Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporatedwas founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C. on January 16, 1920. Zeta began as an idea conceived by five coeds - Arizona Cleaver, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, Fannie Pettie, and Pearl Neal. These five women dared to depart from the traditional coalitions for black women and sought to establish a new organization predicated on the highest standards of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood on college campuses. As the result of encouragement given to our five Founders by Charles Taylor and A. Langston Taylor, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. These Sigma brothers felt the campus would benefit by the development of such an organization as sisters to the fraternity. Thus, Zeta and Sigma became the first and only official Greek-letter sister and brother organization. Since its inception, Zeta is the first organization to charter a chapter in Africa (1948); to form adult (Amicae) and youth auxiliary groups (The Archonettes, Amicettes, Pearlettes). Zeta is the first to organize its operations in a national headquarters administered by a paid staff. The Sorority has expanded to charter hundreds of chapters which encompasses more than 800 graduate and collegiate chapters located throughout the United States, the Caribbean, West Africa, Dubai, and military bases in Iceland, Europe and Asia. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated’s motto is “A Community-Conscious, Action-Oriented Organization” which provides programs that effectively address the needs of local communities. Members of Zeta chapters and auxiliary groups give numerous hours of voluntary services to educate the public, assist youth, provide scholarships, support charities, and promote legislation for social and civic changes. Zeta continues to thrive and flourish while adapting to the ever-changing needs of a new century. Despite the Great Depression, discrimination and segregation and a host of other challenges, Zeta has continued to hold true to its ideals and purpose, as stated by Founder Myrtle Tyler "…I believe that no [other] organization could have been founded upon principles that were so near and dear to all of our hearts."
