black enamel center which pictured the clasped hands, the two stars, and the greek letters, Alpha Delta Phi. This design was adopted by the convention and is the same pin we have today, with Alpha Delta Phi being changed to Alpha Delta Pi at the 1913 convention.
Since 1979, Alpha Delta Pi has been committed to serving Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Over the course of our partnership, Alpha Delta Pi has contributed more than $5 million to this worthwhile cause. RMHC supports Ronald McDonald Houses, Care Mobiles, and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in local communities and also funds grants to other nonprofit organizations whose programs focus on children in need.
Today, more than 300 Ronald McDonald Houses in 52 countries help keep families with seriously ill or injured children together when they need it most by offering them a comfortable, temporary residence in proximity to a medical facility. In addition to donating money to this worthwhile cause, many Alpha Delta Pi collegiate chapters and alumnae associations spend their time and energy volunteering at these houses. For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities, please visit the RMHC website at www.rmhc.org.
Our story begins May 15th 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia, where six incredible women changed the world.
Led by Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, our founders formed The Adelphean Society for “the mental, moral, social, and domestic improvement of its members.” The Adelphean Society, later renamed Alpha Delta Pi, was the first secret society for college women.
Couldn’t resist reblogging… Alphie knows how ADPi’s feel during exams! :)
