In 1898, Zeta Tau Alpha was founded by nine young women attending the State Female Normal School (later Longwood College) in Farmville, Virginia. However, Zeta Tau Alpha did not become an official Greek Letter organization for another full year.
Although these nine young women knew of the fraternity system through brothers and friends they did not know of the existence of women's groups, either in the North or South. "Their aim was, first and foremost, to band together, in a union providing lasting qualities, girls who were congenial companions and close friends, perpetuating those friendships beyond college days. The details they left to the future. The first move was to organize." And as the "preamble of the first minute book of regular meetings...states clearly that Zeta Tau Alpha was organized on October 15, 1898, at the State Female Normal School." The book also stated for the first time the colors, flower and motto of the fraternity.To help them with the task at hand the founders solicited the help of two brothers who, being fraternity men themselves, could help them with the intricate details of the fraternity system. Thus, Plummer Jones (Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Kappa) and Giles Mebane Smith (Phi Theta Psi and Phi Beta Kappa) became consultant-collaborators. The young women took great care in choosing a name for their organization. For a time the group was known as the “???”.And the story goes that as "a member of another group met some of our girls out walking...she superciliously raised her brows and, forming a question mark with her fingers, inquired, 'Who are you?'. Simultaneously, the group replied with an inspired, 'Yes, Who? Who ? Who?' and rush to find the other girls," and so they had their temporary name. Zeta Tau Alpha became the "first woman's fraternity to be chartered in the State of Virginia, and the only one ever to be granted a charter by a special act of the legislature." with the help of Senator Frank C. Moon, Zeta Tau Alpha's charter "was duly drawn up and passed on March 15, 1902." Now ZTA is the 3rd largest NPC group with 236 chartered collegiate chapters throughout the United States and Canada. Thereby giving Zeta Tau Alpha the distinction of being an International Fraternity.
The Founders
Maud Jones Horner, Died 1920
Della Lewis Hundley, Died July 12, 1951
Alice Bland Coleman, Died June 11, 1956
Mary Jones Batte, Died December 3, 1957
Alice Grey Welsh, Died June 21, 1960
Ethel Coleman, Died January 24, 1964
Helen M. Crafford, Died September 17, 1964
Frances Yancey Smith, Died April 23, 1977
Ruby Leigh Orgain, Died October 22, 1984
What is Different about Zeta Tau Alpha?
Zeta Tau Alpha is known as a fraternity, not as a sorority. A "fraternity" is an organization whose members have banded together for reasons of common interest and mutual benefit. There is usually some element of secrecy in its design. The terms "sorority" and "fraternity" are often used interchangeably, frequently due to necessity. Some women's organizations prefer "sorority," while others designate the use of "fraternity." It was the intent of the Founders and confirmed by action at two early conventions that Zeta Tau Alpha be designated as a "fraternity." This was done to distinguish our organization from the sisterhoods organized in connection with men's fraternities, called "sororities." Zeta Tau Alpha has no "brother" fraternity.
The Purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha
The Purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha is to intensify friendship, promote happiness among its memebers, to perform such deeds, and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a purer and nobler womanhood in the world.
The Creed of Zeta Tau Alpha
by Shirley Kreason Strout
To realize that within our grasp, in Zeta Tau Alpha, lies the opportunity to learn those things which will ever enrich and ennoble our lives; to be true to ourselves, and to those within and without our circle; to think in terms of all mankind and our service to the world; to be steadfast, strong, and clean of heart and mind, remembering that since the thought is father to the deed, only that which we would have manifested in our experience should be entertained in thought; to find satisfaction in being, rather than seeming, thus strengthening in us the higher qualities of the spirit; to prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving, thereby earning the right to be served; to seek understanding that we might gain true wisdom; to look for the good in everyone; to see beauty, with its enriching influence; to be humble in success, and without bitterness in defeat; to have the welfare and harmony of the Fraternity at heart, striving ever to make our lives a symphony of high ideals, devotion to the right, the good, and the true, without a discordant note; remembering always that the foundation precept of Zeta Tau Alpha was love, "the greatest of all things."
