The English Society was the brainchild of several undergraduates at the university, namely Ryan Holley, Jenna Lester, Steffe Gatton, Trent McMahon, Matt McLaughlin, Anthony Critelli-O'Donnell, and Madhu Koduvalli. These students brought the English Society into existence.

In 2010, the English Society was founded under the oversight of Dr. Anne Stapleton. Together with Dr. Stapleton, the goal of our founders was to bridge the gap between the undergraduate literary community at the university and the wider literary community in Iowa City.