Delta Zeta

International collegiate sorority

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Delta Zeta

Founded| October 24, 1902; 121 years ago (1902-10-24)
Miami University, (Oxford, Ohio)
Type| Social
Affiliation| NPC
Scope| International
Motto| Love that is ever steadfast
Tagline| Truly.
Colors|  Rose Green
Symbol| Roman Lamp
Flower| Pink Killarney Rose
Jewel| Diamond
Publication| The LAMP of Delta Zeta
Philanthropy| Speech and Hearing; The Painted Turtle,
The Starkey Hearing Foundation
Chapters| 170
Colonies| 5
Members| 260,000 lifetime
Mascot| Turtle
Headquarters| 202 East Church Street
Oxford, OH 45056
USA
Website| Official website
Delta Zeta Founders Delta Zeta headquarters in Oxford

Delta Zeta (ΔΖ, also known as DZ) is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Delta Zeta has 170 collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada, and over 200 alumnae chapters in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. As of 2013, there are over 244,400 college and alumnae members, making it the third largest sorority in the nation (after Alpha Delta Pi and Chi Omega).[1][2] In 1954, the sorority adopted speech and hearing as its philanthropic cause, and is partnered with the Starkey Hearing Foundation and Gallaudet University. Throughout its history, it has absorbed several other smaller sororities and also opened its first Canadian chapter in 1992.

Delta Zeta is one of 26 national sororities which are members under the umbrella organization of the National Panhellenic Conference; the sorority joined the Conference in 1910.

## History[edit]

Two students dance outside the Delta Zeta house at the University of Texas at Arlington, 1978

Delta Zeta Sorority was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1902, the same year that the university first allowed female students.[3] Miami is dubbed the "Mother of Fraternities" because of the many prominent men's fraternities which were founded there.[1]

Six of the newly admitted women consulted university president Dr. Guy Potter Benton regarding the founding of the first sorority chapter.[3][4] Having been a leader in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, he was familiar with the processes of a Greek organization and helped the women establish the first Delta Zeta chapter, the first sorority at the campus. Benton aided in preparation of the ritual, badge, and colors. For his contributions, he was named the 'Grand Patron'. The Delta Zeta Sorority was officially incorporated on October 24, 1902. The founding members were:

* Alfa Lloyd Hayes
* Mary Jane Collins
* Anna Louise Keen
* Julia Lawrence Bishop
* Mabelle May Minton
* Anne Dial Simmons.[3]

The women were harassed for wanting to form a sorority. In one account, someone stole the constitution out of the secretary's hand but Dr. Benton pursued the offender and retrieved the constitution.[citation needed]

The first National Assembly, with Lloyd as the national president, was held in 1907.[5]

In 1910, Delta Zeta published the first issue of its national magazine, The LAMP, now issued three times a year.[5] That same year, the sorority joined the National Panhellenic Conference.[6]

Throughout the middle of the century, Delta Zeta absorbed four other sororities: Beta Phi Alpha in 1941, Phi Omega Pi in 1946, Delta Sigma Epsilon in 1956, and Theta Upsilon in 1962; most of these sororities had previously absorbed other, smaller sororities as well.[7][8][1]

In 1992, Delta Zeta chartered its first Canadian chapter at the University of Windsor, marking the beginning of the sorority's international expansion.[5][1]

## Symbols[edit]

Delta Zeta's official flower is the pink Killarney rose, while the official stone is the diamond. The turtle is the official mascot. The Roman lamp is the official symbol.[9] The badge consists of a lamp on top of a winged Ionic column, all in gold, with a diamond set at the spout of the lamp and four pearls inset on the capital of the column.[10] The Greek letters are inscribed on the lamp. At its inception, the original badge did not include pearls, which were added a few years later.[5]

The sorority's official colors are rose and green.[9] The 1905 Baird's Manual lists the colors as "old rose and nile green" which some chapter websites used as of 2018.[11][12][10] The 1991 edition says "old rose and green". However, the official national web site lists the colors as "rose and green".[9]

Delta Zeta is one of the first sororities to have had a Lilly Pulitzer print made with its symbols.[5]

### The Delta Zeta Foundation[edit]

The Delta Zeta Foundation is a not-for-profit entity within the organization that provides various scholarships for members of the sorority as well as funding leadership, philanthropy and education programs. There is a national philanthropic organization for active members of Delta Zeta known as the 1902 Loyalty Society, and members join by donating $19.02.[13]

## Membership[edit]

### Current National Council[edit]

The National Council of Delta Zeta is an alumnae board tasked with the governance of the organization.[14]

