National Zeta Tau Alpha History

Zeta Tau Alpha was founded on October 15, 1898, by nine young women at the State Female Normal School which is now known as Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. These young women desired permanence to their friendships, and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college. Though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, they delayed in deciding on a formal name. Today, Zeta Tau Alpha consists of three entities:

The Nine Founders of Zeta Tau Alpha

Maud Jones Horner, Died 1920
Della Lewis Hundley, Died July 12, 1951
Alice Bland Coleman, Died June 11, 1956
Mary Jones Batte, Died December 3, 1957
Alice Grey Welsh, Died June 21, 1960
Ethel Coleman Van Name, Died January 24, 1964
Helen M. Crafford, Died September 17, 1964
Frances Yancey Smith, Died April 23, 1977
Ruby Leigh Orgain, Died October 22, 1984

Alice Coleman, whose brown eyes and irresistible manner are so often mentioned, was the Flirt. She is holding a handkerchief between her hands in an old time flirting signal. Della Lewis, the Judge, gazes at her in stern rebuke, while Maud Jones, the Angel, is lovingly pointing to higher aims. Fannie Smith, the Preacher, holds the Bible in her hand. Never would she have done it lightly, for even in those days she lived the life that could only come from an intimate acquaintance with the Book. Helen Crafford, the Teacher, was setting a "copy" on the slate. Ethel Coleman and Ruby Leigh were Lawyers. Alice Welsh, the Poet, was holding a quill pen and madly writing verse. Cammie Jones, the Light, held a burning candle. Grace Elcan was our Child of Nature; her hair was hanging and she was covered with wild flowers. Grace was one of the most perfectly natural people I ever knew - sweet to the core. I (Odelle Warren Bonham) was Grandma. I wore a black silk dress with a soft old lace shawl and brooch. My hair was parted in the middle and drawn down over my ears in a day when girls showed their ears. Ellen (Armstrong) was at my knee, wearing a high-waisted dress and playing with a toy monkey. She was the baby.

The Creed of Zeta Tau Alpha

To realize that within our grasp, in Zeta Tau Alpha, lies the opportunity to learn those things which will ever enrich and ennoble our lives; to be true to ourselves, to those within and without our circle; to think in terms of all mankind and our service in the world; to be steadfast, strong, and clean of heart and mind, remembering that since the thought is father to the deed, only that which we would have manifested in our experience should be entertained in thought; to find satisfaction in being, rather than seeming, thus strengthening in us the higher qualities of the spirit; to prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving, thereby earning the right to be served; to seek understanding that we might gain true wisdom; to look for the good in everyone; to see beauty, with its enriching influence; to be humble in success, and without bitterness in defeat; to have the welfare and harmony of the Fraternity at heart, striving ever to make our lives a symphony of high ideals, devotion to the Right, t he Good, and the True, without a discordant note; remembering always that the foundation precept of Zeta Tau Alpha was Love, "the greatest of all things." -- Shirley Kreasan Strout

The Purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha

The purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha is to intensify friendship, promote happiness among its members, to perform such deeds, and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a purer and nobler womanhood in the world.

Symbols

The insignia of the Fraternity are symbols of great meaning. They are a heritage from the past, significant because of what Zeta Tau Alphas believe. Many insignia have secret meanings that are revealed during the Initiation service. In order that the insignia of the Fraternity may be protected from imitation and to insure that only those who have the right to wear it may have access to it, the Fraternity selects authorized jewelers to handle orders for all official Fraternity jewelry.

