About Us (The Beginning)
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was organized at Howard University on January 16, 1920 as the result of encouragement given to the five founders by Charles Taylor and Langston Taylor, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. These Sigma brothers felt the campus would benefit by the development of such an organization as sisters to the fraternity. Thus, Zetas and Sigma's became the first official Greek-letter sister and brother organization.
The Five Founders (called our Five Pearls) of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority are:
Arizona Cleaver
Viola Tyler
Myrtle Tyler
Fannie Pettie
Pearl Neal
These five women chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural and educational programs.
Our Five Pearls dared to depart from the traditional coalitions for black women and sought to establish a new organization predicated on the precepts of Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood.
These ideals are reflected in the sorority’s national programs, for which its members and auxiliary groups provide voluntary service to staff, community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change.