### Notable alumnae[edit]

University of Illinois house

* Mercedes Bates (Chi) – first female corporate officer of General Mills Foods. After being appointed to head the Betty Crocker division, she was often referred to as "Betty Crocker".[15]
* Shelley Berkley (Iota Phi) – U.S. Representative for Nevada's 1st congressional district[16]
* Marti Dodson (Theta) – lead singer for national recording artist, Saving Jane[17]
* Nanette Fabray (Xi Omicron) – actress, worked to bring sign language and captioning to television[18]
* Edith Head (Alumna Initiate, Mu) – Emmy Award-winning designer; 7-time Oscar winner in costume design[19]
* Florence Henderson (Alumna Initiate, Alpha Chi – Honorary Member) – actress (The Brady Bunch)[20]
* Helen Johnston – physician, clubwoman based in Des Moines, Iowa[21]
* Princess Märtha of Sweden (Alumna Initiate, Upsilon) – princess of Sweden, crown princess of Norway.[22]
* Maurine Brown Neuberger (Omega) – former US Senator[23]
* Ragni Østgaard (Alumna Initiate, Upsilon), Norwegian courtier, lady-in-waiting to Princess Märtha of Sweden, and daughter of Nikolai Ramm Østgaard
* Melissa Ordway (Delta Delta) – actress and model[citation needed]
* Gail Patrick (Alpha Pi) — actress, executive producer of the Perry Mason television series; vice president of the first board of directors of the Delta Zeta Foundation; $1 million bequest established the Women of Distinction Program.[24][25]
* Ivy Baker Priest (Alpha Chi) – Former United States Treasurer[23]
* Pat Priest (Alpha Chi) – actress, (The Munsters)[23]
* Rebecca Rusch (Alpha Beta) - professional athlete [26]
* Galadriel Stineman (Kappa Beta) – actress[27]
* Marcia Wallace (Delta Nu) – TV and stage actress[28]
* Lynn Forney Young (Zeta Psi) – 43rd President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution
* Kay Yow (Zeta Lambda) – women's basketball Coach, NC State[29]

### Collegiate chapters[edit]

Delta Zeta Sorority House at Ohio State University.

Main article: List of Delta Zeta chapters

Delta Zeta has 170 collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada and over 200 alumnae chapters in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[1][30]

## Controversies[edit]

Main article: DePauw University Delta Zeta discrimination controversy

At the end of 2006, the Delta Chapter of Delta Zeta at DePauw University became enmeshed in a controversy that would eventually make national headlines and result in the chapter's closure.[31] The Delta Zeta national leadership was criticized after The New York Times published an article accusing the National office of moving certain members of the Delta Chapter at DePauw University to alumnae status based on their perceived attractiveness. Founded in 1909, the Delta chapter was the sorority's second oldest active chapter and its fourth oldest chapter overall (a "single letter" chapter). Despite its long history at DePauw, the Delta Zeta chapter struggled with declining membership and had acquired a negative reputation on campus. As a result, the Delta chapter members voted to request Delta Zeta Sorority to close the chapter due to falling numbers and lack of interest in recruitment. When notified of the chapter decision, Delta Zeta Sorority arranged a chapter membership review and chapter reorganization rather than close the chapter completely. Several of the members that were moved to alumnae status (and therefore required to move out of the Delta Zeta house at DePauw) argued that they were moved to alumnae status due to their perceived unattractiveness, weight, or ethnicity and contacted the media.[32]

