HISTORY
Zeta Tau Alpha is a sorority that was founded in 1898 by nine young women: Maud Jones Horner, Della Lewis Hundley, Alice Bland Coleman, Mary Jones Batte, Alice Grey Welsh, Ethel Coleman Van Name, Helen M. Crafford, Frances Yancey Smith and Ruby Leigh Orgain. The founding women met while pursuing their education in teaching at the State Female Normal School, which is now Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.
The major purpose of the sorority is to intensify friendship, promote happiness among members and form opinions that will be conducive to building purer womanhood.
PHILANTHROPY
The official philanthropic associations for Zeta Tau Alpha sorority are those with an emphasis on breast cancer education and awareness. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the Zeta Tau Alpha national philanthropy.
MOTTO
“Seek the noblest”
TRADITIONS
Zeta Tau Alpha colors are turquoise and steel gray
The Zeta Tau Alpha symbol is the five pointed crown and strawberry
The Zeta Tau Alpha flower is the white violet
The creed of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority includes being true to yourself and to those around you, being humble in success and devotion to what’s good and right and true
FUN FACTS
Sorority headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana
The sorority flower was chosen by founder Ruby Leigh Orgain
Zeta Tau Alpha is the third largest group that is a part of the National Panhellenic Group
Zeta Tau Alpha has more than 187,000 initiates and over 230 chapters throughout the country
The founders were between 15- and 16-years-olderin andrews
CELEBRITY ALUMNAE
Erin Andrews (ESPN reporter)
Susan Ford Bales (Daughter of President Gerald Ford)
Betty Nguyen (CNN Journalist)
Dr. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (1st Woman to win Pulizer Prize in music and receive doctorate in music composition from Julliard)
Nicole Paggi (Actress)
Faith Daniels (News Personality)
Common Misspellings
ZTA, ZTAs, Zetas, Zeta Tow Alpha, Zeta Toe Alpha, Zeta Tao Alpha, Zata Tau Alpha, Zeda Tau Alpha