GNO ZTA

Our Nine Founders:
Maud Jones Horner, Died 1920
Della Lewis Hundley, Died July 12, 1951
Alice Bland Coleman, Died June 11, 1956
Mary Jones Batte, Died December 3, 1957
Alice Grey Welsh, Died June 21, 1960
Ethel Coleman Van Name, Died January 24, 1964
Helen M. Crafford, Died September 17, 1964
Frances Yancey Smith, Died April 23, 1977
Ruby Leigh Orgain, Died October 22, 1984

Our Nine Founders in their famous Mystifying Picture.

Zeta Tau Alpha was founded by Nine Women on October 15, 1898, a day that chapters across the country still celebrate with a special ceremony in their honor. Our nine founders were students at the State Female Normal School (Now Longwood University) in Farmville, VA and were interested in developing a permanent sisterhood that would last them long after they had left college. They enlisted the help of Plummer Jones, a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity and brother to Maud Jones, as well as Giles Membrane Smith, a member of the Phi Beta Psi Fraternity and brother of Frances Yancey Smith. Both boys were students at William and Mary and were knowledgeable of Greek lore. These brothers helped the girls decide on the name, "Zeta Tau Alpha" as well as our patron goddess, Themis, and other important symbols. In 1902, they received their offical charter from the State of Virginia, and were able to expand their organization to other schools, adding many links to the chain that connects us all.

Today, Zeta Tau Alpha has over 200 collegiate and alumnae chapters throughout the United States. We all work together to promote friendship, sisterhood and service through each chapter's social and philanthropic events. Sisters across the nation also join together with organizations such as the Susan G. Komen foundation to educate others about the impact of Breast Cancer, and ways that it can be prevented. Chapters also raise money for the Zeta Tau Alpha foundation which support academic scholarships, educational opportunities, philanthropic support, and leadership development programs for women all across the country.