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Zeta Tau Alpha was founded October 15, 1898, by nine women at
the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in
Farmville, Virginia. Only 14-15 years of age, 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, the band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A
temporary name of “???” was taken when, as legend has it, a member
of another group met with the Founders. Raising her eyebrows and
forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark, she asked “Who
are you?” In unison, the group answered “Yes, Who? Who? Who?”
Thus, the group came to be known as “???” while they sought an
appropriate Greek name and symbols. During this time, the group
received valuable assistance from two of the members’ brothers --
Maud’s brother, Plummer Jones, and Frances Yancey Smith’s brother
Giles Mebane Smith. Both were students at the college of William and
Mary, members of men’s Greek-letter organizations and knowledgeable
of Greek lore. After a year of careful contemplation, the group chose the
formal name, the patron goddess and the badge.
the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in
Farmville, Virginia. Only 14-15 years of age, 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, the band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A
temporary name of “???” was taken when, as legend has it, a member
of another group met with the Founders. Raising her eyebrows and
forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark, she asked “Who
are you?” In unison, the group answered “Yes, Who? Who? Who?”
Thus, the group came to be known as “???” while they sought an
appropriate Greek name and symbols. During this time, the group
received valuable assistance from two of the members’ brothers --
Maud’s brother, Plummer Jones, and Frances Yancey Smith’s brother
Giles Mebane Smith. Both were students at the college of William and
Mary, members of men’s Greek-letter organizations and knowledgeable
of Greek lore. After a year of careful contemplation, the group chose the
formal name, the patron goddess and the badge.
Today, Zeta Tau Alpha consists of three entities: Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity (for general
purposes referred to as Zeta Tau Alpha or ZTA), Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation, Inc. (for
general purposes referred to as the Foundation or ZTAF) and Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity
Housing Corporation (for general purposes referred to as the National Housing
Corporation or NHC). The names Zeta Tau Alpha, ZTA and National Fraternity are often
used when referring to the three organizations as a whole.
purposes referred to as Zeta Tau Alpha or ZTA), Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation, Inc. (for
general purposes referred to as the Foundation or ZTAF) and Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity
Housing Corporation (for general purposes referred to as the National Housing
Corporation or NHC). The names Zeta Tau Alpha, ZTA and National Fraternity are often
used when referring to the three organizations as a whole.
The Founders of Zeta Tau Alpha:
· Maud Jones Horner, Died August 20, 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
· Maud Jones Horner, Died August 20, 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 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 nine Founders and first three pledges pose for their first official photograph, the Mystifying Picture in 1899. Originally believed to be a photograph of some long forgotten ritual of the Fraternity, it was later discovered that this picture was instead intended to “Mystify the Normal” through its publication in The Normal Light (the school annual), and did not represent any ritual. Rather, it was created completely in good humor. The explanation of the famous “Mystifying Picture” as given by Odelle Warren Bonham, the first pledge. |
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.
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.
Open Motto: “Seek the Noblest”
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, the 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
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, the 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
History