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 Nine young women, who were students at Virginia State Normal School in 1898, are responsible for the formation of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity.
These young women are: Maud Jones Horner, Alice Bland Coleman, Ethel Coleman Van Name, Ruby Leigh Orgain, Frances Yancey Smith, Della Lewis Hundley, Helen M. Crafford, Alice Grey Welsh, and Mary Jones Batte.
The young women witnessed the formation of two female Greek organizations at their school - Kappa Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma. This inspired them to join together as an official group of their own. One of the girls was asked to join another organization, which gave the nine girls motivation to start their own unique group.
 The women met informally for over a year, but had yet to really define themselves as an official group. The girls finally decided to announce their group's existence, but they still had no name for themselves. A temporary name of "???" stuck for a while as the girls struggled for a more appropriate title.
Soon the president's brother, who was a member of two Greek organizations himself, helped the girls come up with ideas for a revised constitution, the ritual, the oath, and the opening and closing of meetings. Another member's brother suggested the name of Zeta Tau Alpha. He also provided them with a badge, motto, and patron goddess, Themis. The group was now an official Greek organization.
 Wright State University's chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha, Eta Pi, was installed on May 19, 1973 and became the 162nd link in the international chain of Zeta Tau Alpha chapters. Our energetic women have been recognized on an international level by receiving the Crown Chapter award.
Zeta Tau Alpha is known as a fraternity, not as a sorority. The Founders intended 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 15 each year. The Founders' Day service offers remembrance, while turquoise and gray ribbons 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 Zeta Tau Alphas are gathered.
Today, these ideals remain almost completely unchanged. A relationship with Zeta Tau Alpha helps improve your scholastic potential, teaches you acts of good citizenship, develops the qualities of patience and understanding, and aids in your personality development.
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