Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was organized at Howard University on January 16, 1920 as the result of encouragement given to the five founders by Charles Taylor and Langston Taylor, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. These Sigma brothers felt the campus would benefit by the development of such an organization as sisters to the fraternity. Thus, Zetas and Sigmas became the first official Greek-letter sister and brother organizations.
The Five Founders chose not to embrace the tenets of established sororities and chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural and educational programs; promote service projects on college campuses and in the community; foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideal of Finer Womanhood.
The Five Founders and chartered members (called our "Five Pearls") of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. are:
- Arizona Cleaver (Stemons)
- Pearl A. Neal
- Myrtle Tyler (Faithful)
- Viola Tyler (Goings)
- Fannie Pettie (Watts)
It was the ideal of the Founders that sorority would reach college women in all parts of the country who were sosority minded and desired to follow the founding principles of the organization. These founding principles are: Finer Womanhood, scholarship, service, and sisterly love.
The introduction to Greekdom and the Howard University community was at a formal reception at the Whitelaw Hotel in Washington, D.C. Brothers Langston and Charles Taylor served as hosts. The camupus reception was held in the Assembly Room of Minor Hall at Howard University by Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta, the only other sororities. The first president of Zeta Phi Beta was Arizona Cleaver (Stemons).
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority held its first Boule' convention jointly with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity conclave in December, 1920 in Washington, D.C. However, in 1922 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority found it necessary to establish the National Board to take over the responsibilities which had been carried on by the Alpha Chapter. In June 1927, the growth of the organization made it possible to have its first regional meeting held at Howard University.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on March 30, 1923. The incorporators were Myrtle Tyler, Gladys Warrington, Joanna Houston, Josephine Johnson and Goldie Smith. The sorority is also incorporated in the states of Illinois and North Carolina.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's purpose is to foster ideals of service, charity, scholarship, civil and cultural endeavors, sisterhood, and finer womanhood. These ideals are reflected in the sorority's national program for which it members and auxiliary groups provide voluntary service to staff, community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social change and civic change.
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