Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, was the first college in New England to admit women on an equal basis with male students. Mary Caffrey Low was the first woman to be admitted to Colby in 1871. She remained the only female student until 1873, when four more young women from Maine, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller, Frances Mann and Louise Helen Coburn joined her.

During the school year of 1873-74, the five women decided to form a literary and social society. College administrators informed them that they needed to present a constitution and bylaws with a petition requesting permission to form Sigma Kappa Sorority. On Nov. 9, 1874, the five young women received a letter from the faculty approving their petition to create the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Thus, this date has since been considered our Founders' Day.