## See also[edit]

* List of social fraternities and sororities

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Delta Zeta chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 30 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
2. ^ "Delta Zeta Sorority Selected to Colonize at University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)". Delta Zeta (press release). 18 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
3. ^ a b c "Delta Zeta History". deltazeta.org. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
4. ^ The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. 1912. pp. 131–132.
5. ^ a b c d e "Delta Zeta History". Delta Zeta. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
6. ^ "Manual of Information" (PDF). National Panhellenic Conference. Jan 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
7. ^ Becque, Fran (2015-03-02). "NPC Organizations That No Longer Exist; A Reflection on International Badge Day - Fraternity History & More". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
8. ^ The Spring 1995 edition of The Lamp of Delta Zeta, p.10, has an article about the sorority's several mergers. Accessed 25 Aug 2020.
9. ^ a b c "Delta Zeta Facts – Delta Zeta Sorority". Delta Zeta. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
10. ^ a b "Delta Zeta - Panhellenic Association - Grand Valley State University". www.gvsu.edu. Archived from the original on 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
11. ^ "History". Archived from the original on June 17, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
12. ^ "Delta Zeta Sorority | Epsilon Zeta Chapter". Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
13. ^ "1902 Loyalty Society". Delta Zeta. 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
14. ^ "National Council". Delta Zeta. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
15. ^ "Up Close and Personal: OSU's Connection to 'Betty Crocker'". OSU Alumni Association. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
16. ^ "Women of Achievement – Law, Government and the Military". Delta Zeta. Archived from the original on 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
17. ^ "Spring 2006 – The Lamp of Delta Zeta" (PDF). Delta Zeta. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
18. ^ "Lamplighters host 50th Annual Flame Fantasy to Benefit the House Ear Institute". Delta Zeta. November 7, 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
19. ^ "Delta Zeta Sorority – Edith Head". Delta Zeta. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
20. ^ "Florence Henderson Official Site – FAQ". Florence Henderson Official Site. Archived from the original on 2000-01-19. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
21. ^ "Meet Dr. Helen Johnston, Delta Zeta Woman of the Year" (PDF). The Lamp of Delta Zeta. 47 (2): 74–75, 78–79.
22. ^ Brewer, Nancy, and Rochelle Mackey. A Century of Sisterhood: The Story of Delta Zeta Sorority 1902–2002. Phoenix: Heritage, Inc., AZ.
23. ^ a b c "Famous Delta Zeta sisters". Tech Turtles of Delta Zeta. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
24. ^ "Delta Zeta Sorority's Woman of the Year". Indiana Evening Gazette. October 27, 1962.
25. ^ "Gail Patrick Believed Delta Zeta Worthy of Major Bequest". Delta Zeta. Archived from the original on 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
26. ^ "Spring/Summer2018". lamp.deltazeta.org. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
27. ^ Wheeler, Lauren (November 8, 2012). "EMB grad makes a name for herself in L.A." The Northerner (NKU). Retrieved January 29, 2016.
28. ^ "Spring 2005 – The Lamp of Delta Zeta" (PDF). Delta Zeta. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
29. ^ "Kay Yow ΖΛ '62, 1987 Delta Zeta Woman of the Year". Delta Zeta. October 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
30. ^ "Fast Facts". Delta Zeta. 2016-05-21. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
31. ^ "DePauw University severs ties with sorority/". MSNBC. Associated Press. March 12, 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
32. ^ Dillon, Sam (February 25, 2007). "Sorority Evictions Raise Issue of Looks and Bias". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

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National Panhellenic Conference

Current Members|

* Alpha Chi Omega
* Alpha Delta Pi
* Alpha Gamma Delta
* Alpha Epsilon Phi
* Alpha Omicron Pi
* Alpha Phi
* Alpha Sigma Alpha
* Alpha Sigma Tau
* Alpha Xi Delta
* Chi Omega
* Delta Delta Delta
* Delta Gamma
* Delta Zeta
* Delta Phi Epsilon
* Gamma Phi Beta
* Kappa Alpha Theta
* Kappa Delta
* Kappa Kappa Gamma
* Phi Mu
* Phi Sigma Sigma
* Pi Beta Phi
* Sigma Delta Tau
* Sigma Kappa
* Sigma Sigma Sigma
* Theta Phi Alpha
* Zeta Tau Alpha

Former Members|

* Alpha Delta Theta
* Beta Phi Alpha
* Beta Sigma Omicron
* Delta Sigma Epsilon
* Iota Alpha Pi
* Lambda Omega
* Pi Kappa Sigma
* Pi Sigma Gamma
* Phi Omega Pi
* Sigma Phi Beta
* Theta Sigma Upsilon
* Theta Upsilon

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Fraternities and sororities

Academic fraternities originating from North America

General|

* Colony
* North American fraternity and sorority housing
* Stepping
* U.S. racism
* Hazing in Greek letter organizations
* U.S. deaths
* Philippines deaths
* Mother of Fraternities

History|

* Fraternities and sororities
* North America
* High school
* Professional
* Service
* Canada
* Lists by country/territory
* France
* Philippines
* Puerto Rico

