The Edgeworthalean Society was founded in 1841 by twelve Monroe County, Indiana women: M. Alexander, M. Barnes, S. J. Dunning, M. L. Hinkson, J. F. Hughes (Hughs), M. E. Hughes (Hughs), A. Maxwell, M. Maxwell, J. May, C. Morrison, R. Rogers, and S. Williams. Other members included: M. Batterton, E. Baugh, M. L. Bollman, C. Bowland, M. Buskirk, V. Buskirk, E. Deming, M. Forbes, L. Howe, E. J. Kirk, E. Livingston, M. E. Lowe, A. McDonald, M. Martineau, H. E. Parks, J. Severs, M. Sleeper, C. Swearingen, and M. Venable. Of the charter members, M. E. Hughes was the first president, M. L. Hinkson was the first vice president, and C. Morrison was the first secretary. According to the constitution, officers were to be elected every 3 months. The president was required to give an inaugural address to the society upon election, and these were to be recorded unless objected to by two-thirds of the members. The inaugural addresses of M. E. Hughes, M. W. Barnes, M. L. Hinkson, C. Morrison, M. Maxwell, and M. E. Lowe are recorded in the minute book.

The name for the society comes from English author, Maria Edgeworth. The society met on a weekly basis, usually at the Monroe County Female Seminary, which was founded for women in 1818. The purpose of the society was to improve and cultivate the minds of the women through such exercises as recitations, composition arguments, reading, writing, diction, analyzing sentences, and debating leading moral and philosophical questions of the day. It was also the first female literary society of Bloomington, Indiana. The last recorded minutes are dated June 14, 1844.