Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Tau Chapter at Philander Smith College
HISTORY
Tau Chapter History
​Tau Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was established March 15, 1947, on the campus of Philander Smith College under the guidance of Soror Corrie L. Jarrett.
Soror Corrie Jarrett was an instructor in the field of Home Economics. The beautiful charter was presented by the South Central Regional Director, Soror Carlotta Stewart of Memphis, Tennessee.
Greetings were received from Grand Basileus Lullelia W. Harrison, First Anti-Basileus Juanita Tate, Phi Alpha, and Alpha Eta Zeta Chapters of Memphis, Tennessee, and Alpha Mu Zeta Chapter from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Charter Members of Tau Chapter
Myrtle A. Birch
Fredia Louise Ford
Corine Perloat
Catherine Jennings
Francis Clarice Napier
Founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc
Arizona Cleavor Stemons
Pearl Anna Neal
Myrtle Tyler Faithful
Viola Tyler Goings
Fannie Pettie Watts
also kown as
"The Five Pearls"
National History
Zeta Phi Beta was founded on January 16, 1920 by five collegiate women at Howard University. Zeta Phi Beta was founded on the simple belief that sorority elitism and socializing should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations- to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day. Their founding Principles are Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood.
Zeta Phi Beta became the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa (in Monrovia, Liberia). It was also the first organization to establish adult and youth auxiliary groups and centralize its operations in a national headquarters.
Zeta Phi Beta is the only NPHC sorority that is constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma. The sorority maintains affiliations with several organizations including NPHC, March of Dimes, American Red Cross and the United Negro College Fund.