History

After a meeting period of over a year, nine women at the Virginia State Female Normal School formed a fraternity of sisters. Several social forces acted upon their gathering and their formation of a Greek-letter organization.

During this difficult post-war era, childhoods were characterized by a lack of money and very close family relationships. Because Virginia was one of the principle battlegrounds of the Civil War, youth faced a complete turnaround from previous years. The tight finances of times caused drastic social changes to families--an upheaval in educational traditions and a more realistic approach to the education of women.

When most families decided where their daughters should attend school and what type of education they should pursue, finances and close family relationships dictated they should stay close to home. Most women realized the practicality of the teaching profession, which was not strongly in conflict with their pasts and backgrounds. The fraternity founders chose the teaching profession, and they attended the Virginia State Female Normal School.

This group of women, once at school and among many other students, gathered together because they had similar beliefs and backgrounds. Each young woman traveled away from home for the first time and longed for close companionship of special friends. They tended to be a lively bunch of inquisitive and fun yet earnest students. Most were 15 to 16 years old. Yet this group showed a great deal of foresight. The nine young women knew the "something special" they shared would be lost if some means of continuing their group was not found. For the first school term, the women contemplated the special relationships of the group.

One member, Maud Jones, wrote:

"For the whole year before our sorority was established, the need of such an organization was strongly felt. There were six or seven of us who used to frequently meet together and talk over and try to devise some way by which we could unite into a helpful and congenial band. We knew we sadly needed something, but we had no idea just how that something was to be found. The beginning of session 1898-1899 found our little crowd again at the Normal (School) and just as eager as before, if not more so to find something to satisfy our desires."

The group formed a Greek-letter organization to perpetuate the friendships they found so important.

The nine friends and Founders of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity:

 Maud Jones (Horner)

Alice Bland Coleman

 Ethel Coleman (Van Name)

 Ruby Leigh (Orgain)

 Frances Yancey Smith

Della Lewis (Hundley)

Helen M. Crafford

Alice Grey Welsh

They organized the Fraternity on October 15, 1898 at the Virginia State Female Normal School (which later became Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia). What began as a small group of friends desiring to add more permanence to their friendship in some deep and significant way surely has prospered and grown. Over the years, thousands of women of all ages have shared a common bond created by these nine innovative students.

The Beginnings of a Greek World

Invariably, those who have much in common find each other and develop friendships. This always has been so, but today involves a much more detailed process. Today, many such groups from all over the country are developing fraternal organizations as the United States has gained a vast American fraternity system.

At the State Female Normal School, a group of women formed one of the Greek organizations. While Maud Jones and some of her friends were attempting to "unite into a helpful, congenial band," another similar group formed a new organization with a Greek name. This new group, Kappa Delta, and Sigma Sigma Sigma, which followed shortly, undoubtedly spurred the young women to greater action.

The organizing women explain the greatest source of inspiration to form a fraternity came when one of the group's closest friends, Alice Coleman, was asked to join another forming organization. Although the State Female Normal School Students met informally for over a year, and might have easily considered those meetings official, they did not.

Thus the formal Greek organization began in earnest, and all meetings were secret night-time affairs by candlelight as the group tried to maintain anonymity. Virtually, it was impossible to keep the existence of their organization a secret. A gift tub of oysters from the father of the two members, Ethel and Alice Coleman, inspired the idea for an Oyster Stew Announcement Party, but the group needed a name.

The idea for a temporary name came from a member of one of the other groups who met the girls on campus one day. The story goes she raised her brows and, forming a question mark with her fingers, inquired, "Who are you?". Together the girls responded, "Yes, Who?, Who?, Who?" That is how the temporary name of the three question marks and the temporary signature "???" came to be.

As the group searched for a permanent name, the women took their first three pledges. They were Odelle Warren

(Bonham), Ellen Baxter Armstrong, and Grace Elcan (Garnett).

Deciding not to rush the formation of the new organization, the women of Zeta Tau Alpha let a year follow before the Greek name and badge were chosen. The women realized the time necessary to explore Greek lore and to find the proper symbols to express their outlined ideals. The founders were very conservative in the developing stages of the fraternity's formation; this care is reflected in the size and strength of the organization.

The preamble of the first minute book of regular fraternity meetings stated clearly that Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity was organized October 15, 1898, at the State Female Normal School. This minute book sets forth definitely for the first time the colors, flower, and the motto, which was written in Greek and then translated.

 

Forming Sorority Finds Help from Brothers

A group of young women forming a fraternity found help from two members' brothers. Nine women from Virginia State Female Normal School attempted to begin a Greek-letter organization. Because much planning goes into this type of endeavor, the enterprising women asked someone with experience for help as other women's groups did. Two of the women turned to their brothers, who were members of established men's groups, for guidance and assistance.

Maud Jones's brother was Plummer Jones. He was a member of Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Kappa at the College of William and Mary. Giles Mebane Smith, Phi Theta Psi, and also a Phi Beta Kappa at William and Mary was the brother of Frances Yancey Smith. Both young men were completely familiar with the fraternity system and both were outstanding students with a great knowledge of Greek lore.

The two men decided to labor long and hard for the development of this women's fraternity. Mebane Smith, as he preferred to be called, suggested the name Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, from the initial letters of the Greek motto upon which the organization was built. Mebane also provided information for the selection of the badge, the motto, and the patron goddess. Plummer Jones was responsible for the first revised and complete constitution. (The original was written by his sister during a period when the young women called their group ???.) Most important of all, Plummer Jones developed the ritual, including the initiation ceremony, the oath, and the opening and closing of the meetings.

With help from two brothers, the women were able to continue their group's gatherings. Maud Jones was the first elected president of Zeta Tau Alpha since the selection of the Greek name. Maud was acknowledged leader of the group and past president during the ??? period. She was a special leader whose strength lay in gentleness and kindness and who ruled through love and consideration. It was a tribute to the thoughtfulness of the group that Maud Jones was recognized and appreciated.

With such a president and finalized organization, the Fraternity had a new beginning. Maintaining high principles and an unquestionable integrity, the president remained above conflict in times of differing opinions and pronounced just decisions. Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity was fortunate to have leadership like this; her actions have set an example for succeeding generations.