Zeta Trivia

Question 1

What was the first criterion for membership established by the Founders?

Answer 1

Scholarship

Question 2

What was the main reason many women withdrew their interest to establish Zeta Phi Beta Sorority?

Answer 2

The fear that their academic averages would not meet the sorority’s rumored highly selective academic criteria.

Question 3

What are the names of Zeta’s first initiates?

Answer 3

Sorors Gladys Warrington, Harriet Dorsey, Pauline Phillips and Nellie Singfield.

Question 4

​Our sorority’s manner has a very specific meaning; what does the Zeta represent and why was it chosen?

Answer 4

Zeta represents zeal. Founder Viola Tyler who had friends in both existing campus sorority said “I could not become a friend’s maid in order to become a pledge. I believe zeta or active interest should surpass submissiveness.” Therefore she and the other four founders stress the Greek letter zeta “with a deep meaning of the English word zeal.”

Question 5

What were some of the other reasons some of the original 14 women abandoned their interest in establishing Zeta Phi Beta Sorority?

Answer 5

Some found it difficult to afford to small joining fee and other succumbed to the criticism of fellow students for identifying with an unproven organization

Question 6

In 1920 Howard University required a minimum of five members to order to form a campus organization; who was identified to be the fifth founding member and what was she studying?

Answer 6

Fannie Pettie and bookkeeping

Question 7

​When was the term Grand Basileus first used?

Answer 7

The term was first used in the administration of Sixth Grand Basileus, Ruth Tappe Scruggs (1926-1930)

Question 8

​Who was named “Soror of the Century” and why?

Answer 8

Soror Ida B. King. Soror King served the sisterhood in various capacities including two terms as Chair of the National Executive Board, National Grammateus, National Phylacter, and Historian. She was named Chairman Emeritus of the Executive Board and chaired numerous other national committees.

Question 9

The Sigma/Zeta Brotherhood and Sisterhood Reaffirmation Ceremony was developed in what year and by whom?

Answer 9

In 1995 by PIGB and Centennial Chair Jylla Moore Foster Tearte and William E. Stanley 28th National President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Question 10

The most significant milestones achieved during the administration of Past Grand Basileus Joanna Houston Ransom were?

Answer 10

The sorority was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia in 1923; A National Board of officers was created to assume the responsibilities formerly accomplished by Alpha Chapter; The introduction of Finer Womanhood Week in 1923; The first black sorority to organize in Texas on a college campu

Question 11

Who submitted the plans for the national celebration of Finer Womanhood Week and where?

Answer 11

Eugenia Childs of Atlanta at the conclave in Atlanta Georgia

Question 12

The sorority official publication was renamed the Archon which represents?

Answer 12

An architectural column denoting strength.

Question 13

Beginning with our current International Grand Basileus, list the last six living International Grand Basilei of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the theme of their administration?

Answer 13

1. Mary Breaux Wright – Building on the Principles of Zeta While Blazing New Paths
2. Sheryl P. Underwood – ZETA: A Community Conscious, Action Oriented Organization or Strengthening a Foundation Built on Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood
3. Dr. Barbara West Carpenter – Positioning Zeta for Preeminence, Preparing for the 21stCentury – The New Millennium
4. Barbara Crockett Moore – Zeta Helping Other People Excel (Z-HOPE)
5. Dr. Jylla Moore Foster Tearte – World Class Service
6. Dr. Edith Francis – A Community Conscious, Action Oriented Organization and/or Strengthening the Blue and White Family

Question 14

For 95 years Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., has been a pioneering trailblazer in all aspects of human endeavors; name five of Zeta important “firsts”?

Answer 14

To establish a chapter on the continent of Africa (1948), To have centralized headquarter (1949); Only sorority to be constitutionally bonded to a brother fraternity Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.; To establish auxiliaries groups (1947); To first to have a paid Executive Secretary (Dr. Lullelia Walker Harrison); To establish a undergraduate chapter south of the Mason-Dixon line (1923)

Question 15

What is the name, campus/location and year that the first black sorority chapter was chartered below the Mason-Dixon Line?

Answer 15

Theta Chapter chartered in 1923 on the campus of Wiley College in Marshall Texas

Question 16

When was the term Grand Basileus first used?

Answer 16

The term was first used in the administration of Sixth Grand Basileus, Ruth Tappe Scruggs (1926-1930)

Question 17

Who chartered Delta Iota Zeta chapter in Africa?

Answer 17

Nancy Bullock Woolridge McGhee, 13th International Grand Basileus.

Question 18

When was Zeta Phi Beta’s first executive office opened in Houston, TX at the home of Dr. Lullelia W. Harrison?

Answer 18

In February during Finer Womanhood week in 1949.

Question 19

Who was the youngest sitting Grand Basileus who implemented programming and infrastructure that grew the sorority from 238 chapter to 508; the largest growth in chapter and membership of any administration in Zeta’s history?

Answer 19

Past Grand Janice G. Kissner aka Grand Jan

Question 20

Much like our Five Pearls these Sorors should represent the jewels of the chapter as personable, enthusiastic and dependable women of good moral character who are example of and represent finer womanhood and are the gateway for new members?

Answer 20

Who are the MIP Committee Members