Arizona Cleaver (Stemons): Arizona Cleaver was the first president of Alpha chapter and the first national president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.Viola Tyler Goings, from the 1920 Howard yearbook They are known to the members of the sorority as 'The Five Pearls'. The Founders of Zeta Phi Beta were five collegiate students of Howard University. In 1959, Zeta Phi Beta purchased its current headquarters, located at 1734 New Hampshire Avenue NW on Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. In 1923, the first chapter of any black sorority to organize a collegiate chapter in Texas, Theta chapter, was established at Wiley College. The sorority was incorporated by the state of Illinois in 1939. by sorority members Myrtle Tyler, Gladys Warrington, Joanna Houston, Josephine Johnson and O. Zeta Phi Beta was first incorporated on Main Washington, D.C. Later Boules were held in many locations across the United States. The Archon, the sorority's official magazine was established shortly afterwards. Later that year, in December 1920, the sorority held the first boule (convention) with members of Phi Beta Sigma at Howard University. Īlpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta sororities held a 'Welcome to Campus' reception in the assembly room in Miner Hall, in honor of the new sorority. The two Sigma brothers had been a source of advice and encouragement during the establishment of the sorority and throughout its early days. The newly established Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was given a formal introduction at Whitelaw Hotel by Phi Beta Sigma members Charles Robert Samuel Taylor and A. Phi Beta was taken from Phi Beta Sigma to 'seal and signify the relationship between the two organizations'. The five students chose the name Zeta Phi Beta. That permission was granted, and on January 16, 1920, the first official meeting was held. Īrizona Cleaver sought permission from the Howard University administration to establish a new campus sorority.

Arizona presented this idea to Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, and Fannie Pettie, and a new sisterhood was formed. In the spring of 1919, during a stroll on the campus of Howard University, Charles Robert Samuel Taylor, member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, shared with Arizona Cleaver his idea for a new sisterhood a sister organization to his fraternity. Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma are the only constitutionally bound sorority and fraternity in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Zeta Phi Beta is the third largest predominantly African-American sorority. In 1948, Zeta Phi Beta became the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa (in Monrovia, Liberia).

Zeta Phi Beta is a non-profit 501(c)(7) organization that is divided into eight intercontinental regions and 800+ Chapters located in the US, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Since its founding Zeta Phi Beta has historically focused on addressing social causes. These women believed that sorority elitism and socializing overshadowed the real mission for progressive organizations. In 1920, five women from Howard University envisioned a sorority that would raise the consciousness of their people, encourage the highest standards of scholastic achievement, and foster a greater sense of unity among its members. ( ΖΦΒ) is a historically African American sorority. Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood These ideals are reflected in the sorority's national program for which its members and auxiliary groups provide voluntary service to staff, community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change.Ī community-conscious, action-oriented organization To foster the ideas of service, charity, scholarship, civil and cultural endeavors, sisterhood and finer womanhood. For the fraternity in Puerto Rico, see Zeta Phi Beta (fraternity).

Sigma gamma rho sorority hand sign