	Badge - The badge of the Fraternity is a small, black, enameled shield super-imposed upon a gold shield, bearing a five pointed crown with the letters ZTA arranged around it, and below it the word "Themis" in Greek.
	Banner - The banner of the Fraternity is rectangular and made of turquoise and gray satin. It bears the letter "A," the word "Themis" in Greek, and a burning torch. The meaning of the banner is secret, but it may be hung in a place that is visible to anyone entering a chapter house, lodge, suite or chapter room.
	Chain of Chapters - A gold link inscribed "Alpha" begins Zeta Tau Alpha's chain of chapters. Each time a new collegiate chapter is Installed, a silver link, etched with the chapter's Greek name, is added to the chain.
	Colors - The colors of Zeta Tau Alpha are turquoise blue and steel gray. The significance of these colors is explained in the Initiation Service.
	Coat of Arms (Crest) - Only initiated members may use this in any manner, which is dignified and in good taste. The ritualistic meaning of the Coat of Arms is secret and is revealed to each member at the time of her Initiation.
	Corporate Logo - Zeta Tau Alpha's current corporate logo (for general purposes referred to as "the ZTA window") was designed in the early 1990s. It represents the rising sun with five rays that are symbolic of the warmth and the brightness that the Fraternity brings to her sisters. These five rays also represent the five points of the ZTA Crown (see below).
	Crown - The five-pointed Crown is an official symbol of the Fraternity. The significance of the five points is revealed to each member upon her Initiation. Many examples of crown artwork can be found within ZTA, and all are acceptable as long as the crown contains exactly five points.
	Flag, Fraternity - The official flag of the Fraternity was adopted at the 1950 Convention and is in the Fraternity colors with a Coat of Arms surrounded by the words "ZETA TAU ALPHA."
	Flag, Chapter - In honor of ZTA's Centennial (1998), a flag was produced to honor each Chapter. The flags are gray and turquoise with the Chapter name in Greek letters. A flag will be made for each successive chapter upon its Installation. The flags are housed at International Office.
	Flower - The flower of the Fraternity, chosen by Founder Ruby Leigh Orgain, is the white violet. Its symbolic meaning is explained in the Initiation Service.
	Honor Ring - adopted at the 1915 Convention, it is silver with the coat-of-arms superimposed upon a turquoise stone, flanked on either side by an open Bible and the crown. The national Fraternity upon approval of National Council shall award the Honor Ring. Presentation of the Honor Ring is based upon the provisions previously outlined.
	Mother's Pin - A turquoise and silver crown with a white violet embossed upon it, this pin may be presented to mothers of initiated members and to Zeta house directors.
	Official Seal - The official seal of the Fraternity is circular with fluted edges bearing the name of the Fraternity and the date and place of founding. It is used on official documents of the national Fraternity. Replicas of the official seal may be used for decorative purposes.
	Patron Goddess - The Founders chose Themis to represent the Fraternity. Themis is, in Greek mythology, one of the Titans, daughter of Gaea (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven), and the mother of the three Fates and the Seasons. The goddess of divine justice and law, Themis was the constant companion of the god Zeus and sat beside him on Olympus. In ancient art she is represented holding aloft a pair of scales on which she weighs the claims of opposing parties.
	Pledge Pin - This pin is a silver carpenter's square enameled in turquoise, to be worn by all duly pledged new members of the Fraternity.
	The Purple of the Fraternity - The purple of the Fraternity is the purple regalia, adorned with the torch and Coat of Arms, worn by the National President as a symbol of her office. It is worn at all official Zeta Tau Alpha functions such as Convention Business Meetings and Chapter Installations.
	Recognition Pins - A recognition pin consisting of three Greek letters in gold, "ZTA," may be worn by new and initiated members. The recognition pin of a small gold, five pointed crown may be worn by initiated members only.
	Strawberry - In the late 1800s, an admirer of one of ZTA's Founders, Mary Campbell Jones (Batte), sent her a gift of strawberries. The scrumptious present prompted the group of nine friends to host their first purely social gathering and to become officially recognized as a campus organization.
	White Violet Pin (50 year pin) - Only those who have been members of the Fraternity for 50 or more years and thus are recipients of the Order of the Shield may wear this pin, in the shape of the white violet. It may be worn as a recognition pin or as a guard to the badge.
	White Violet Charm (75 year charm) - Those members who have been a member or 75 years receive this charm, which is in the shape of the white violet with 75 superimposed upon it.