Zeta Tau Alpha was founded October 15, 1898 by nine women at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in Farmville, Virginia. At only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired permanence to their friendships and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college. Zeta Tau Alpha was started as a fraternity, meaning they were not started by a brother organization. The young women knew of the fraternity system through brothers and friends. Their aim was, first and foremost, to band together in a union providing lasting qualities. The members adopted the ideal that they were congenial companions and close friends, perpetuating those friendships beyond college days. Now Zeta is the third largest National Panhellenic Congress group with 223 chartered collegiate chapters throughout the United States and Canada and over 260 active Alumnae organizations, thereby giving Zeta the distinction of being an International Fraternity. Today, their primary philanthropy is Breast Cancer education and awareness.

Nickname: “Zeta”

Colors: Turquoise Blue and Steel Gray

Flower: White Violet

Symbol: Five-pointed Crown and Strawberry

Motto: “Seek the Noblest”