Mrs. Annette Colbert Johnson founded The Pierians in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 13, 1958.

Nine women joined Mrs. Johnson in her interests in the arts, to form this group which became unique to Baltimore and to the greater Maryland audience. The nine women who joined were: Kathleen Carter, Olivia Dixon, Mercedes Douglass, Hazel Fleming, Jewel Moseley, Charlotte Mebane, Lydia Mussenden, Gwendolyn Tarter, and Mamie Todd.

This organization was named The Pierians, a name taken from the word Pieria, a region of Ancient Macedonia, one of the earliest seats of the Muses. The Pierians' spring was a fountain in Pieria, sacred to the Muses and believed to communicate poetic inspiration. This organization is devoted to promoting and encouraging the study and enjoyment of the fine arts. Mrs. Johnson emphasized that it would not be a social club or a service club, but rather an organization whose members would engage in cultural activities such as attending the theatre, opera, symphony and museums.

The Pierians incorporated in 1983. In 1993, the official documents of the organization were presented to the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore, Maryland, thereby ensuring a place of importance in the chronology of Maryland history.

Since the chartering of the first chapter in Baltimore, Maryland, seventeen additional chapters have been established around the United States, making The Pierians, Incorporated, a national organization. There are currently sixteen active chapters.