In this article, Linda Eisenman reviews the history of the "Association of American Colleges" (AAC), whose 150 college executives gathered in Chicago in 1915 to create the Association, and chose "inclusiveness" and "interhelpfulness" as twin themes to animate their organization. "Inclusiveness" allowed many colleges that were feeling outside the growing circle of university influence to find their place within AAC. "Interhelpfulness" was the key, as these institutions struggled to define and reassert their importance in the changing landscape and to share ideas about effective practice. Eisenman reflects on how these two themes have been in operation over the past century of AAC and how the commitment to keep these goals in place has shaped AAC.