Our Triumphant Founders |
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Founded January 16, 1920
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., as the sister organization to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Our FIVE founders, Arizona Cleaver Stemmons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, and Fannie Pettie Watts, established 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.
Since its inception, the sorority has chronicled a number of "first" among the established Black sororities. In addition to being the only organization constitutionally bound to a fraternity, the sorority was the first to charter international chapters, those in West Africa and Germany; to form adult and youth auxiliary groups, the Amicae, Archonettes, Amicettes, and Pearlettes; and to organize its internal affairs within a central, national office administered by a paid staff.
Zeta Phi Beta's purpose is to foster the ideals of service, charity, scholarship, civic, and cultural endeavors, sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. These ideals are reflected in the sorority's national programs for which its members and auxiliary groups provide untotaled hours of voluntary service to staff community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change.
Over the years since the sorority's inception, Zeta Phi Beta has chartered hundreds of chapters and initiated thousands of women around the world. Zeta has continued to thrive and flourish while adapting to the ever-changing needs of a new century.
Our FIVE founders, Arizona Cleaver Stemmons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, and Fannie Pettie Watts, established 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.
Since its inception, the sorority has chronicled a number of "first" among the established Black sororities. In addition to being the only organization constitutionally bound to a fraternity, the sorority was the first to charter international chapters, those in West Africa and Germany; to form adult and youth auxiliary groups, the Amicae, Archonettes, Amicettes, and Pearlettes; and to organize its internal affairs within a central, national office administered by a paid staff.
Zeta Phi Beta's purpose is to foster the ideals of service, charity, scholarship, civic, and cultural endeavors, sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. These ideals are reflected in the sorority's national programs for which its members and auxiliary groups provide untotaled hours of voluntary service to staff community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change.
Over the years since the sorority's inception, Zeta Phi Beta has chartered hundreds of chapters and initiated thousands of women around the world. Zeta has continued to thrive and flourish while adapting to the ever-changing needs of a new century.
"…I believe that no [other] organization could have been founded upon principles that were so near and dear to all of our hearts." (Founder Myrtle Tyler)
Scholarship. Service. Sisterhood. Finer Womanhood.
Since 1920