Delta Zeta
Encyclopedia : D : DE : DEL : Delta Zeta
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Delta Zeta (ΔΖ) is a college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 165 college chapters in the United States and 250 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In total there are over 180,000 college and alumnae members.
History
In 1902, Dr. Guy Potter Benton was elected as the new President of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of the first things that Dr. Benton did was to allow young women to enroll in the then all-male University. That coming fall, six of the newly admitted female students organized the first sorority chapter, an idea that was widely accepted due to the three fraternities that already existed.Seeking help in the planning of such an organization, the six women consulted Dr. Benton. He was familiar with the processes of a Greek organization due to his membership in the Phi Delta Theta and therefore became a helpful resource for the girls in the establishment of the first Delta Zeta chapter. The six women faced harassment for wanting to form a sorority. One account tells of a person stealing the constitution from the hand of the group's secretary, however Dr. Benton pursued the offender and was able to get the constitution back.
It was on October 24, 1902, that the Department of the State of Ohio issued formal Articles of Incorporation establishing the Delta Zeta Sorority. The founding members were stated as follows; Alfa Lloyd, Mary Collins, Anna Louise Keen, Julia Lawrence Bishop, Mabelle Minton, and Anne Dial Simmons.
Dr. Benton aided in preparation of a ritual, badge, and colors. Four pledges soon became part of the sisterhood, Elizabeth Coulter being the first. Dr. Benton was named as Grand Patron, and became the first and only man to ever wear the Delta Zeta badge.
The year 2002 marked the 100th year and Centennial Celebration for Delta Zeta. Chapters nationwide celebrated the event as well as a special convocation during the summer at the Delta Zeta National Convention.
The Delta Zeta Foundation
The Delta Zeta Foundation is a non-profit entity within the organization that provides various scholarships to members of the sorority as well as providing funds for leadership, philanthropy and education programs.Mission statement
To build character and cultivate the truest and deepest friendships among its members. To stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge and the attainment of a high standard of morality; to inculcate elevated sentiments and noble principals and to afford each other every possible assistance and to invite all the attainment of a memorable fame.Notable alumnae
For a full list of notable Delta Zeta alumnae please visit here. [link]
- Joy Behar (Delta Epsilon) - Comedienne and talk show host
- Nanette Fabray (Aluma Initiate) - Actress, worked to bring sign language and captioning to television
- Edith Head (Chapter Unknown) - Emmy Award-winning designer; 7-time Oscar winner in costume design
- Florence Henderson (Aluma Initiate, Alpha Chi) - Actress (The Brady Bunch)
- Maurine Brown Neuberger (Omega) - former US Senator
- Pat Priest (Alpha Chi) - Actress (The Munsters)
- Ivy Baker Priest (Alpha Chi) - Former United States Treasurer
- Marcia Wallace (Delta Nu) - TV and stage actress
Trivia
- The turtle is the official mascot of the Delta Zeta Sorority and was so named at the sorority's 2006 National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona at the Biltmore Spa & Resort.
- The Killarney rose is a hybrid rose commonly thought to be extinct.
External link
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.