[7] On March 19, 1912, members of the Palette Club discussed becoming a national Greek letter society.

[1][2][5][8] Its charter members were:[9] Neva Foster Gribble was the sorority's first national chair and wrote its ceremonies, constitution, and bylaws.

[25] Above the shield is a crest consisting of an artist's palette with three brushes on top of a radiant star.

[1][16][30] One of its awards was the Ruth Raymond Scholarship to the Little Artists Colony in Stillwater, Minnesota.

[32] The society also held a juried art show for its student members at its national convention.

[1] Chapters also provided space for art students to be creative outside of the classroom and encourage experimentation with new mediums or methods.

[21] In addition, chapters hosted annual art exhibits featuring the work of members.

[33][34] Another chapter activity was an annual costume ball, themed to eras in art history.

[35][36] Chapters also sponsored fairs, auctions, and sales where their current members and alumni sold their art.

[37][38][39][40] A 1973 ad for the annual art sale at the Texas Women's University listed a wide range of art forms for sale, including drawings, macramé, paintings, photographs, pottery, prints, sculpture, silk screens, water colors, and weavings.

[41] In some cases, the art sales were open to any student, with a small commission fee raising funds that allowed the chapter to sponsor guest speakers and other programs.

[34] Members were juniors and seniors studying fine arts, who placed in the upper 35 percent of their class.