ZETA PHI BETA Sorority, Inc. ΖΦΒ Zeta Phi Beta (ΖΦΒ) Sorority, Inc. is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority founded on January 16, 1920 by five students women at Howard University. It was founded on the simple belief that sorority elitism and socializing should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations—to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day. Arizona Leedonia Cleaver Stemons, Viola Tyler Goings, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, and Fannie Pettie Watts In the spring of 1919, during a stroll on campus, 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. Arizona presented this idea to Pearl Neal, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, and Fannie Pettie, and a new sisterhood was formed. Arizona Cleaver sought permission from the Howard University administration to establish a new campus sorority. The five coeds chose the name Zeta Phi Beta, with Phi Beta taken from Phi Beta Sigma to “seal and signify the relationship between the two organizations”. The newly established Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was given a formal introduction at Whitelaw Hotel by Phi Beta Sigma members. Alpha 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. Later that year, in December 1920, the sorority held the first boule (convention) with members of Phi Beta Sigma at Howard University. Zeta Phi Beta is the only National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) sorority that is constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma. Zeta Phi Beta was first incorporated on March 30, 1923 in Washington, D.C. The sorority was incorporated by the state of Illinois in 1939. In 1923, the first chapter of any black sorority to organize a collegiate chapter in Texas, Theta chapter, was established at Wiley College. Today, Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the U.S., Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. In 1948, Zeta Phi Beta became the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa (in Monrovia, Liberia). It was also the first organization to establish adult and youth auxiliary groups and centralize its operations in a national headquarters, purchased in 1959. Today, there are also chapters in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, Japan, Korea, Barbados, and Haiti. FOUNDED: January 16, 1920 Howard University (Washington, DC) MOTTO: A community conscious, action-oriented organization COLORS Royal Blue and Pure White SYMBOL: White Dove NICKNAMES: Zetas, Pretty Kitties, The Dovely Ladies, Finer Women PHILANTHROPY: Z–HOPE, March of Dimes, National Educational Foundation REGION: Pacific (includes AK, AZ, CA, HI, NM, NV, OR, WA, Japan and Korea) HEADQUARTERS: 1734 New Hampshire Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20009