HistoryZeta Tau Alpha was founded October 15, 1898, by nine women at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. Only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired permanence to their friendship and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college. Though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, the band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A temporary name of "???" was taken when, as legend has it, a member of another group met with the founders. Raising her eyebrows and forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark, she asked, "Who are you?" In unison, the group answered, "Yes, who? Who? Who?" Thus, the group came to be known as "???" while they sought an appropriate Greek name and symbols. During this time, the group received valuable assistance from two of the memeber's brothers - Maude's brother, Plummer Jones, and Frances Yancy Smith's brother, Giles Mebane Smith. Both were students at the college of William and Mary, members of men's Greek-letter organization, and knowledgeable of Greek love. After a year of careful contemplation, the group chose the formal name, the patron goddess and the badge.
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TraditionsZeta Tau Alpha is known as a fraternity, not as a sorority. The founders intended that Zeta Tau Alpha be designated a "fraternity" to distinguish the organization from the sisterhoods organized in connection with men's fraternities, called "sororities." From its founding in 1898, the innermost meanings of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity have remained unchanged through the preservation of and respect for our rituals. Members and chapters celebrate the founding of Zeta Tau Alpha on October 15th each year. The Founder's Day service offers remembrance, while turquoise and gray ribbons are worn under the badge show each member's commitment to our founding ideals. The "Zeta Prayer" is sung before dinner in chapter houses and at other appropriate times when ZTAs are gathered.
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