Historically
African-American|

* ΑΚΑ
* ΑΦΑ
* ΔΣΘ
* ΖΦΒ
* ΙΦΘ
* ΚΑΨ
* ΣΓΡ
* ΦΒΣ
* ΦΡΗ
* ΩΨΦ

Historically
Asian/Pacific Islander-American|

* αΚΔΦ
* ΑΦΓ
* ΒΧΘ
* ΔΕΨ
* ΔΚΔ
* ΔΦΩ
* ΙΝΔ
* ΚΦΛ
* ΛΦΕ
* ΠΑΦ
* ΠΔΨ
* ΣΒΡ
* ΣΟΠ
* ΣΨΖ
* ΣΦΩ
* XPO

Christian
fraternities and sororities|

* ΑΔΓ
* ΑΔΧ
* ΑΓΩ
* ΑΛΩ
* ΒΕΓΓΑΡΣ
* ΒΣΨ
* ΒΥΧ
* ΣΑΩ
* ΣΘΕ
* ΣΦΛ
* ΦΒΧ
* ΧΑΩ

Historically Jewish|

* ΑΕΠ
* ΑΕΦ
* ΖΒΤ
* ΣΑΕΠ
* ΣΑΜ
* ΣΔΤ
* ΤΔΦ
* ΤΕΦ

Multicultural|

* ΔΞΝ
* ΔΞΦ
* ΓΗ
* ΖΣΧ
* ΖΦΡ
* ΖΧΦ
* ΘΝΞ
* ΛΤΩ
* ΛΨΔ
* ΜΣΥ
* ΣΛΓ
* ΤΦΣ
* ΨΣΦ
* ΩΔΦ
* ΩΦΧ
* Delphic

Historically Scout-affiliated|

* ΑΦΩ
* ΕΤΠ
* ΓΣΣ
* ΩΦΑ

LGBTQ|

* ΑΛΖ
* ΑΠΔ
* ΔΛΦ
* ΓΡΛ
* ΘΠΣ
* ΚΑΛ
* ΚΘΕ
* ΟΕΠ
* ΣΦΒ

Native American|

* ΑΠΩ
* ΦΣΝ
* ΣΟΕ

Latino and Puerto Rican|

* ΑΨΛ
* ΑΟΣ
* ΔΤΛ
* ΓΑΩ
* ΓΖΑ
* ΗΓΔ
* ΚΔΧ
* ΛΑΥ
* ΛΠΥ
* ΛΠΧ
* ΛΣΥ
* ΛΘΑ
* ΛΘΝ
* ΛΘΦ
* ΛΥΛ
* ΜΑΦ
* ΝΑΚ
* ΝΣΒ
* ΣΔΑ
* ΣΙΑ
* ΣΛΑ
* ΣΛΒ
* ΣΛΥ
* ΣΠΑ
* ΦΔΓ
* ΦΗΜ
* ΦΙΑ
* ΦΣΑ
* ΧΥΣ
* ΩΦΒ

Major specific|

* ΑΓΡ
* ΑΓΣ
* ΑΚΨ
* ΑΣΚ
* ΑΩΕ
* ΔΣΠ
* ΚΚΨ
* ΣΑΙ
* ΤΒΣ
* ΦΣΓ
* ΦΣΡ
* Ceres
* FarmHouse
* Triangle

Social sororities|

* ΑΓΔ
* ΑΔΠ
* ΑΕΦ
* ΑΞΔ
* ΑΟΠ
* ΑΣΑ
* ΑΣΤ
* ΑΦ
* ΑΧΩ
* ΓΦΒ
* ΔΔΔ
* ΔΓ
* ΔΖ
* ΔΦΕ
* ΖΤΑ
* ΘΦΑ
* ΚΑΘ
* ΚΒΓ
* ΚΔ
* ΚΚΓ
* ΠΒΦ
* ΣΔΤ
* ΣΚ
* ΣΣΣ
* ΣΨ
* ΦΜ
* ΦΣΣ
* ΧΩ
* Clovia

Social fraternities|

* ΑΔΦ
* ΑΚΛ
* ΑΣΦ
* ΑΤΩ
* ΑΦΔ
* ΑΧΑ
* ΑΧΡ
* ΒΘΠ
* ΔΚΕ
* ΔΣΦ
* ΔΤΔ
* ΔΥ
* ΔΦ
* ΔΧ
* ΖΨ
* ΘΔΧ
* ΘΞ
* ΘΧ
* ΚΑ Order
* ΚΑ Society
* ΚΔΡ
* ΚΔΦ
* ΚΛΨ
* ΚΣ
* ΛΧΑ
* OΚΕ
* ΠΚΑ
* ΠΚΦ
* ΠΛΦ
* ΣΑΕ
* ΣΔΑ
* ΣΘΠ
* ΣΝ
* ΣΠ
* ΣΤΓ
* ΣΦ
* ΣΦΔ
* ΣΦΕ
* ΣΧ
* ΤΚΕ
* ΦΓΔ
* ΦΔΘ
* ΦΔΨ
* ΦΚΘ
* ΦΚΣ
* ΦΚΤ
* ΦΚΨ
* ΦΛΧ
* ΦΜΑ Sinfonia
* ΦΜΔ
* ΦΣΚ
* ΦΣΦ
* ΧΓΕ
* ΧΦ
* ΧΨ
* ΨΥ
* Acacia

See also|

* Freemasonry
* Odd Fellows
* Gentlemen's club
* Secret society

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