Zeta Tau Alpha was founded on October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School (later became Longwood College) in Farmville, Virginia.
The Founders gathered together because they shared the common bonds of friendship and sisterhood.
Meetings were held in secret in the girl's dormitory bathroom by the light of a single candle.
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.
With the help of Plummer Jones and Giles Mebane Smith, the group came up with the formal name of Zeta Tau Alpha, as well as the patron goddess, Themis, and the badge.
ZTA would later become the first women's fraternity to be chartered in the State of
Virginia, and the only one ever to be granted a charter by a special act of the
legislature. With the help of Senator Frank C. Moon, ZTA's charter was drawn up
and passed on March 15, 1902.
Zeta Tau Alpha is known as a fraternity, not as a sorority. A "fraternity" is an organization whose members have banded together for reasons of common interest and mutual benefit. There is usually some element of secrecy in its design. The terms "sorority" and "fraternity" are often used interchangeably, frequently due to necessity. Some women's organizations prefer "sorority," while others designate the use of "fraternity." It was the intent of the Founders and confirmed by action at two early conventions that Zeta Tau Alpha be designated as a "fraternity." This was done to distinguish our organization from the sisterhoods organized in connection with men's fraternities, called "sororities." Zeta Tau Alpha has no "brother" fraternity.