Zeta Tau Alpha was founded October 15, 1898, at Longwood College Farmville, VA.

At our International Office lies an actual "Chain of Chapters". Each chapter chartered by ZTA has a silver link in the chain with their chapter name and founding dated inscribed upon it. The first link in the chain is for our founding chapter at Longwood College and is the only gold link in the chain.

Our chapter is the 97th link in the "Chain of Chapters".

Zeta Tau Alpha is also known by it's nicknames of Zeta or ZTA.

Our symbols are the five pointed crown and strawberries.

Zeta's traditional symbol is the bunny. This is used by most chapters but is not a national symbol.

The colors of Zeta Tau Alpha are Turquoise Blue and Steel Grey.

Our Flower is White Violet which grows in abundance in Virginia.

The Open Motto of Zeta Tau Alpha is "Seek the Noblest".

Our Patron Goddess is Themis. Themis is also the name of our national magazine which every initiated member receives quarterly.

Zeta Tau Alpha is known as a fraternity, not as a sorority. A "sorority" 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.

ZTA has 225 chartered collegiate chapters in the US and Canada making ZTA an International Fraternity.

We are the Third Largest National Women's Fraternity.

Zeta Tau Alpha was the first women's organization to have a chartered National Housing Corporation whose assets total over $15 million.

The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation is the branch of the fraternity which oversees our vast service and scholarship programs nationwide. ZTA has adopted the Sunshine Kids's (Make-A-Wish Foundation), Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), the Eating Disorders Programs and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation as it's major service projects. Zeta Tau Alpha collegiates and alumnae in one year, gave over four million volunteer hours and $250,000 to service endeavors.

Gamma Omega Actively supports our national service projects by being a major donor (over $300 donation annually) to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation. Last year our capter's fundraiser the "Crown Classic" Golf Tournament raised over $5000.00 which was donated to our philanthropies. We also participate in the "Race for the Cure" which ZTA Sponsors both local and nationally.

Our chapter supports several other local organizations by performing monthly service projects. We take pride in supporting local women & children issues. Some of our favorite projects include collecting stuffed animals for needy or sick children and making "care packages" for women and children living in shelters.

ZTA leads the Greek world in providing educational programming with over 12 professionally produced programs on everything ranging from Career Development to Our Service History to Wellness Programs.

Nationally, through the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation's Crown Development Trust Fund, ZTA distributes over $100,000 in scholarships annually.

Zeta Tau Alpha also has it's very own credit card!

Famous Zeta's include....Phyllis George Brown (Miss America 1971), Faith Daniels (CBS News Anchor, CBS Morning News, Today Show), Linda Johnson Rob (Daughter to LBJ, Former First Lady of Virginia), Elizabeth Ward (Miss America 1982), Rubye Graham (Former Executive Editor Seventeen Magazine), Betty Buckley (Actress; Tony Award for "Cats", Abby in "Eight is Enough"), Rebecca Holden (Actress; Co-Starred in Night Rider), Pam McCoskie (Author, "Butter Busters"), Susan Ford Bell (Daughter of Gerald Ford, Breast Cancer Activist), and Dr. Sara Crews Finley (Co-Founded Lab of Medical Genetics)

Among many sayings that Zeta has, one of our most cherished is "Zeta is Forever". Simply put, once you leave your college chapter you become an alumna. As an alumna you are welcomed into membership in one of the over 260 alumnae organizations in the US. Through the Zeta "LINK UP" system you can quickly locate the alumnae organization near you where ever you may move, giving you a valuable network of job opportunities as well as instant friends in a new environment.

"Zeta Is Forever" is also the name of our New Member Manual.

How the strawberry became a symbol of Zeta Tau Alpha is a wonderful story. It was literally an event that helped define Zeta history. One day while Zeta was in its earliest days, a gift was sent to Cammie Jones (Mary Campbell Jones) by one of her admirers. This gift "provided the inspiration for the first purely social gathering." The gift was a basket of strawberries and thus the first social was called a "Strawberry Feast". The History of Zeta Tau Alpha recalls, "I don't know, " they wrote,"what there was in the occasion or the delicious berries to bolster up our courage, but then and there we decided, without a dissenting vote, to become recognized, but all the while our name hung wildly in the balance."