Lionism began in the United States on June 17, 1917, when a group of twenty five independent clubs joined together in Chicago under the guidance of Melvin Jones, an insurance executive. Helen Keller challenged the Lions at their convention in 1925 when she asked them to become her "Knights of the Blind". Fighting preventable blindness became their primary objective since that time.Helen Keller

As of 2011 there are over 46,000 clubs with 1.35 million members in 185 countries and geographical areas.

The first Lioness Club was established in 1975. Lioness Clubs work in conjunction with Lions Clubs, performing service in the same areas of concern.

The Buchanan Lioness Club was chartered in April of 1990 and is sponsored by the Mercersburg Lions Club.