Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., during a pivotal era of social, political, and cultural change in the United States.

 

Amid the rise of the Harlem Renaissance, the fight for women’s suffrage, and growing racial and economic inequities, five visionary collegiate women established a sorority rooted in action, scholarship, and service—not social elitism. Their mission was to uplift communities, promote academic excellence, and address societal challenges impacting humanity, particularly the Black community.

 

Since its founding, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has been an organization of historic firsts, including being the first National Pan-Hellenic Council sorority to establish a national headquarters, charter a chapter in Africa, form auxiliary groups, and be constitutionally bound to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.

 

Today, with hundreds of chapters worldwide and more than 100,000 members, Zeta continues its legacy of service through education, advocacy, scholarships, and community engagement. As it moves forward into its second century, the sorority remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, leadership, and service to mankind.