Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

National History

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 16, 1920 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC as the sister organization to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Our Five Pearls choose not to embrace the tenets of established black sororities, and chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural. and educational programs; promote service projects on college campuses and in the community; foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideal of Finer Womanhood. A private non-profit organization, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is incorporated in Washington, DC and in the state of Illinois.

Since its inception, the sorority has chronicled a number of "firsts" among the established black sororities. In addition to being the organization constitutionally bounded to a fraternity, the sorority was the first to charter international chapters, those in West Africa and Germany; to form adult and youth auxillary groups, the Amicae, Archonettes, Amicettes and Pearlettes; and to organize its internal affairs within a central, national office addministered by a paid staff

Zeta Phi Beta's principles are service, scholarship, sisterhood and finer womanhood. These ideals are reflected in the sororities national programs for which it members and auxillary groups provide countless hours of voluntary service to staff community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities and promote legilation for social and civic change