The Days of Our Founding Continued (Part 2)

"The preamble of the first minute book of regular fraternity meetings begun in 1899 states clearly that Zeta Tau Alpha was organized on October 15, 1898, at the State Female Normal School. The minute book set forth definitely for the first time the colors, the flower and the motto, that latter being written out in Greek, and then translated. A badge, and most important, a name were yet to be selected. When they held their first secret meetings, many of them nocturnal and candle-lighted, they were intent, impressed, and not-a-little-scared young girls who knew what they wanted, but who discovered that the founding of a fraternity was not only thrilling but a challenging experience.

Alice Coleman said: 'We persistently avoided publicity and I well recall the clandestine meetings we first held. Several of us had rooms in Nursery Hall, so dubbed because of the youthfulness of the majority of us.'

It was impractical to hold meetings in members' rooms, so night after night, after lights were out, one by one they stole away to the bathroom, where, in huddled muffled council, they continued their planning. Alice Coleman remembered:

'There was scarcely room to squeeze in, much less turn around in, and besides a lack of space, there was a far greater difficulty to contend with. We were literally scared to death all the time for fear somebody's keen eye would discern the tiny flickering light which came from our one tallow candle and arouse the household with the cry of ghosts in the bathroom. Yes, we had to steal up the stairs one by one, looking like convicts instead of girls who were striving with all their might and main to establish a strong and loyal sisterhood that was destined to make its impression on the thousands who were to follow its loyal precepts and principles.'

To be continued...