A circling of friends

First President

After a meeting period of over a year, nine women at the Virginia State Female Normal School formed a fraternity of sisters. Several social forces acted upon their gathering and their formation of a Greek-letter organization.

During this difficult post-war era, childhoods were characterized by a lack of money and very close family relationships. Because Virginia was one of the principle battlegrounds of the Civil War, youth faced a complete turnaround from previous years. The tight finances of times caused drastic social changes to families--an upheaval in educational traditions and a more realistic approach to the education of women.

When most families decided where their daughters should attend school and what type of education they should pursue, finances and close family relationships dictated they should stay close to home. Most women realized the practicality of the teaching profession, which was not strongly in conflict with their pasts and backgrounds. The fraternity founders chose the teaching profession, and they attended the Virginia State Female Normal School.

This group of women, once at school and among many other students, gathered together because they had similar beliefs and backgrounds. Each young woman travelled away from home for the first time and longed for close companionship of special friends. They tended to be a lively bunch of inquisitive and fun yet earnest students. Most were 15 to 16 years old. Yet this group showed a great deal of foresight. The nine young women knew the "something special" they shared would be lost if some means of continuing their group was not found. For the first school term, the women contemplated the special relationships of the group.

One member, Maud Jones, wrote:

"For the whole year before our sorority was established, the need of such an organization was strongly felt. There wer six or seven of us who used to frequently meet together and talk over and try to devise some way by which we could unite into a helpful and congenial band. We knew we sadly needed something, but we had no idea just how that something was to be found. The beginning of session 1898-1899 found our little crowd again at the Normal (School) and just as eager as before, if not more so to find somthing to satisfy our desires."

The group formed a Greek-letter organization to perpetuate the friendships they found so important. The nine friends and Founders of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity are: The nine founders and first three pledges pose for their first official picture in 1899

Maud Jones (Horner)
Alice Bland Coleman
Ethel Coleman (Van Name)
Ruby Leigh (Orgain)
Frances Yancey Smith
Della Lewis (Hundley)
Helen M. Crafford
Alice Grey Welsh
Mary Jones (Batte)

The names in parenthesis indicate later appellations after marriage. They organized the Fraternity on October 15, 1898 at the Virginia State Female Normal School (which later became Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia). What began as a small group of friends desiring to add more permanence to their friendship in some deep and significant way surely has prospered and grown. Over the years, thousands of women of all ages have shared a common bond created by these nine innovative students.

Taken from the National New Member Manual.

The beginnings of a greek world...

Invariably, those who have much in common find each other and develop friendships. This always has been so, but today involves a much more detailed process. Today, many such groups from all over the country are developing fraternal organizations as the United States has gained a vast American fraternity system.

At the State Female Normal School, a group of women formed one of the Greek organizations. While Maud Jones and some of her friends were attempting to "unite into a helpful, congenial band," another similar group formed a new organization with a Greek name. This new group, Kappa Delta, and Sigma Sigma Sigma, which followed shortly, undoubtedly spurred the young women to greater action.

The organizing women explain the greatest source of inspiration to form a fraternity came when one of the group's closest friends, Alice Coleman, was asked to join another forming organization. Although the State Female Normal School Students met informally for over a year, and might have easily considered those meetings official, they did not. First Rush

Thus the formal Greek organization began in earnest, and all meetings were secret night-time affairs by candlelight as the group tried to maintain anonymity. Virtually, it was impossible to keep the existence of their organization a secret. A gift tub of oysters from the father of the two members, Ethel and Alice Coleman, inspired the idea for an Oyster Stew Announcement Party, but the group needed a name.

The idea for a temporary name came from a member of one of the other groups who met the girls on campus one day. The story goes she raised her brows and, forming a question mark with her fingers, inquired, "Who are you?". Together the girls responded, "Yes, Who?, Who?, Who?" That is how the temporary name of the three question marks and the temporary signature "???" came to be.

As the group searched for a permanent name, the women took their first three pledges. They were Odelle Warren (Bonham), Ellen Baxter Armstrong, and Grace Elcan (Garnett).

Deciding not to rush the formation of the new organization, the women of Zeta Tau Alpha let a year follow before the Greek name and badge were chosen. The women realized the time necessary to explore Greek lore and to find the proper symbols to express their outlined ideals. The founders were very conservative in the developing stages of the fraternity's formation; this care is reflected in the size and strength of the organization.

