The History of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded at Howard University in Washington, DC, by five women
whom we lovingly call our "Five Pearls". These women were not satisfied by what they viewed in
the other sororital organizations already established. They felt that the principles of an organization should
reflect those of its members, not vice-versa. They also felt that, in order to establish an organization with
esteemed principles, that each woman should posess a high caliber of character, or Finer Womanhood as they called it.
They sought a deeper commitment to their communities and a true sisterhood that fostered not only a family
environment, but also greater academic acheivment for themselves and every student.
Our Most Honorable Sister Arizona Leedonia Cleaver Stemmons, with the assistance of Brothers A. Langston Taylor and Charles S. Taylor
of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., created the strategic framework for the first sorority to be constitutionally bound to a brother fraternity. Hence, our
bond is not only on paper, but in history.
Pearls Arizona Leedonia Cleaver Stemmons, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, Fannie Pettie Watts and Pearl Anna Neal founded the first sorority
to be constitutionally bound to a brother fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma, to charter international chapters in The Mother Land of Africa, to form auxilliary groups, and
to have a centralized headquarters (and have it administered by a paid staff). Our organization may have
been third on the list of the sororities, but is the first to do many and most important things.
Zeta has many established national affiliations with such esteemed organizations as The March of Dimes, American Lung Association, and the American Diabetes Association. Please
feel free to check out our Community Service Report to see how
Rho Pi Zeta Chapter is dedicated to the ideals of our founders.
