On October 15, 1898, nine women at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia founded Zeta Tau Alpha. Only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired a permanence to their friendships and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college.

The young women, though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, originally gave themselves the name of "???." The symbols originated when a member from another group made a question mark symbol with her hand and asked, "Who are you?" The rest of her group asked the nine women "Yes, Who? Who? Who?" From that point on the women decided "???" (who who who) would be a fitting name until they chose their Greek letters.

The task of founding a Greek Organization wasn't easy and required the assistance of two Kappa Alpha Order men, Plummer Jones (Maud Jones Horner's brother) and Giles Mebane Smith (Frances Yancey Smith's brother). After a year of deciding, the group chose a badge, a formal name, and a patron goddess; thus, Zeta Tau Alpha was created.

Founders:

Maud Jones Horner, Died 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

ZTA Symbols

Colors – The colors of Zeta Tau Alpha are turquoise blue and steel gray. The significance of these colors is explained in the Initiation Service.

Crown

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.

Flower

The flower of the Fraternity, chosen by Founder Ruby Leigh Orgain, is the white violet. Its symbolic meaning is explained in the Initiation Service.

Strawberry

In the late 1800s, an admirer of one of ZTA’s Founders, Mary Campbell Jones (Batte), sent her 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.