Chapter History

History of Zeta Tau Alpha

"In the late 1800's, Zeta Tau Alpha was founded by nine young women attending the State Female Normal School (later Longwood College) in Farmville, Virginia. In 1897, the group was referred to by Maud Jones (one of the founders) as "our little crowd". However, Zeta Tau Alpha did not become an official Greek Letter organization for another full year.

ZTA would become one of the "Farmville Four" which would see women's Greek Letter societies begin to form in the south. Women's national organizations had already established themselves in the north, but due to the War between the States extension into the south was not an option. Indeed, two groups had already formed in the south but nearly failed due to the War. The timing and the place was right when Zeta Tau Alpha along with three other groups sprang into being in the late 1890's.

Although this "circle of friends" that would soon become Zeta Tau Alpha had already been meeting, it was Kappa Delta who first announced its formation at Farmville in 1897 followed by Sigma Sigma Sigma in 1898. It wasn't until one of the nine founders of ZTA had been asked to join one these newly formed groups that "the girls realized definitely that they must now consolidate their position, and the development served as an incentive which hastened the formal founding of Zeta Tau Alpha."

Although these nine young women knew of the fraternity system through brothers and friends they did not know of the existence of women's groups, either in the North or South. "Their aim was, first and foremost, to band together, in a union providing lasting qualities, girls who were congenial companions and close friends, perpetuating those friendships beyond college days. The details they left to the future. The first move was to organize." So, in secrecy, the founders of Zeta Tau Alpha would meet in candle-lit meetings to begin the task of becoming a National Women's Greek Letter Organization. And as the "preamble of the first minute book of regular meetings...states clearly that Zeta Tau Alpha was organized on October 15, 1898, at the State Female Normal School." The book also stated for the first time the colors, flower and motto of the fraternity. The name would come later.

Secrecy continued to be important to the success of the founding of ZTA. This was a new unknown world for these women and "they decided, characteristically, to look into certain aspects thoroughly before making lasting decisions." To help them with the task at hand the founders solicited the help of two brothers who, being fraternity men themselves, could help them with the intricate details of the fraternity system. Thus, Plummer Jones (Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Kappa) and Giles Mebane Smith (Phi Theta Psi and Phi Beta Kappa) became consultant-collaborators.

The next event to define Zeta history was a gift sent to Cammie Jones (Mary Campbell Jones) by one of her admirers. This gift "provided the inspiration for the first purely social gathering." The gift was a basket of strawberries and thus the first social was called a "Strawberry Feast". The History of Zeta Tau Alpha recalls, "I don't know, " they wrote,"what there was in the occasion or the delicious berries to bolster up our courage, but then and there we decided, without a dissenting vote, to become recognized, but all the while our name hung wildly in the balance."

The young women took great care in choosing a name for their organization. For a time the group was known as the ???. As the story goes, upon receiving a tub of fresh oysters from the father of the Coleman sisters it was decided that the announcement party of the fraternity would take the form of an oyster stew. As soon as the founders could determine a temporary name for there group, invitations would be sent to Kappa Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma. This temporary name would soon present itself. Although the founders tried to keep their plans a secret, the formation of their group was soon known at the small all women school. And the story goes that as "a member of another group met some of our girls out walking...she superciliously raised her brows and, forming a question mark with her fingers, inquired, 'Who are you?'. Simultaneously, the group replied with an inspired, 'Yes, Who? Who ? Who?' and rush to find the other girls," and so they had their temporary name. The invitations were sent out and on December 23, 1898, the oyster-stew announcement party was held.

Early 1899 saw the first three new members to be initiated into the group on March 3, 1899. And by early Spring (before April) the selection of Zeta Tau Alpha as a name, as well as, the adoption of the motto, the patron goddess Themis, the design of the pin, and other necessities were decided upon. "From that moment on, unremitting work toward perfection of organization on a forward looking basis characterized all activity."

Perhaps one of the most important events in the young fraternity's life came about through the hard work of Grace Elcan, one of the three new members. It was through her tenacity that Zeta Tau Alpha would be the "first woman's fraternity to be chartered in the State of Virginia, and the only one ever to be granted a charter by a special act of the legislature." With the help of Senator Frank C. Moon, Zeta Tau Alpha's charter "was duly drawn up and passed on March 15, 1902."

And thus, the early beginnings of Zeta Tau Alpha came to pass. Now ZTA is the 3rd largest NPC group with 223 chartered collegiate chapters throughout the United States and Canada and over 260 active Alumnae organizations. Thereby giving Zeta Tau Alpha the distinction of being an International Fraternity."