Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, by five illustrious ladies named Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, and Fannie Pettie Watts. 

These five ladies created the finest sisterhood on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.

• The five founders' ideal goal for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was to reach college women in all parts of the country who were sorority minded and desired to follow the founding principles of the organization – Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. 
• As our Founder, Viola Tyler would say, "In the ideal collegiate situation, there is a Zeta in a girl, regardless of race, creed, or color, who has high standards and principles, a good scholarly average, and an active interest in all things that she undertakes to accomplish."
  

Since its start, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has achieved a lot of triumphant moments and countless pioneers of being the first for so many things.

• For example, Zeta Phi Beta was the first African-American, Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter internationally in Africa; form adult and youth auxiliary groups; centralize its operations in a national headquarters; and be constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
• Furthermore, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is known for services such as international and local programs, including the endowment of its National Educational Foundation, community outreach services, and support of multiple affiliate organizations.
• In addition, Zeta chapters and auxiliaries have given countless hours of voluntary service to educate the public, assist youth, provide scholarships, support organized charities, and promote social and civic change.
• Over the years, Zeta Phi Beta has chartered hundreds of chapters and inducted thousands of finer women worldwide while also flourishing as a sorority chapter and dealing with the tides of everlast change while adapting to the ever-changing needs of the modern era.