The Prytanean Society is the oldest collegiate women's honorary society in the United States. Founded on the Berkeley campus of the University of California in 1900.The student founders, Adele Gerard Lewis and Agnes Frisius, had a keen interest in student healthcare and housing issues, and the organization's work concentrated on those areas for many years. Benjamin Ide Wheeler was president of the University, and there were just over 2,000 students. He was about to introduce the concept of student government, and the founders were prescient enough to recognize that students could identify and address issues of concern. Imagine what pride the founding members would have in the legacy they left the University, were they to hear each new Prytanean pledge "faith, service and loyalty to the University of California.