National History
The year was 1920. It was the start of the decade, shortly after World War One, and a time of great prosperity for the country. Women were called dames, dolls, or the cat's meow. At the beginning of the decade, women still wore long skirts but the "Roaring 20s" brought a new look of short skirts and smartly coiffed shorter hair. Racial tensions were high and quotas set for immigrants coming into America. The Klan was very active during this period. The Harlem Renaissance was acknowledged as the first important movement of black artists and writers in the US. On January 16, 1920, the Volstead Act became effective, heralding the start of Prohibition and on August 18th of the same year, Tennessee delivered the crucial 36th ratification necessary for the final adoption of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. The worst and longest economic recession to ever hit the United States would define the end of the decade-the Great Depression.
It was within this environment that Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority 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. Founded January 16, 1920, Zeta began as an idea conceived by five coeds at Howard University in Washington D.C.: Arizona Cleaver, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler, Fannie Pettie and Pearl Neal. These five women, also known as our Five Pearls, dared to depart from the traditional coalitions for black women and sought to establish a new organization predicated on the precepts of Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood. It was the ideal of the Founders that the Sorority would reach college women in all parts of the country who were sorority minded and desired to follow the founding principles of the organization. Founder Viola Tyler was oft quoted to say "[In the ideal collegiate situation] there is a Zeta in a girl regardless of race, creed, or color, who has high standards and principles, a good scholarly average and an active interest in all things that she undertakes to accomplish."
Click here to go to the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority :: International Website
Five Pearls
Arizona Cleaver Stemons
Viola Tyler Goings
Myrtle Tyler Faithful
Pearl Anna Neal
Fannie Pettie Watts
Famous Zetas
Zora Neale Hurston- Author
Sheryl Underwood- Comedian
Esther Rolle- Actress
Minnie Riperton- Entertainer
Dionne Warwick- Singer
Syleena Johnson- Singer
Violette Anderson- 1st woman of color to practice law before the US Supreme Court
Mary McAllister- NC House of Representatives
* Scholarship * Sisterly Love * Service *
* Finer Womanhood *
Signature Programs
*** Stork's Nest *** Z-HOPE *** ZOL ***
Founders
Arizona Cleaver Stemons
 | The Most Honorable Arizona Cleaver Stemons, was the first basileus of the Alpha Chapter and the first Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She encouraged the first group of young women to join her in organizing Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. In 1933, she accepted a position with the Philadelphia Department of Public Assistance. A staunch church worker she was in charge of the Sunday School Teachers Training Class of Saint Simon The Cyrenian Church in Philadelphia. |
Viola Tyler Goings
 | The Most Honorable Viola Tyler Goings, was one of the co-founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and a Life member. After graduating from Howard University with a teaching degree, she taught in Smithfield, North Carolina and later accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Cambridge High School in Cambridge, Maryland. |
Myrtle Tyler Faithful
 | The Most Honorable Myrtle Tyler Faithful, was the second Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the blood sister to Founder Viola Tyler Goings. An Ohio teacher of mathematics and English for some years, she always had an active interest in community affairs. She raised two daughters, both of whom are Zetas. |
Pearl Anna Neal
 | The Most Honorable Pearl Anna Neal, graduated from Howard University's Conservatory of Music, Founder Neal continued her studies at the Julliard School of Music. In 1938, she was the first black woman in New York to earn a master's degree in music from Columbia University. An extremely accomplished musician, Founder Neal taught music in North Carolina public schools and served as a director of seniors majoring in music at Teachers College in Winston Salem, North Carolina. |
Fannie Pettie Watts
 | The Most Honorable Fannie Pettie Watts, graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. She pursued postgraduate studies in Social Work and Housing at New York University. She was the Social Investigator for the Department of Social Services in Brooklyn, New York and the Director of the Cradle Roll Division of Brooklyn's Nazarene Congregational Church. |
Signature Programs
Stork's Nest
Since 1972, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has enjoyed a partnership with the March of Dimes in an effort to encourage women to seek prenatal care within the first trimester of pregnancy, thereby increasing the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality. Nationwide, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. sponsors over 175 Stork's Nests. Last year, the Stork's Nest program served over 28,000 women.
The Stork's Nest Program is designed to promote prenatal care participation and healthy behaviors during the pregnancy through two components - incentives and education. Stork's Nest clients "earn" points toward incentives, such as maternity or baby care items, through a variety of positive, health-promoting activities such as attending prenatal care appointments, participating in prenatal education classes, keeping appointments for well-baby visits. The Stork's Nest prenatal education sessions provide information, educational materials, and a variety of other resources and referrals that help clients take good care of themselves and their babies.
In 1997, Zeta celebrated its 25th anniversary of collaboration with the March of Dimes. The program was updated to include a new national logo, new educational materials and new incentive items for those mothers participating in the program.
Z-HOPE - Zetas Helping Other People Excel
From the Sorority's inception, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has long demonstrated an interest in serving the needs of the community. Spanning the Sorority's nearly thirty-year partnership with the March of Dimes to its relationship with the Human Genome Project, Zeta Phi Beta has been at the forefront of anticipating the ever-changing needs of society.
It is within this framework that International Grand Basileus Barbara C. Moore proudly introduces the new International Service Initiative for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.: Z-HOPE: Zetas Helping Other People Excel ™. "Since 1920, our national service programs have evolved to meet the critical societal needs of the time," said International Grand Basileus Moore. "This administration has identified some key areas of concern as part of our programmatic thrust, and all of our efforts will be consolidated under the banner of Z-HOPE."
What are the objectives of Z-HOPE?
Z-HOPE is an outreach service program that has six primary objectives, corresponding measures of success and a mechanism for chapter recognition. The primary objectives are:
- To provide culturally appropriate informational activities according to the Z-HOPE program format
- To foster collaborative partnerships between community organizations with shared goals
- To promote the opportunities for expansion in Stork's Nest programs
- To facilitate community service and mentorship opportunities for members of the organization
- To provide an equitable chapter recognition program for community services rendered
- To provide a standard reporting format to concentrate efforts and demonstrate the organization's impact
ZOL - Zeta Organizational Leadership Program
What is ZOL?
The Zeta Organizational Leadership Program is a future-focused, nationally structured, intense leadership training certification program and a blue print for leadership development and enhancement. It was developed by a think tank of talented members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, who are experts in their respective fields and are from diverse backgrounds. The overarching goal of the ZOL program is to provide members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority with the essential knowledge and skills to be exceptional leaders. The target audiences for this program include, but are not limited to:
- Members aspiring to be national elected officers
- Members interested in being appointed regional and/or state directors
- Local chapter officers -- undergraduate and graduate
- Elected regional and state officers
- Advisors to undergraduate chapters
- Sponsors and coordinators of Zeta Amicae Auxiliaries
- Advisors to Youth Affiliates
- Members aspiring to be leaders
