Our History

Alpha Delta Pi was founded on May 15, 1851, at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia, the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. Our founder, Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, was just 16 years old when she gathered six of her classmates to form the Adelphean Society, making us the very first secret society for college women.

From the start, our mission has been to foster personal growth in areas of intellect, character, friendship, and service. The Adelphean Society later became Alpha Delta Pi in 1913 as we expanded to new campuses and embraced our Greek name. Our symbols and traditions have stood the test of time; our colors are azure blue and white, our official flower is the woodland violet, and our open motto, "We Live for Each Other," continues to guide everything we do. The four-point diamond on our badge represents our core values: character, sisterhood, scholarship, and service. Our beloved mascot, "Alphie the Lion", reminds us to lead with courage and loyalty throughout our campuses and within our chapters.

Today, Alpha Delta Pi has grown to more than 155 collegiate chapters and 140 alumnae associations across the U.S. and Canada, with over 260,000 initiated members. Since 1979, we’ve proudly partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities, contributing more than $16 million to support families in need. The Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, established in 1983, provides scholarships, emergency assistance, leadership programs, and helps preserve our rich history. As we approach our 175th anniversary in 2026, Alpha Delta Pi remains forever first—a sisterhood built on purpose, strengthened by love, and carried forward by generations of women who live for each other.