Alpha Delta Pi

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Alpha Delta Pi
(ΑΔΠ)
Image:Alpha delta pi crest.jpg
Founded May 15, 1851 (1851-05-15) (age 157)
Wesleyan College, (Macon, Georgia)
Type Social
Scope International
Motto We Live For Each Other
Colors Azure and White
Flower Woodland Violet
Jewel diamond
Philanthropy Ronald McDonald House Charities
Members 200,000+ currently
lifetime
Free label The Lion "Alphie"
Headquarters 1386 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Homepage http://www.alphadeltapi.org

Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ) was founded May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia making it the first female fraternal organization established.[1] The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia.

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[edit] Founding of Alpha Delta Pi

Alpha Delta Pi, nicknamed ADPi, was founded as the Adelphean Society on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi holds the distinction of being the first secret society for women in the world. Alpha Delta Pi was founded on the principles of scholarship, leadership, service to others and sisterhood. These principles still guide the policies and programs of the sorority today.

In 1905 the Adelphean Society changed its name to Alpha Delta Phi (ΑΔΦ), but was later changed because a men's fraternity by the same name was already well established at many universities where ADPi wanted to start chapters.

The open motto of ADPi is "We Live for Each Other," and its colors are azure blue and white. The official flower is the woodland violet, the mascot is a lion nicknamed Alphie and the symbol is the diamond.[citation needed] However, since woodland violets are found in the wild and not available for purchase, people often substitute the African violet for it. Alpha Delta Pi currently has over 130 chapters in the United States and Canada, and over 150 alumnae associations, and their Executive Office is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Its national philanthropy is the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Alpha Delta Pi was founded by six women, Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Williams Mitchell, Sophronia Woodruff Dews, Octavia Andrew Rush, Mary Evans Glass, and Ella Pierce Turner.

Wesleyan College, the first college for women in the world, was chartered to grant degrees to women. Young women fortunate enough to receive a college education were from progressive and educated families. A typical day for a Wesleyan student was highly regulated. There was a precise schedule for waking, eating, attending classes, taking fresh air and exercising, studying, attending chapel and sleeping. They had few personal liberties and little time for free thinking and socializing.

Alpha Delta Pi is a member group of the National Panhellenic Conference, which is the governing council of the 26 member sororities.

[edit] Symbols

The symbols of Alpha Delta Pi are:

  • Badge - 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.
  • Alpha Badge - New Member Badge, New members wear a gold pin with a lion atop the Greek letters ΒΥΑ. The letters remind Alphas of the open motto: We Live for Each Other.
  • Mascot - The lion is the mascot of Alpha Delta Pi. The lion is nicknamed Alphie.
  • Official Colors - Azure blue and white are the official colors of Alpha Delta Pi.
  • Official Flower - The Woodland Violet, which grows wild, is the official flower. Because it is unavailable for purchase, African Violets are often used to symbolize the Woodland Violet.
  • 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 the coat of arms. Symbolism from the ritual and the 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.

[edit] Timeline

  • 1851 Alpha Delta Pi was founded by Eugenia Tucker on May 15th as The Adelphean Society, the first secret society for women. The society was founded for the purpose of mental, moral, and social and domestic betterment.
  • 1904 A committee of three, led by Jewel Davis, conferred with Attorney Dupont Guerry, the President of Wesleyan, as to the procedure to become a national organization. They secured a charter of incorporation from the state of Georgia.
  • 1905 The Adelphean Society changed its name to Alpha Delta Phi. At the time of nationalization, Alpha Delta Phi had 60 active members and 3,000 alumnae.
  • 1905 Beta Chapter is established at Winston-Salem by two members of Alpha Chapter. The chapter had seven members and fifteen new initiates. It thrived for three years until the administration abolished sororities.
  • 1906 Gamma Chapter was founded at Mary Baldwin Seminary. Visitors were not allowed at the school, so the chapter charter and special instructions were delivered to the new group by mail.
  • 1906 Jewel Davis, an Adelphean, entered the University of Texas as a graduate student, organized a group, and installed them as Delta Chapter, the fourth chapter of Alpha Delta Phi. Jewel Davis is listed as a charter member as there was no precedent for affiliation.
  • 1907 Eta Chapter was founded at the University of Alabama, installing nine members, one of whom was Wildie Churchill Hibbler, a grandmother of Katie Couric.
  • 1913 Alpha Delta Phi officially changed its name to Alpha Delta Pi.
  • 1948 Mrs. Carolee Strock Stanard retires as Grand President and part of her keynote address becomes The Creed of Alpha Delta Pi.
  • 1960 Alpha Delta Pi’s 100th chapter was installed.
  • 1979 Alpha Delta Pi adopts Ronald McDonald Houses as the National Philanthropy.
  • 1983 Alpha Delta Pi Foundation established.
  • 2001 Alpha Delta Pi celebrates its 150th Anniversary in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • 2007 Alpha Delta Pi's Eta chapter at the University of Alabama celebrates their 100th Anniversary of being on campus

[edit] Notable ADPi's

For a full list of notable Alpha Delta Pi alumnae please visit here. [1]

[edit] Alpha Delta Pi Chapters

Main article: List of Alpha Delta Pi chapters

[edit] References

  1. ^ Nuwer, Hank (1999). Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking. Indiana University Press, pp. 149. ISBN 0-253-21498-X. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Alpha Delta Pi Sorority - Arts and Entertainment. Alpha Delta Pi. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
  3. ^ Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation: About Us. Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
  4. ^ Alpha Delta Pi Sorority - Business and Government. Alpha Delta Pi. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.

[edit] External links

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National Panhellenic Conference