Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Gamma Mu Zeta Chapter
Spartanburg, SC #SpartanburgZetas
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
has been and continues to be innovative in creating positive change, demonstrating a concern for the human condition, and chronicling a number of firsts detailing a rich history and chartering a course for continuous growth. Let's take a look at some of the accomplishments Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was first to achieve:
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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is the FIRST AND ONLY sorority to be CONSTITUTIONALLY BOUND to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. forever making us the first and only official brother and sister organizations.
Zeta sought to challenge the norm in the 1940s by beginning the work to develop a chapter in Africa. In December of 1948, the charter was granted to establish a Zeta graduate chapter in Monrovia, Liberia, Africa making Zeta the first sorority to charter a chapter in Africa.
Zeta was the first sorority to establish auxiliary groups for both adults (Amicae - "Friends of Zeta") and youth (Archonettes, Amicettes, and Pearlettes).
Zeta has always been about our business!
Zeta was the first sorority to organize our operations into a national headquarters and first to have a paid staff.
Zeta dared to establish our early chapters in the very racially divided DEEP SOUTH, supporting and uplifting black institutions and communities from the beginning. Our first two chapters (after our founding at Howard University) were established at historically black universities. In 1923, Theta Chapter was established at Wiley College, making it the first chapter of any black sorority to organize a collegiate chapter in Texas.
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Zeta continued to make a concerted effort to develop chapters at the nation's historically black colleges and universities and in other areas of the South.
In 1937, the Lambda Zeta Chapter answered the Zeta call and successfully held a national convention in Houston, Texas making Zeta the FIRST Black Greek-Lettered Organization to ever hold a national convention south of the Mason-Dixon line.
In 2014, Zeta chartered the Alpha Alpha Lambda Zeta Chapter in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Making Zeta the first to charter a chapter in the middle east.
In 2019, under the leadership of International Centennial Grand Basileus (President) Valerie Hollingsworth Baker-the Gamma Alpha Mu Zeta chapter was chartered making Zeta the first greek-lettered organization to charter a chapter in the British Virgin Islands.
In 2020, Zeta's Centennial Step-Team was featured in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, making Zeta the first black greek-lettered organization to participate in this highly recognized parade.
On June 15, 2021: Juneteenth became a national holiday. Opal Lee was the primary activist in making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday. Opal Lee is "The Grandmother of Juneteenth," and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
Zeta formed a partnership with New Balance under the leadership of International Centennial Grand Basileus (President) Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker, and in 2022-launched "The White Dove." This made Zeta the first D9 organization to launch our own organizational shoe brand.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has a rich history of members who have helped pave the way to success through their amazing accomplishments. Though the list is long and ever-growing, we'll name a few:
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Violette Neatley Anderson: Eighth Grand Basileus (President) of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and first African American woman to practice law before the United States Supreme Court.
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Edith Sampson: First woman to receive a law degree from Loyola University, and (in 1950) she became the first African American delegate to the United Nations. She was a member of the UN's Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee, and lobbied for advancements in social welfare. She was reappointed to the UN in 1952, and served until 1953. In 1961, she became the first Black U.S. representative to NATO.
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Maggie Lena Walker: First African American woman to charter a bank and serve as its president in the United States.
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Zora Neale Hurston: An American author, anthropologist, and filmaker who portrayed racial struggles in the early 1900s.
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Annie Turnbo Malone: An American businesswoman, inventor, and philanthropist who is considered to be one of the first African American women to become a millionaire.
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Adelaide Casely-Hayford- A noted feminist within the Pan-African movement who largely represented the concerns and interest of well-heeled women on the continent of Africa. She opened a girls vocational school in 1923, and played a very influential role in the women's suffrage movement.
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Alice Dugged Cary: An American educator and librarian who, in 1921, was appointed the first librarian of the Auburn Carnegie Library in Atlanta--the first library in the city accessible to African Americans under segregation.
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Bernette Johnson: The first African-American woman to serve on the Louisana Supreme Court, and first to become Chief Justice.
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Autherine Lucy Foster: First black student to attend the University of Alabama (1956).
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Evelyn Fields: The first woman and first African-American to hold the position of Rear Admiral of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.
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Julia Carson: The first woman and first African-American to represent the 7th District. The 2nd African American woman elected to Congress from Indiana.
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Lillian E. Fishbourne: The first African American woman to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.
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Alberta Odell Jones: An African-American attorney and civil rights icon who was one of the first african-american woman to pass the Kentucky bar and the first woman appointed city attorney in Jefferson county. She formed the Independent Voters Association of Louisville and rented voting machines to teach African Americans how to use the machines. She registered thousands of African-American voters in the 1960s, which caused the replacement of the mayor of Louisville and many of the city's alderman. She paved the way for a ban on racial discrimination by local theaters and lunch counters. She negotiated the first fight contract for Muhammad Ali.
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Gwendalyn Brooks: An American poet, author, and teacher. Her work often dealt with the personal celebrations and struggles of ordinary people in her community. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry on May 1, 1950, for Annie Allen, making her the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize.
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And the list goes on.....
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has accomplished and continues to accomplish many amazing things. Our members are succeeding in many ways every day as we have always strived for excellence in many fields. Our members work hard as vital parts of our families, careers, and communities. ALL of our members, auxiliaries, brothers, and supporters matter tremendously. As Zetas, we value our sisterhood and all it stands for.
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In the words of our 25th Centennial International President, Valerie Hollingsworth Baker:
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One Zeta....Unified....Mobilized....ZetariZed!!!
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