Our History

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University by five trailblazing coeds. Since its inception, the sorority has chronicled a number of “firsts” among the established black sororities. In addition to being the only organization constitutionally bound to a fraternity, the sorority was the first to charter international chapters (in West Africa and Germany), to form adult and youth auxiliary groups, and to organize its internal affairs within a central office, administered by a paid staff.

Rooted in the principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood, the work we do in the community is extremely important to us. These principles accurately describe our beliefs and way of life as members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. We hold our founding principles close to our hearts and strive to emulate them in everything we do.

Zeta Phi Beta’s purpose is to foster the ideals of service, charity, scholarship, civic and cultural endeavors, sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. These ideas are reflected in the sorority’s national programs for which its members and auxiliary groups provide numerous hours of voluntary service to staff community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is a private non-profit organization and is incorporated in Washington, D.C.

We are proud of our legacy and our future and invite you to learn more about our organization. To learn more about our national programmatic thrusts, we invite you to visit our national site.

The Trailblazers of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority would be remiss not to pay homage to the first women who believed in the need for a new and different type of Greek-lettered organization and acted upon that need.

To these women, Zeta was more than an organization – it was a movement. This belief system reflected, at its core, the desire to provide true Service, embrace Scholarship, set a standard for Sisterly Love, and define the noble concept of Finer Womanhood. This belief has sustained and encouraged Zetas worldwide to hold fast to the ideals initiated and developed by its earliest members.

The Founders of Zeta were strong, principled coeds who possessed a great deal of modesty, strength of character, and pride in academic achievement. They are a worthy foundation upon which to base our illustrious Sorority.

Our Founders

  • Arizona L. (Cleaver) Stemmons 1898-1980

    Arizona Cleaver was the first president of the Alpha chapter and the first national president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She completed her graduate and post-graduate studies in the field of social work and was responsible for chartering numerous undergraduate and graduate chapters throughout the United States.

  • Pearl A. Neal 1900-1978

    After graduating 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, NC.

  • Myrtle (Tyler) Faithful 1901-1993

    Myrtle Tyler was the second national president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and blood sister to Viola Tyler. As a high school Mathematics and English teacher, Founder Tyler was an active member of the Alpha Zeta chapter in Baltimore, Maryland.

  • Viola (Tyler) Goings 1899-1983

    Viola Tyler graduated from Howard University with a teaching degree and a major in math. She taught school in Ohio for many years and was always very active in community affairs.

    In January of 2019, Founder Goings’ daughter, Wynona Kidd was inducted into the sorority, making her the oldest living descendant of the organization’s five founding members.

  • Fannie (Pettie) Watts 1899-1995

    Fannie Pettie graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and taught junior and senior high schools in Savannah, Georgia. She was credited with organizing two additional Zeta chapters and had active membership in Delta Alpha Zeta chapter.