The Days of Our Founding

On October 15, Zeta Tau Alphas around the world will celebrate our founding in 1898. It is often very hard for us to imagine what our founders were like and to truly appreciate what they did for us. I came across a great history that I want to share in the days leading up to October 15:

"The nine girls who completed the founding of Zeta Tau Alpha came from fine, established land-holding families that had progressed through post-war economic hardships and the Reconstruction. They seemed so mature, then so irrepressibly young. Money? No one had any. It took time to recover from a devastating war and to recoup the losses suffered when Confederate money became valueless.

These nine Founders were very young. Most of them were fifteen or sixteen years of age. They never lost sight of the purpose for which they were in Farmville; their college education. They had gaiety. They loved fun. They were in and out of pranks. They were popular. They were all endowed with rich family relationships. Cultural background continually shone through. There was always a quiet dignity.

Even though the girls were busy with their classes and school routine, there still remained hours not filled with school requirements. Zeta Tau Alpha came into being during those hours. In 1897 a small group had formed and this later became the pre-Zeta group. Maud Jones referred to it as 'our little crowd.' It was never given a name.

Maud Jones relates that for a 'year or more,' during 1897, many important 'consultations' were held by a group then numbering about 'a dozen.' Then 'one night in the left-hand corner of Professional Hall,' where Maud Jones lived, a meeting was held. They had trouble getting started, then someone proposed they elect a chairman. In a few minutes all the officers were elected. The wheels were set in motion and from then on procedure went forward with smoothness and dispatch. This first meeting was held long before October, 1898."

To be continued...