Five ladies of Lawrence, Kansas met in November 1882 to organize a "ladies social reading club for mutual improvement." Initially called the Etesian Club, the name was given to the group by Mrs. Ropes, one of the charter members with a classical education.

By 1894 the group changed its name to the Ladies Literary League but went by L.L.L. in an attempt to keep its real name a secret; membership claimed when asked that the letters stood for the Lovely Lawrence Ladies.

At first every first Tuesday of the month the group read Shakespeare aloud but stopped this tradition by the early 20th century. The group also introduced a critic for each individual reading a review of a book, which tradition lasted until the 1940s. The group met weekly until the late 1950s, when it began meeting every other week.

The league for several decades took on projects beyond a literary nature, including temperance and women's suffrage. Over time they limited their activities to strictly literary activities such as book reviews and discussions. A Program Committee guides what books will be discussed; membership takes turns serving on the committee, as well as taking turns hosting the meetings at their homes.

The club makes sure to celebrate the anniversary of its founding. From early on members were concerned about retention of their records; as early as 1964, they were considering housing them in the Kansas Room at the University of Kansas' library. The club has a tradition of providing a scholarship to a KU student and donating books in memoriam to the Lawrence Public Library when a member of the club passes away.

In 2017 members voted to become a more casual, social group, doing away with the constitution and bylaws.