The preamble of the first minute book of regular fraternity meetings stated clearly that Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity was organized October 15, 1898, at the State Female Normal School. This minute book sets forth definitely for the first time the colors, flower, and the motto, which was written in Greek and then translated.
forming sorority finds help from brothers

A group of young women forming a fraternity found help from two members' brothers. Nine women from Virginia State Female Normal School attempted to begin a Greek-letter organization. Because much planning goes into this type of endeavor, the enterprising women asked someone with experience for help as other women's groups did. Two of the women turned to their brothers, who were members of established men's groups, for guidance and assistance.

Maud Jones's brother was Plummer Jones. He was a member of Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Kappa at the College of William and Mary. Giles Mebane Smith, Phi Theta Psi, and also a Phi Beta Kappa at William and Mary was the brother of Frances Yancey Smith. Both young men were completely familiar with the fraternity system and both were outstanding students with a great knowledge of Greek lore.

Our Nine Founders The two men decided to labor long and hard for the development of this women's fraternity. Mebane Smith, as he preferred to be called, suggested the name Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, from the initial letters of the Greek motto upon which the organization was built. Mebane also provided information for the selection of the badge, the motto, and the patron goddess. Plummer Jones was responsible for the first revised and complete constitution. (The original was written by his sister during a period when the young women called their group ???.) Most important of all, Plummer Jones developed the ritual, including the initiation ceremony, the oath, and the opening and closing of the meetings.

With help from two brothers, the women were able to continue their group's gatherings. Maud Jones was the first elected president of Zeta Tau Alpha since the selection of the Greek name. Maud was acknowledged leader of the group and past president during the ??? period. She was a special leader whose strength lay in gentleness and kindness and who ruled through love and consideration. It was a tribute to the thoughtfulness of the group that Maud Jones was recognized and appreciated.

With such a president and finalized organization, the Fraternity had a new beginning. Maintaining high principles and an unquestionable integrity, the president remained above conflict in times of differing opinions and pronounced just decisions. Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity was fortunate to have leadership like this; her actions have set an example for succeeding generations.

Taken from the National New Member Manual.
a first in virginia

Zeta Tau Alpha was the first women's fraternity to be chartered in the state of Virginia as of March 15, 1902. The Fraternity holds the only charter ever granted by a special act of the state legislature. The story behind the political activity is intriguing and fascinating.

For the most part, Grace Elcan, Zeta's third pledge, is responsible for securing the charter. Several attempts were made to secure a charter before Grace decided to make it her personal project. Previously, the busy judges and legislators wouldn't be bothered with what they considered a trivial matter.

However, Grace was quite adept at political maneuvering for a young woman her age. She chose to meet the politicians on their home ground. Through a close friend of her father, she arranged to meet with Mr. Frank Moon, a young man with senatorial ambition.

Mr. Moon needed an opportunity to meet the people of Buckingham County where Grace lived, and Grace needed a friend in the legislature. The two reached an agreement--Grace and her family prepared a large barbecue to introduce Mr. Moon to his electorate. Mr. Moon made his speech, and of course, got elected. True to his word, the first bill he sponsored and piloted through special session of the state legislature was the act to incorporate Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity of the State Female Normal School of Farmville, Virginia. The event caused a great stirring in the Virginia press services.

One had only to read the following, recorded in Alpha Chapter's early minutes, to imagine the happiness and excitement the chapter must have felt:

"Let it be known that we received our charter from the legislature March 15, 1902, and have established two new chapters, one at Hanna More Academy, Reistertown, Maryland, and one [secretly] at Woman's College, Richmond. Truly this has been the crowning year of Zeta Tau Alpha."

Taken from the National New Member Manual.

The Founders of Zeta Tau Alpha

Alice Maud Jones Horner

A lady of charm, character and poise. Maud was a perfect blonde with blue eyes, fair skin and brilliant coloring. The Jones family of ten was famous for its congeniality and warm hospitality. For four years after graduation she taught school and then met and married William Ferebee Horner. They had one adopted son, Lewis. Maud loved fun. She had a sense of humor and a quiet strength underlaid with a firm gentleness and kindness that inspired loyalty and made her beloved. Maud was an avid tennis player and was voted "The Girl We All Love" by her classmates. She was the first Grand president. Her brother, Plummer Jones, developed the first constitution, bylaws, and ritual ceremonies. Maud Jones was the first of the Founders to die-August 20, 1920.

