Alpha Delta Pi



Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ) is a sorority founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi was the first secret society for women at a U.S. university.

Founding of Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Delta Pi, nicknamed ADPi, was founded as the first women's sorority on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. It was first named the Adelphean Society, a secret society focused on fellowship and scholarship. The sorority 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. However, since woodland violets are found in the wild and not available for purchase, people often substitute the African violet. Alpha Delta Pi currently has over 140 chapters in the United States and Canada, and over 140 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.

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.


 * 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. Blue is symbolic of friendship, the basic spirit upon which Alpha Delta Pi was founded. White symbolizes sincerity and truth, two of the qualities in which Alpha Delta Pi looks for in its members.


 * Jewel - Diamond, a symbol of the enduring strength and value of friendship.


 * 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.


 * 4-pointed Diamond - Symbolizes a balanced life when all 4 points of the diamond are represented: Sisterhood, Scholarship, Sorority, Self.

Timeline

 * 1851 Adelphean is founded by Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald on May 15 as The Adelphean Society. The society is founded for the purpose of mental, moral, and social and domestic betterment.
 * 1904  A committee of three, led by Jewel Davis, confers with Attorney Dupont Guerry, the President of Wesleyan, as to the procedure to become a national organization. They secure a charter of incorporation from the state of Georgia.
 * 1905  The Adelphean Society changes its name to Alpha Delta Phi. At the time of nationalization, Alpha Delta Phi has 60 active members and 3,000 alumnae.
 * 1905  Beta Chapter is established at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina by two members of Alpha Chapter. The chapter has seven members and fifteen new initiates. It thrives for three years until the administration abolishes sororities.
 * 1906  Gamma Chapter is founded at Mary Baldwin Seminary. Visitors are not allowed at the school, so the chapter charter and special instructions are delivered to the new group by mail.
 * 1906  Jewel Davis, an Adelphean, enters The University of Texas at Austin as a graduate student, organizes a group, and installs 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. Today, the Delta Chapter at The University of Texas at Austin is the oldest surviving chapter of Alpha Delta Pi.
 * 1906  Epsilon Chapter, the fifth chapter of Alpha Delta Phi, is founded at Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University.
 * 1907  Eta Chapter is founded at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
 * 1910  Kappa chapter is founded at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
 * 1911  Omicron Chapter is founded at Duke University (then, Trinity College) in Durham, North Carolina.
 * 1911  Pi Chapter is founded at Iowa State University in Ames, IA.
 * 1911 Rho Chapter is founded at Boston University in Boston,MA.
 * 1912  Upsilon Chapter is founded at Washington State University in Pullman, WA.
 * 1912  Tau Chapter is founded at The University of Kansas.
 * 1913  Alpha Delta Phi officially changes its name to Alpha Delta Pi. Chi Chapter, at Wittenberg University is the first chapter to bear the new name.
 * 1940  Beta Phi Chapter is installed at the University of Maryland
 * 1948  Mrs. Carolee Strock Stanard retires as Grand President and part of her keynote address becomes The Creed of Alpha Delta Pi.
 * 1959  Delta Delta Chapter is founded at the University of Arkansas.
 * 1960  Alpha Delta Pi’s 100th chapter, Delta Omicron, is installed at East Carolina University.
 * 1964  Delta Omega Chapter is founded at Northern Illinois University.
 * 1971  Zeta Gamma Chapter is adopted as the first sorority at the University of North Carolina Charlotte's campus.
 * 1979  Alpha Delta Pi adopts Ronald McDonald Houses as the National Philanthropy.
 * 1983  Alpha Delta Pi Foundation is established.
 * 2000  Eta Omega Chapter is colonized at Centre College.
 * 2001  Alpha Delta Pi celebrates its 150th Anniversary in Atlanta, Georgia.
 * 2006  Delta chapter, the oldest open chapter of ADPi, celebrates its 100th anniversary at The University of Texas at Austin.
 * 2006  Delta Beta Chapter at Lamar University celebrates its 50th anniversary.
 * 2007  Eta Chapter at the University of Alabama celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 * 2007  Zeta chapter, the second oldest open chapter of ADPi, celebrates its 100th anniversary at Southwestern University.
 * 2007  Delta Delta chapter at the University of Arkansas celebrates its 50th anniversary.
 * 2007  Theta Gamma Chapter at Sonoma State University is colonized.
 * 2008  Delta Eta Chapter at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana celebrates its 50th anniversary.
 * 2008  Theta Epsilon Chapter is installed at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
 * 2009  Theta Theta Chapter at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut is installed. Theta Theta is the 200th chapter of ADPi to be installed.
 * 2009  Theta Eta Chapter is colonized at Drake University.
 * 2009  Theta Zeta Chapter at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia is installed.
 * 2009  Theta Kappa Chapter at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida is colonized and installed.
 * 2010  Lambda Chapter at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 * 2010  Kappa Chapter at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 * 2010  Eta Zeta Chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi celebrates its 25th anniversary.
 * 2010  Delta Pi Chapter at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin celebrates its 50th anniversary.
 * 2011  Eta Kappa Chapter at California State University, San Bernardino in California celebrates its 25th anniversary.
 * 2011  Omicron Chapter at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 * 2011  Delta Rho Chapter at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania celebrates its 50th anniversary.
 * 2011  Delta Upsilon Chapter at University of Tennessee at Martin, Tennessee celebrates its 50th anniversary.
 * 2012  Theta Mu Chapter at Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois is installed.
 * 2012  Sigma Chapter at University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 * 2012  Theta Xi Chapter at University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma is installed.
 * 2012  Theta Omicron Chapter at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia is colonized and installed.
 * 2012  Theta Nu Chapter at Christopher Newport University, Virginia is colonized and installed.
 * 2013  Chi Chapter at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 * 2013  Phi Chapter at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 * 2013  Epsilon Eta Chapter is reinstalled at Mississippi State University.
 * 2013  Theta Rho Chapter at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT was colonized and installed.
 * 2013  Epsilon Chapter is reinstalled at Tulane University.
 * 2014  Theta Tau Chapter is installed at The University of Pennsylvania
 * 2014  Delta Sigma Chapter is reinstalled at The University of Mississippi

