About Zeta Tau Alpha

In 1898, nine young women at the Virginia State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) formalized their friendship by forming Zeta Tau Alpha. Away from home for the first time, these teenagers longed for companionship while they studied to be teachers. Fearing their unique friendship would fade without a formal bond to sustain it, they met in secret by candlelight in the bathroom of their dormitory. At the start, they used only three question marks as their group name. The first minute book of regular meetings states Zeta Tau Alpha was organized Oct. 15, 1898.

Learn more about how Zeta Tau Alpha was founded.

We now have more than 300,000 initiated members, 172 active collegiate chapters and more than 225 alumnae chapters across the country.

The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation is the philanthropic and fundraising arm of the Fraternity. The Foundation leads our efforts in breast cancer education and awareness, provides around $1 million in scholarships annually, and sponsors educational and leadership opportunities for our members and others.

The ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation is the largest in the Panhellenic world and provides safe, secure and competitive housing for all our collegiate members.

Explore the national ZTA website to find additional information about our Nine Key Values, policies, dedication to inclusion, programming and more.

Zeta Tau Alpha was created to make a difference in the lives of our members by developing the potential of each individual. Our goal is to connect members through a close bond of sisterhood and to build up a purer and nobler womanhood in the world. This womanhood is made of many individual women and it celebrates the uniqueness each sister brings. We were founded on October 15th, 1898 in Farmville, Virginia at Longwood University. There are 259 chapters making us the 95th link founded at UNT on May 23, 1953. Our philanthropy is Breast Cancer Awareness and Education. We are partnered with Bright Pink, American Cancer Society, and the Nationally Football League .Zeta Tau Alpha is a sisterhood made of many individual women and it celebrates the uniqueness each sister brings. We respect and support each member’s personal identity, and we seek to provide an accepting environment within every chapter. We believe in creating a space of belonging for every member. We expect everyone to treat their sisters with love, the greatest of all things.

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