Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded January 16, 1920, at Howard University, Washington, D.C. by five phenomenal women; Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, Fannie Pettie Watts and Pearl Anna Neal.

These five coeds envisioned a sorority which would directly affect positive change, chart a course of action for that time and beyond, and raise consciousness of their people. They did just that by setting the highest standards of scholastic achievement and fostered a greater sense of unity among its members. It was the idea of the Founders that the Sorority would reach college women in all parts of the country who were sorority-minded and desired to follow the founding principles of the organization; Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. Since its inception, Zeta has continued its steady climb into the national spotlight with programs designed to demonstrate concern for the human condition, both nationally and internationally. The organization has been innovative in that it has chronicled a number of firsts.

• First Greek letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa (1948), Dubai (2014), Belgium (2014),
  and Trinidad and Tobago (2016)
• First Greek letter organization to form adult and youth auxiliary groups (1948).
• First National Pan-Hellenic Organization to centralize its operation in a national headquarters (1949).
• First and ONLY Sorority to be constitutionally bound to a Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
• First to have a paid Executive Secretary (Dr. Lullelia Walker-Harrison)
• First to establish an undergraduate chapter south of the Mason-Dixon line (1923)

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. takes pride in its continued participation in transforming communities through volunteer services from members and its auxiliaries. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has chartered hundreds of chapters worldwide and has a membership of 100,000+.