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National History
Zeta Tau Alpha was founded October 15, 1898, by nine women at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. Only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired permanence to their friendships and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college. Though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, the band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A temporary name of "???" was taken when, as legend has it, a member of another group met with the Founders. Raising her eyebrows and forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark, she asked "Who are you?" In unison, the group answered "Yes, Who? Who? Who?" Thus, the group came to be known as "???" while they sought an appropriate Greek name and symbols. During this time, the group received valuable assistance from two of the members' brothers - Maud's brother, Plummer Jones, and Frances Yancey Smith's brother Giles Mebane Smith. Both were students at the college of William and Mary, members of men's Greek-letter organizations and knowledgeable of Greek lore. After a year of careful contemplation, the group chose the formal name, the patron goddess and the badge. |
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Local History
On Janurary 31, 1981 Zeta Tau Alpha was installed at Trenton State College.
Recent History
In the Spring of 2000 the Iota Gamma chapter was caught hazing for the last time! Our membership dropped from 76 to just 12 (the Spring 2000 new member class + 1) as the rest of the sisters did not want to endure the reorganization that was ahead. In the fall of 2000 we were able to rebuild ourselves, doubling in size to 24 and complete our first successful non-hazing new member program. In the Spring of 2001 we were able to take quota and reached TCNJ's Panhellenic total of 50. We have successfully reorganized our chapter, adding 19 new members in 2002 and 21 new members in 2003 and 18 new members in 2004.Yup - we are pretty proud!!
Traditions
Zeta Tau Alpha is known as a fraternity, not a sorority. The founders intended ZTA be designated a "fraternity" to distinguish the organization from the sisterhoods organized in connection with men's fraternities, called sororities.
From its founding in 1898, the innermost meanings of Zeta Tau Alpha have remained unchanged through the preservation of and respect for rituals.
Members and chapters celebrate the founding of Zeta Tau Alpha on October 15 each year. The Founders' Day service offers rememberance, while turquoise and gray ribbons worn under the badge show each member's commitment to the founding ideals of ZTA.
National Site
Zeta Tau Alpha |
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