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Zeta Tau Alpha History
 Zeta Tau Alpha was founded October 15, 1898, by nine women at the State Female Normal School 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.
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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.
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The Founders of Zeta Tau Alpha:
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Maud Jones Horner, Died 1920
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Della Lewis Hundley, Died July 12, 1951
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Alice Bland Coleman, Died June 11, 1956
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Mary Jones Batte, Died December 3, 1957
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Alice Grey Welsh, Died June 21, 1960
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Ethel Coleman Van Name, Died January 24, 1964
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Helen M. Crafford, Died September 17, 1964
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Frances Yancey Smith, Died April 23, 1977
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Ruby Leigh Orgain, Died October 22, 1984
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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 is 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:
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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.
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The Purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha:
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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. |
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Symbols
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Coat of Arms
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This piece of Zeta history holds many important symbols on its surface. The words Zeta Tau Alpha are written in Greek underneath it.. Because of its importance and secret meaning, this symbol may only be worn or owned by an initiated member.
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Strawberries
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In the late 1800s, an admirer of one of ZTA's Founders sent 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.
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Flower
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The flower of the Fraternity, chosen by Founder Ruby Leigh Orgain, is the white violet. Its symbolic meaning is explained in the Initiation Service.
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Patron Goddess
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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.
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The Crown
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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.
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The Badge
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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.
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Pledge Pin
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The pledge pin is worn by a new member until her initiation. The turquoise and silver pin is modeled after the carpenter's square, representing the straight lines of dignity and moral conduct to which all ZTA's must uphold. Badges and pins are worn over the heart.
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The Fraternity Banner
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The fraternity banner 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.
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Colors
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The offical colors of Zeta Tau Alpha are Turquoise Blue and Steel Gray.
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