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[[images - pictures of scenes from the convention]]

HISTORICAL DATA: ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY

FINER WOMANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND SISTERHOOD are the founding ideals of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority which had its beginnings at Howard University on January 16, 1920. The Founders—Arizona Cleaver (Stemmons), Viola Tyler (Goings), Myrtle Tyler (Faithful), Fannie Pettie (Watts), and Pearl Neal—were encouraged by Robert and Langston Taylor of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, who felt that the campus would profit from such an organization as sisters to the fraternity. Thus, Zeta Phi Beta with Phi Beta Sigma became the first official Greek-letter sister-brother organizations. 

The new sorority was introduced to the Howard University community by a formal reception at the Whitelaw Hotel hosted by Charles and Langston Taylor, and by a meeting hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta sororities. It was the dream of the Founders that the sorority would reach college women in all parts of the country who were desirous of following Zeta's ideals. 

Zeta Phi Beta held its first Boule' (convention) jointly with the Phi Beta Sigma Conclave in December, 1920 in Washington, D.C.

Arizona Cleaver-Stemmons was the first President of the sorority and watched the organization spread to all sections of the United States, parts of Africa, and the Caribbean with more than 400 undergraduate and graduate chapters divided into nine (9) regions, with honorary members of renown, and with the strength and means to contribute to the encouragement of higher scholarship, and to those organizations working for the betterment of communities throughout the world. 

Zeta Phi Beta was the first Greek-letter college sorority organized in Africa. In 1948, Delta Iota Zeta Chapter (a graduate chapter), and Upsilon Beta Chapter (an undergraduate chapter), were set up in Liberia. Chapters have since spread to Sierra Leone and Nigeria, remanding the adding of a ninth region for West Africa. 

In 1922, Zeta Phi Beta found it necessary to establish the National Board to take over the responsibilities which had been carried on by Alpha Chapter, and by June, 1927, the growth of the sorority made possible its first regional meeting, held at Howard University. The chapters are now grouped into eight regions in the United States: Atlantic, Eastern, Southeastern, South-Central, Great Lakes, Midwestern,

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