ZetaHerstory

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was organized at Howard University on January 16, 1920 with the encouragment given to the five founders (The Pearls) by Charles Smauel taylor and A. Langston Taylor, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

These five Fine women chose not to embrace the tenets of standard sororities and chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural, and educational programs; promte service projects on college campuses AND in the community; foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideals of FINER womanhood.

Since its inception, the Sorority has chronicled a number of firsts among the previously established sororities.

1.)Zeta is the only organization constitutionally bound to a fraternity. Our founders realized that in order of true change to occur, it must happen with the cooperation of both genders.

2.) Our founders were woman whose visions of the ideal sorority transceded doestic boundaries, thus Zeta was the first sorority to charter international chapters, those in West Germany and Africa.

3.) From her birth, Zeta ceased to be an exlusionary organization, and embraced woman who blieved in the ideals of Zeta, but who were unable to attend college, they are known as Amicae. Very early on, Zeta strove to postivitly influence our youth. ThuS Zeta was the first sorority to form adult and auxiliary (including youth) groups.

4.) Our founders were women about business and thus Zeta was the first sorority to organize its affairs within a central, national office, admistered by a paid staff.

Thus the saying, "Often imitated, but NEVER duplicated".

Since its birth, Zeta has expanded to encompass more than 500 graduate and collegiate chapters. These chapters are located throught the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, the Bahama Islands, Eastern Caribbean Islands, West Africa, Germany and many other European contires. The Organization itself is organized into Nine Regions.

Zeta's national and local programs include endowment of its National Educational Foundation; community outreach services; and support of the multiple affiliate organizations. Zeta chapters and auxiliary groups have given untotaled hours of voluntary service to educated the public, assist youth, provide scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change.

A nonprofit, action oriented, community conscious corganization, Zeta Phi Beta is incorporated in Washington, D.C. and the state of Illinois. The Sorority is supported by the dues and gifts of its members.