History
Founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia, Alpha Delta Pi holds the distinction of being the first secret society in the world for college women. As the mother of today's 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 have remained unchanged through the years: scholarship, high principles of behavior, and true friendships.
The six young women who founded The Adelphean Society were Eugenia Tucker (Fitzgerald), Ella Pierce (Turner), Octavia Andrew (Rush), Mary Evans (Glass), Sophronia Woodruff (Dews), Elizabeth Williams (Mitchell)
Colors: Azure blue and White
Open Motto: "We live for each other"
Mascot: The Lion (also named: Alphie)
Official Flower: The Woodland Violet
Badge
The first badge was worn by the Adelpheans in 1851. It was satin riband with ribbon streamers; the name "Adelphean" appeared on one end with a design of clasped hands at the other end. In the center was the Open Motto -- "We Live for Each Other."The second year after organization, a diamond-shaped silver pin was adopted. 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, ADF. This design was adopted by the convention and is the same pin we have today, with ADF being changed to ADP at the 1913 convention.
Coat of Arms
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 Zeta Beta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi was colonized at North Carolina State University in 1969. The colony was installed and presented with its charter at a banquet on February 20, 1971. Alpha Delta Pi was the second sorority on the N.C. State campus and is now one of eight on NC State's Panhellenic Council.
Please be sure to visit our International website at www.alphadeltapi.org
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