Notable ADPis

 * Monique Evans (Miss Texas) (Delta) - Miss Texas 2014
 * Kathy Bates (Alpha Zeta) - actress
 * Alexis Bellino (Alpha Gamma) - The Real Housewives of Orange County
 * Bree Boyce (Zeta Phi) - Miss South Carolina 2011
 * Kate Capshaw (Alpha Gamma) – actress; (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) and wife of Steven Spielberg
 * Deana Carter (Alpha Kappa) – country singer
 * Jenna Day (Beta Psi) - Miss Kentucky 2013
 * Cathy Deupree (Eta) – singer
 * Ainsley Earhardt (Iota and Beta Epsilon) - Journalist and co-host of FOX and Friends
 * Karen Fairchild (Kappa) – country singer; member of Little Big Town
 * Kelli Finglass (Gamma Chi) - Director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
 * Nancy Grace (Delta Theta) – CNN News host
 * Lauren Grandcolas (Delta) – author, passenger on United Airlines Flight 93
 * Karen Hughes, (Alpha Zeta) – Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
 * Anna Kooiman (Eta Alpha) - Reporter and co-host on FOX & Friends weekend
 * Neva Jane Langley (Gamma Gamma) – Miss America, 1953
 * Katherine Levasseur (Gamma Tau) - Miss Vermont 2011
 * Danica McKellar (Alpha Chi) – actress; (The Wonder Years)
 * Danielle Murphree - Big Brother contestant
 * Jessica Nelson North (Theta) – poet and author. Editor at Poetry
 * Veronika Ohlinger - Miss Montana 2011
 * Sandra Palmer (Gamma Upsilon) – professional golfer
 * Lu Parker (Zeta Sigma) – Miss USA 1994; KTLA news correspondent
 * Emily Procter (Delta Omicron) – actress; (CSI: Miami, The West Wing)
 * Ali Rogers (Zeta Nu) - Miss South Carolina 2012-2013, 1st runner-up Miss America 2013
 * Leigh Sherer (Kappa) - Miss Alabama 1995, top ten Miss America 1996
 * Carol Shields (Phi) – author; winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, 1995
 * Jean Smart (Alpha Theta) – actress; (Designing Women, 24, Samantha Who?)
 * McKey Sullivan (Delta Pi) - model; winner of the eleventh cycle of America's Next Top Model
 * Mary Kate Wiles (Alpha Psi) - actress
 * Judy Woodruff (Omicron) – news correspondent
 * Courtney Hope Turner (Beta Epsilon) - Miss South Carolina USA 2011 (Top 8 finalist at Miss USA 2011)
 * Christina Zapolski (Zeta Sigma)- Miss South Carolina USA 2014 (Top 10 finalist at Miss USA 2014)
 * Lanie Hudson (Zeta Nu) - Miss South Carolina 2014
 * Maggie Bridges (Zeta Omicron) - Miss Georgia 2014

Alpha Delta Pi Philanthropy
The Alpha Delta Pi Sorority started a partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in 1979. RMHC mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. The partnership between ADPI and RMHC has contributed more than $7.8 million dollars to the organization of the Ronald McDonald House. There are over 300 Ronald McDonald Houses in 52 countries that supporters, sisters, and alumni of Alpha Delta Pi help to serve. The goal of the houses is to provide comfort to families who have seriously ill children in nearby hospitals. Besides just donating money towards the Ronald McDonald Houses, ADPi collegiate chapters volunteer their time and energy serving those who are staying at the houses. Sisters of ADPi will cook meals for families, clean and repair the houses, and play and interact with children and adults living at the houses.