Alice Grey Welsh

Alice was a wonderful, loyal Zeta whose devotion carried through the years. Blonde Alice was a real personality with "a vast gift of accomplishment and originality." Alice was known by her classmates as vivacious. She was devoted to riding and she started a riding club in Richmond, Va. She was a charter member of the Deep Run Hunt Club. Alice loved travel and excitement and by choice, not chance she was never wooed in matrimony. Alice Welsh was the 5th founder to die-June 21, 1960.

Della Lewis Hundley

Della Lewis traced her lineage back to Queen Anne of England. She was the only Founder in the state of Pennsylvania. She entered college at the age of fifteen. "A quiet, fragile girl," she was referred to by her classmates as "our orderly Della." She was a delicate and wistful beauty. After college she taught school, and in 1907 she married William M. Hundley, a newspaper editor. They had no children. Della Lewis was the second Founder to die-July 12, 1951.

Mary Campbell Jones Batte

Mary Campbell was never called anything but Cammie. She was the only daughter and her childhood was a merry one with five devoted brothers in attendance. She never knew the meaning of the word lonesome. Why she was not spoiled no one knew, but she wasn't. It was Cammie who was sent the famous strawberries by her admirer. She married S. Basset Batte and lived in Norfolk, Va. She had two sons. Mary Jones was the fourth Founder to die-December 3, 1957.

Helen May Crafford

Helen May Crafford came from a family prominent in the educational world. Poised, charming, and brilliant, she had no close acquaintenance with the domestic arts, nor a hankering for them. An excellent horsewoman and a good shot, she rode to the hounds and chased many a hapless fox over hill and dale. Learning came easily to her, and she had the high attributes of character demanded by the close little group that became Zeta Tau Alpha. In addition to having fun and making good grades, she also excelled in German. Teaching became Helen's life-long profession and love--a very rewarding one for her. "Teaching," she once said, "is more than just a way to earn a living. It is a way of life, and a good way." Helen Crafford was the seventh Founder to die-September 17, 1964.

Ruby Bland Leigh Orgain

Growing up, Ruby evidently was not known as a "natural born cook." She was reared in a home guided by deep religious principles. Ruby was careful with her pennies and emphasized that "idle spending was unknown to my pocketbook." A girl with many friends she was referred to as our "sympathetic Ruby." She married on October 25, 1906, in Washington, DC to Albert Marcellus Orgain, Jr. She had two sons and a daughter. Parke Leigh was the only daughter of a Founder and followed in her mother's footsteps by becoming a ZTA. Mrs. Orgain's home is in Dinwiddie, Va and her heart-warming messages contribute much to our Themis.

Ruby Leigh Orgain is the only secretary the Founders ever chose and she had been their spokesman since Shirley Kreason Strout called them together to organize in 1924. Mrs. Orgain celebrated her 100th birthday on December 4, 1979.

Frances Yancey Smith

Fanny loved to drive and ride, especially on her favorite horse, Dexter. She felt "very modern" wearing the new long divided skirts that were fast coming into fashion. All four Smith children had curls, and while those curls were being made each morning the children were "drilled in catechism and Bible verses." Frances was a person of great executive ability, a lovely Christian character and was one of the most popular girls in school, though she never chose to marry. She died on April 23, 1977.

Alice Bland Coleman and Ethel Coleman Van Name
The Coleman Sisters

From the Tide-water section of Virginia came Alice Bland and Ethel Lee Coleman, the inseparable brown-eyed sisters. Their home was another famed for its hospitality, where young people merrily gathered. Ethel was described by her classmates as considerably poised and gracious. Alice was sparkling, generous, and gracious. While both were popular, they had brains in their pretty heads. Alice specialized in music and taught until she retired because of illness in 1907. She never married, but oversaw the writing of The History of Zeta Tau Alpha. It was their father who gave the oysters that inspired the party to announce Zeta Tau Alpha to the community. Ethel taught school and on June 20, 1909 married Arthur LaGrange Van Name. Her only son, Arthur, Jr. became a physician.

Alice Coleman was the third Founder to die-June 11, 1956. Ethel Coleman was the sixth Founder to die-January 24, 1964.

Bruce Houston Davis

She was not considered one of the nine founders, but was of the guiding forces in making Zeta Tau Alpha an International organization. With her great leadership abilities, she also became the second Grand President.

Taken from the national new member manual.

Zeta is Forever...