Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded in 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. as the sister organization to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Five women chose not to embrace the tenets of established black sororities, and chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural and educational programs; promote service projects on college campuses and in the community; foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideal of Finer Womanhood. A private nonprofit organization, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is incorporated in Washington, D.C. and in the state of Illinois.
Since its inception, the sorority has chronicled a number of “firsts” among 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, the Amicae, Archonettes, Amicettes and Pearlettes; and to organize its internal affairs within a central, national office administered by a paid staff.
Zeta Phi Beta’s purpose is to foster the ideals of service, charity, scholarship, civic and cultural endeavors, sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. These ideals are reflected in the sorority’s national programs for which its members and auxiliary groups provide un-totaled hours of voluntary service to staff community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change.
Zeta First
| Violette Anderson | First African-American woman to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court |
| Elizabeth Koontz | First African-American President of the National Education Association, former Director of the Women’s Bureau |
| Yvonne Miller | Virginia State Senator |
| Willie Whiting | Circuit Court Judge of Cook County, Chicago, IL |
| Edythe White | First women to serve on the Jackson, AL City Council |
| Thelma Duggin | Political Activist |
| Dr. Elaine Johnson | ADAHMA Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
| Dr. Lucy Perez | Medical Director, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
| Dr. Deborah P. Wolfe Member | U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, Former US Education Chief, Chairperson of the New Jersey Board of Higher Education |
| Algenita Scott Davis | Past National President, National Bar Association |
| Dionne Warwick | International recording artist |
| Towanda Braxton | Recording artist |
| Esther Rolle | Actress |
| Ja’Net DuBois | Actress/Singer/Artist |
| Grace Brumbry | International Opera Singer |
| Sarah Vaughn | International Jazz Singer |
| Zora Neale Hurston | Anthologist, Modern writer, and Folklorist |
| Dr. Alyce Gullantee | First Black Psychiatrist to receive an Emmy |
| Clara McLaughlin | President and CEO, East Texas Television – First African-American woman to own and operate a television station |
| Sheryl Underwood | Comedienne |
| Myrtice Taylor | First African-American superintendent for curriculum and instruction – Atlanta Public Schools |
| Jylla Foster | Former International Grand Basileus and Branch Manager for IBM |
| Versia Lindsay | First woman to graduate from the School of Sciences, Atlanta University |
| Freddye Henderson | Owner of the nation’s first African-American travel agency |
| Minnie Ripperton | Singer |
| Anita Turpeau Anderson | First Woman on the debate team, Howard University |
| Julia Carson | Representative, Indiana |
| Lullelia Harrison | First Executive Secretary of any of the greek letter organizations |
| Sheila Williams | First Black Woman News and Public Affairs Director for two radio stations simultaneously |
pisigmazeta.org 